Why we do what we do...

The Mission:

  • To partner with area churches to extend the love of Christ in real and practical ways in order that our community be reconciled to God and one another.

The Vision:

  • Churches uniting to pray, serve, and worship together.
  • Cedar Valley neighbors being touched through the kindness and service of the Church reaching out in Christ's love.
  • Participating churches building relationships and striving for unity year round.
  • Ongoing servant evangelism happening within the local church context.

Key Values:

Check out www.loveyourcity.com! This is a movement that began in Canada and is spreading throughout Canada and the United States. Love Cedar Valley affirms and embraces the key values of Love Your City:

  • Love Cedar Valley is based on the generosity of God spilling out of our lives, and out of our churches into the lives of the people in our communities. The method we're using is called "servant evangelism" which is offering people free gifts or services to show God's love in a practical way - no strings attached!

  • Love Cedar Valley is based on the belief/assumption that church unity and cooperation is central in reaching our communities for Jesus. For this reason we ask that this outreach express the desire of a number of churches and denominations in the community and not just one or two.

  • Love Cedar Valley is based on the two commandments of Jesus - to love God with everything, and to love our neighbour. The kindness explosion is our expression of the second one, and an evening worship celebration is our expression of the first. These two work very well together!

  • Love Cedar Valley is based on the belief/assumption that experiencing the kindness of God is a key step in people moving towards repentance. For this reason we do not want to attach other messages, tracts, or church distinctives beyond that for this event*. Having your church's name, phone number, website, etc. on the back of the kindness card can provide a helpful link for those wishing to take "a next step".

  • Love Cedar Valley expresses kindness to people by giving people goods or services for free. Why? To express to them the free love of the Father. For this reason we do not receive donations from those we've served.

  • Love Cedar Valley is based on the belief/assumption that showing love needs to cost us something. Therefore we do not solicit money from people or business's to offset our costs, or try to get goods or services for free. We say this, because often our first reaction is to see what we can get donated to us, so that our outreach won't cost as much. It needs to cost us something! Having said that, businesses may donate some items or give them to us for a cheaper price, but with no expectation of advertising for them. We suggest you start from this point - that all costs for the outreaches be born by the participating churches and/or members within those churches - and see what happens after that.

  • Love Cedar Valley is done in the name of Jesus. We are doing this because of the kindness of God expressed through his son, Jesus. Although we make the use of products and donations toward this purpose, we desire to make the name of Jesus famous, not advertise or build up corporations or local businesses. For this reason we want to avoid the type of underwriting that many business's provide if there is an expectation of exposure or promotion as a return benefit.

*We believe that God can and does use all sorts of methods for evangelism - ie. street preaching, tracts, evangelistic crusades, etc. - but believe that this is a significant time for the city church to simply show the love of Christ without any other "string" that people may be expecting to have attached to our message.

Key Scripture:

  • And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. - Hebrews 10:24

  • For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10

  • Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men…
    - Ephesians 6:7

  • In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven. - Matthew 5:16

  • Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people. - Galatians 6:9-10

  • Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. - 1 Timothy 6:17-19

  • Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32

  • Jesus replied, "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. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." - Matthew 22:37-40

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds ." - Hebrews 10:24

The mission of Love Cedar Valley is to partner with area churches to extend the love of Christ in
real and practical ways in order that our community be reconciled to God and one another.

Love Cedar Valley - 3900 Orchard Hill Drive, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
319.266.9796 - Email Webmaster