Operational Values

Operational values: measures that help us guide, improve and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of the vision/mission and other strategic elements of Kwanzaa’s theological mandate.

At Kwanzaa Community Church we grow in:

1. Competence
This includes knowledge and skills that help a person to function more effectively on the environment around and within them. This value assumes the stewardship of one’s gifts and compels us toward striving for excellence by working for improved effectiveness, vision, clarity, positive change, accountability, timeliness, organization, and follow through. It moves Kwanzaa to establish a knowledge-based teaching/preaching foundation.

2. Character
This is what makes a person intend to do what is just, right, and good. This value moves us to hold to the truth by being straightforward, forthright, prophetic, honest and just with God, ourselves, the church family and the world – being true to our values and openly facing the pain and joy of our minds, emotions, body and spirit. This value moves us to develop spiritually.

3. Confidence
This is the assuredness (the certainty) a person needs to act effectively. This value evidences a growing and vibrant faith in God, neighbor and self and moves us to live our lives with passion and joyful energy.

4. Caring/Loving
This is when a person uses these other qualities above (the C’s listed) not only for self-centered purposes but also to give to others. This value evidences love of the triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and the love of neighbor as well as self. This caring/love is demonstrated through the appropriate contributions, service and self care (health measures). This value moves us to prioritize expressive praise and praying in Faith, to orchestrate intentional evangelism and outreach ministries and to cherish and prioritize relationships

5. Connection
This refers to the relationships among people, adults, youth, children, congregational life, community and God. It’s the tie that binds people and things together. This value moves us to cherish and prioritize relationships, establish small groups (family groups, Sunday School classes, etc) and to assure and monitor assimilation.

These five qualities can be seen in 1 Samuel 17:40. David met the challenge of Goliath by going to the brook and scooping up five smooth stones, then, casting one to defeat the Giant. At Kwanzaa we see those stones as equivalent to the five C’s mention above and the brook as our congregational and communal life where the church through the Spirit of God empowers members to appropriate these five to defeat the sundry Goliaths of contemporary life.

Kwanzaa Community Church incorporates these values from Karen Pittman’s Five C’s.