GATHER

To gather as Christ’s people means choosing unity over division. Unity doesn’t mean sameness—it means being joined together by the Spirit, centered on Jesus, and committed to one another in love. Seeking unity calls us to lay aside pride, listen with humility, and pursue reconciliation quickly. It looks like honoring each other’s strengths, carrying each other’s burdens, and celebrating what God is doing in our lives together. In a world that fractures, the Church becomes a living witness when we walk side by side in grace and truth. At Mt. Zion, we seek unity through our Statement of Faith and the MZCore Prinicple & Practices. These documents are summarized in MZCore: 

MZCore is your gateway to a deeper understanding of our church. Immerse yourself in our core values, beliefs, culture, and curriculum. This foundational training ensures alignment across all ministries, empowering us to work together towards a shared vision and mission. Discover how MZCore can help you become a more effective leader and a more impactful member of our church community.

From the very beginning, God designed us for community. In Acts 2:42–47, the early church gathered not only in the temple courts but also in homes, where they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, shared meals, prayed together, and cared for one another’s needs. Groups are our way of living out this same biblical pattern at Mt. Zion.

As our church grows larger, groups help us stay “small” enough to truly know and be known. We believe the church should be big enough to make an impact, but small enough to make a disciple. In a group, you’ll find more than weekly conversation—you’ll discover a spiritual family. Groups are where we carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), stir one another up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24–25), and encourage one another daily so that no one’s faith grows cold (Hebrews 3:13).

Supporting one another means walking through life side by side—celebrating joys, standing together in trials, and growing in Christ through accountability and encouragement. Sunday gatherings inspire us, but groups ground us. They are the place where discipleship takes root, where we learn to live out the way of Jesus in everyday rhythms, and where we practice the love that makes the church a true family.

At Mt. Zion, groups are not just another program—they are the heartbeat of our community. When you join a group, you step into a circle of support, friendship, and growth. This is how we build lasting relationships and become more like Christ together.

At Mt. Zion, we believe accountability is not a burden—it’s a blessing. Scripture calls us to “encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13). Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo pursuit. Accountability helps us grow stronger by walking together in grace and truth: offering encouragement when we are weary, correction when we drift, and support as we pursue holiness.

This kind of care and accountability is woven into what it means to belong at Mt. Zion. Membership is not just about attending services; it is a covenant relationship with Christ and His people. When we commit to one another, we embrace the responsibility of living as one body—“so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5).

Welcoming accountability means inviting trusted brothers and sisters to speak truth into our lives, submitting ourselves to pastoral care and biblical leadership, and helping one another persevere in faith. In a culture that often prizes independence, accountability is a countercultural choice. It proclaims: I want others to help me become more like Jesus, and I am willing to do the same for them.

At Mt. Zion, we welcome accountability not to shame or control, but to protect, strengthen, and grow as disciples of Christ. Together, we practice repentance, reconciliation, and encouragement—because Christ is most fully formed in us when we walk in the light, side by side.