Our Mission



The mission of Mecca Community Church is: To introduce people to Christ and help them become fully committed to Him. Our mission can best be discovered by using the acronym JUMP which describes the four parts of our mission:

 

Jesus

    Jesus Christ is and always will be the focal point of our mission. Without Him we are not a church. There are two main beliefs that we hold as truth and will not compromise. One: Jesus Christ is the only way to get to heaven. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Two: Salvation is by grace through faith alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” These two truths form the cornerstone for everything we believe.

 

Us

    We are part of the mission; not because God needs us but because He chooses to use us. That is our purpose. 2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” We feel this is a great privilege to be a part of God’s work on earth as well as a great responsibility.

 

Mission

    It is important to realize that God gave each local church a mission and it is essential for a Christian to be a member of a local church in order to help carry out the mission. God gave Mecca Community Church a mission statement which is just a small piece of the puzzle that fits perfectly in the bigger picture of the work God is doing in our community and around the world. In the same way, you, as a member, are a small piece of the puzzle that fits in the bigger picture of how we as a church carry out our mission.

 

Platform

    The platform is where we carry out our mission. For Mecca Community Church that platform is Mecca Township and the surrounding areas. We are community and family oriented. We believe that being involved in the community and helping those around us will not only build a better church, but also a better place to live, work and serve God.

 


We hope that you would want to become a member of Mecca Community Church in order to help us carry out the mission we have been given. So…are you ready to JUMP?


 Our History

    Our church was inaugurated in Mecca Township, Ohio, on December 5, 1822.  On December 6, 1822, a meeting was held to establish the church and it was agreed by the nine charter members in attendance that they would adopt the Confession of Faith, Covenant, and Articles of Practice as used by the Grand River and Portage Presbyteries at that time. The church is the oldest religious organization in the Township of Mecca.


    The name of the church was changed to the Congregational Church of Mecca prior to 1841 when it was decided that they and the Free Will Baptist Church would yoke together to construct one church building. It would be used in an equal fashion by both denominations. The building was constructed on what is now St. Rt. 46 in Mecca and dedicated in the fall of 1842 with the bell being hung on December 1, 1860. The Free Will Baptist Church terminated their services in the building sometime after 1876.


    For many years the pulpit was filled by Hiram divinity students for lack of a permanent pastor.  In the 1950’s the church body decided to build a parsonage to house a full time pastor and his family. At this time, Mecca Community Church went into partnership with the Greene Community Church to share a pastor each Sunday. By 1975, there was urgency for larger facilities to meet the needs of the growing congregation.


    On October 3, 1978 a loan was secured to purchase thirty four acres of land on Phillips-Rice Road. The loan was paid off in a short period of time. On February 16, 1984 a loan was taken out to build the present church building. A ground breaking ceremony was held on May 6, 1984 and the building was dedicated on September 29, 1985.


 The stained glass window of Jesus in the garden and the original bell placed at the old church in 1860 are in place at the new church along with the pulpit and several other items that had been used for many years. In 1989 a family room was added. The loan was paid off in 1998 at which time a mortgage burning ceremony was held.



The original church on State Route 46 served as a free clothing ministry which was open to the public.  An estimated 2,000 persons frequented the ministry each year. In the fall of 2006 the original church was purchased by Randy Guyette of Eagle Creek Designs, Inc. The deconstruction of the church began in the winter of 2006. Shortly thereafter, the building was sold to Hiram College and reconstructed as the residence for the Garfield Institute for Public Leadership. The original Mecca Community Church can be seen, beautifully restored, on the corner of State Routes 305, 82, and 700 (across from the historic Hiram Inn).


What We Believe



About God

   

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe.

He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

These three are co-equal and are one God.


Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; Genesis 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14




About Jesus Christ

   

    Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

He is co-equal with the Father.

Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross.

He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death.

He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.


Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; John 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15;

1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13


 


About the Holy Spirit

   

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God.

He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ.

He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation.

He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.

He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved.

As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.


 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12,

1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18




About the Bible

   

The Bible is God’s Word to us. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote it.

It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.

Because God inspires it, it is the truth without any mixture of error and without contradiction.

We believe that out of what we do know, we can trust what we don‘t know.


2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5




About Human Beings

   

 People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character.

People are the supreme object of God’s creation.

Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. 

This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.


Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2




About Salvation

   

Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it.

We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works.

Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty.

When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved.

Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.


Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, John 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1




About Eternity

 

  People were created to exist forever.

We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation.

To be eternally separated from God is Hell.

To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life.

Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.


John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians. 2:7-9



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