Core Values
Our Values
Our core values are the underlying principles that guide us in making decisions, determining priorities, setting goals, allocating resources, and carrying our mission to empower disciples and extend God’s kingdom. They are the defining characteristics of Covenant Church of Pittsburgh and are drawn from the Bible.
God’s Presence Changes Everything
John 10:27, Hebrews 10:19-22, 2 Corinthians 3:16-18,
1 Thessalonians 5:17, Psalm 27:4, John 4:23-24, Exodus 33:15-16
In everything we do and everywhere we go, we want to create an atmosphere where God’s tangible Presence dwells. His presence is where God stuff happens ~ miracles, signs, and wonders. We hear His voice, talk to Him through prayer, and learn to be a doer of His word. Our first ministry is to God. As we behold Him, we are moved to worship with joyous passion.
God is a Good Father
John 14:6-13, Galatians 4:6-7, Luke 15:11-32, Romans 8:28-39,
John 3:16-17, Hebrews 1:2-3
Experiencing and knowing God as our true Father just like Jesus did will change our lives. The message, ministry, and sacrifice of Jesus perfectly reveal this truth. Every person needs to feel, know, and experience the unconditional, extravagant love of Father God. He is a good Father and we can trust Him regardless of our circumstances.
Family is God’s (good) Idea
Matthew 19:4-6, Romans 8:14-17, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Galatians 4:4-7, Ephesians 3:14-15
Family is the foundation of humanity because God created it that way! It’s the way He relates to us, we relate to Him, and how we relate to one another. We weren’t meant to do life alone. We are adopted into God’s family, so we intentionally create family and community wherever we go. We are loyal, which is demonstrated most when people fail and we commit to helping them be restored. Family is joyous, messy, difficult but it’s always together.
Healed People Heal People
1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Corinthians 3:18, John 15:4-5, Matthew 4:23; Luke 9:11, Acts 10:38, Psalm 103:3-4, Acts 3:1-10, Matthew 10:7-8
Before we can truly love others, we must love ourselves and that means allowing Holy Spirit to transform our spirit, soul and body. He reveals to us the issues and hurts that need healing and how to become whole. We then can encourage others to do the same. We also believe all can be healed because Jesus demonstrated the Father’s will in healing all the sick and demonized He encountered.
Church is the Model for Unity
2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Galatians 3:28, Revelation 7:9, Matthew 19:14, Psalm 145:4
One of the things close to God’s heart is reconciliation. Our Father wants us to be reconciled to Him first, and then reconciled to mankind. True unity requires equality in the diversity of race, gender, age, culture, socioeconomic status, and to those who simply have a different personality from us. Generations belong together in worship and in family. In a divided society, the church must model unity.
Leaders Grow and Reproduce
Ephesians 4:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Timothy 2:2; Colossians 1:10
A disciple is someone who is surrendered to Jesus, who is being changed by following Jesus, and who is on a mission to help others do the same. Every disciple of Christ can be a person of influence who develops true character, anointing, and authority. As a local church, when we grow larger we also grow smaller. We value the large gathering for a worship service and also the regular involvement in small groups. We embrace the fivefold ministry gifts that Christ gave to the church for the work of ministry and building the Body of Christ.
Kingdom People are Generous People
2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 6:38, Malachi 3:10-12, Proverbs 11:25, 1 Peter 4:10, Galatians 6:10, Ephesians 2:10, Romans 12:9-13, Joshua 22:5
God is extravagantly generous and our generosity is a response and reflection of our good Father who gives gifts to His children. We have been blessed in every way so we can be generous through giving and serving. We joyfully give our time, affection, talents, and finances and as we do, the scripture teaches that these blessings also return to us. We serve God, serve our local church and serve our community. We are created in Jesus Christ for good works.
What We Believe
About God
Genesis 1; Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; Colossians 1:16
God is the creator of all things, seen and unseen. God is eternal and honestly good, knowing all things and holding all power and majesty. God exists as the Trinity. He is three persons, yet one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
About Jesus Christ
John 1:1-5; Luke 23:26-43; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Matthew 28:6
God displayed himself in human form through his son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was born of the virgin, Mary, and lived a sinless life. Displaying his commitment to God and us, he died on the cross for our sins. Jesus Christ was then buried, resurrected from the dead, and ascended into heaven.
About The Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8; Acts 8:12-17; Acts 11:14-16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-10; John 14:26
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and lives inside all who believe in Jesus Christ. All believers can be baptized in the Holy Spirit, and live in His overflowing fullness. The Holy Spirit gives each follower diverse gifts and produces Christ-like character in our lives. He also teaches, comforts and empowers us.
About The Bible
2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21
We believe God speaks to us through the Bible, and that it was written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is our standard in all we say and do. We believe that God’s unchangeable Biblical message ought to be presented in a relevant way portraying a real hope, to real people through a real God.
About Equality
Genesis 1:27; Romans 2:11; Galatians 3:26-29; Proverbs 22:2; Acts 17:26; Romans 3:22-24; James 2:1-9
We believe that every person that receives Jesus Christ as Lord is a child of God and every person is equal in being, regardless of race, gender, culture or class.
About Salvation
John 3:3; John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5-7; John 14:6
All people are created with dignity and value in the image of God. Salvation comes to people on the basis of God’s grace and compassion, through their faith in Jesus alone. They receive the free gift of forgiveness and are spiritually reborn by repenting of their sin and believing in Jesus Christ. Good works and a holy life, although totally unable to save anyone, are the natural products of repentant, believing people.
About Prayer
Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 6:9-13; 1 Timothy 2:8; James 5:26; Matthew 7:7-11; Mark 11:24; John 14:13-14
We believe that every believer is called to pray for the Father’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Covenant Church of Pittsburgh is a house of prayer that partners with God to release his will on earth. That we, as God’s children, are always to pray and not faint knowing that God hears and answers prayer.
About Baptism And Communion
Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
We practice baptisms and communion as taught by the Bible. Water baptism is a public act used to identify our lives with Christ; first with His death and then with His resurrection into a new life. Every believer can be baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit who teaches, comforts and empowers us. Communion is a time of deep reflection and recommitment to Jesus Christ and to His church.
About Marriage
Matthew 15:19; Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; Hebrews 13:4
We believe Scripture teaches that marriage is the sacred covenant of one man and one woman in a union to the exclusion of all others. This union is established by an authorized ceremony under God. We believe Scripture teaches that sex is a blessing to be rightly experienced only within heterosexual marriage. Therefore, we do not condone sex outside of marriage, pornography, nor living as husband and wife when not married.
About The Church
Ephesians 1:22-23; Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 4:11-16; Revelation 19:7; Romans 8:9-17; Revelation 21
Christ is returning for a glorious overcoming bride – His Church. We are sons and daughters of the King, more than “sinners saved by grace.” We aim to fulfill the Great Commission and steward revival to the next generation. We embrace the biblical government of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
Covenant Church of Pittsburgh
2110 Andrews Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15221