What if a church focused as much on serving others as Jesus did?

What would happen if a community saw Jesus’ followers coming together regularly to love and serve others?

What if Christians were known as much for the love we show as for the truth that we speak?

The answers to these questions made us rethink some of the preconceived notions of what churches do, how we spend our energy, time and money, and how lines are drawn between one church and another. About every other month, instead of “having” church, we go out to “be” the church on Sunday morning! We go out into the city, sometimes with other churches, to serve our community. Some places we have served include The Bakersfield Homeless Center, Bakersfield AIDS Project and Ricky’s Retreat, and Covenant Community Services transitional living for emancipated foster youth.

Gone for Good began with 5 simple beliefs:

1 God loves and values people deeply; We should love and value what He does.

“For God loved the world so much that He gave his one and only Son.” - John 3:16

2 When we serve people in need, we love and serve Jesus.

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:40

3 Serving is what God created us for and we are never more fulfilled than when we are doing what our Creator intended us to do.

“He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” - Ephesians 2:10

4 Next to loving God fully, our highest calling is to love our neighbors.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Matthew 22:36-39

5 People will understand who Jesus really is when His followers unite.