At St. John’s, our faith is not just a set of ideas—it is a living relationship with God that shapes how we love and serve the world around us.
Our Faith: The Story of God's Love
We believe in God, the Creator of the world and of every human being in it. God desires for all of His children to be in a full, loving relationship with Him.
Because we as humans regularly fail at maintaining this relationship on our own, God set a plan in motion to bring us back to Him:
• Jesus’ Life: God's Son, Jesus, was born on earth. He lived a human life, feeling the exact same pressures, struggles, and temptations we face, yet He did not succumb to them. Instead, He proclaimed the Good News of God’s Kingdom—a kingdom built entirely on love and mercy.
• The Resurrection: Because some could not tolerate this message of radical love, Jesus was executed. But God raised Jesus from the dead, breaking the power of broken relationships and death once and for all.
• Our Purpose: Through this miraculous act, God gifts us with abundant life here and now, as well as the promise of eternal life.
Our Episcopal and Anglican Heritage
St. John’s is a parish within the Diocese of Northern Indiana of the Episcopal Church. We are also a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the third-largest global Christian body.
From this rich tradition, we draw our identity through:
• The Book of Common Prayer: We use The Book of Common Prayer (the BCP) to guide our worship and beautifully express our beliefs.
• The Holy Scriptures: We affirm that the Bible is inspired by God, that God still speaks to us through its words today, and that the Holy Spirit actively guides the Church to understand and interpret Scripture truly. (BCP p. 853-854).
• The Universal Church: We confess that the Church is one, holy, catholic (universal), and apostolic. As the Body of Christ, we are charged to share God's Word, celebrate the Sacraments, and carry out Christ’s mission to all people. We proudly join hands in this mission with neighboring Episcopal and community churches.
Faith in Action: Discipleship
At St. John's, we believe that true discipleship is essential. Being shaped by the witness of God's love—whether through internal spiritual renewal or outward service—is at the very core of who we are.
We live out what we believe through active missionary outreach, including:
St. John's Food Pantry: The largest pantry in downtown Elkhart, which typically serves over 100 families every week.
The Outreach Committee: Engaging in vital neighborhood support, such as our annual back-to-school backpack drive, as well as global support, including sponsoring children in our companion Diocese of Honduras.
No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, there are a variety of ways to put your faith into action and grow as a disciple at St. John's.
Want to Learn More?
We are always glad to share more about our beliefs, our community, and the Sacrament of Baptism.
St. John's offers several missionary outreach opportunities, including the St. John's Food Pantry and the Outreach Committee. The St. John's Food Pantry is the largest pantry in downtown Elkhart, typically serving 100+ families a week. The Outreach Committee engages in neighborhood support, including a back-to-school backpack supply drive and national to global support, including sponsoring children in our companion Diocese of Honduras. There are a variety of ways to be activity in your discipleship at St. John's.