IBC Core Values

1. Unity In Christian Community— The world is to recognize Christ by our unity (John 17:20-23) and the way we love each other (John 13:34-35). Therefore, we need to be fiercely committed to extending truth and grace to each other through healthy confrontation, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The way we treat each other in the church is the first thing many lost people look at. True community will recognize the possibility of being multi-cultural and intergenerational, both within the body and on the leadership level.
Native peoples prioritize the group over the individual so community is a cultural value. Many Native tribes prioritize “harmony” and unity as a cultural value. Unfortunately the churches are very fractured and divided. “Navajos have a hard time with forgiveness…The idea is if we leave it alone long enough it will phase out…This is where a lot of Native churches have trouble…not a lot of people go through the process of forgiveness”–Irvinson Jones, IBC alum & Navajo pastor. Download One-Anothers Handout >>

2. Relational Disciplemaking & Spiritual Mentoring— Events don’t effectively change lives, truth flowing through relationship does (1 Thess. 2:8). It is impossible to effectively teach obedience (Matt. 28:20) from a distance or in a crowd; it requires a trusting relationship. A healthy church needs individuals that are pouring their lives into those that are less mature for the sake of their spiritual growth.
Native peoples are “all about” the relationship; “spiritual mentoring” is inherent within the culture as illustrated by the training of medicine men. Unfortunately, most Native churches do LOTS of events (i.e. services, camp meetings, etc.) but don’t have any plan for relational disciplemaking and intentional spiritual mentoring.

Download and Read IBC's use of "Spiritual Formation" >>

3. Incarnational Evangelism— Jesus came to us (Luke 19:10), as one of us, but was without sin. He then sent us as the Father sent him (John 20:21). Like Jesus, the church needs to be a “friend of sinners” (Matthew 11:19), serving those around us, and establishing meaningful relationships through which we can share Christ. This means serving the lost, not just preaching at them.

Again, the primacy of relationship should not be missed. Native life centers around the family and community relationships, through which a “friend of sinners” approach can be much more effective. Unfortunately, most evangelism is done attractionally or very “Western” (i.e. going door to door). Bringing industry and employment back to the reservation would be one of the most effective ways for Christians to seek and serve the lost.

4. Team Leadership— Jesus is the only “senior pastor” specifically mentioned in Scripture (1 Peter 5:4). Church planting, ministry, and leadership are all best done in a team of people who are functioning primarily within their gifts and passions. If you want to see community in the congregation it is necessary to have community within leadership.
The community/group mentality of Native peoples makes team leadership a natural fit. Of all the core values, this one is most present in Native churches. Historically, Native tribes were led by groups of elders. Unfortunately, the lack of mature disciples often means that there aren’t enough maturing leaders to have a team approach; also, the lack of healthy relationships fractures and destroys team ministry approaches. The “Moses model” has been the primary leadership model of Native churches, where the senior pastor is the “dispenser of the spiritual” (e.g. Exodus 20:18-19, much like a de-facto medicine man.

5.  Self-sufficiency and interdependency— Mature churches should be meeting their own financial needs, supporting their own leadership (1 Timothy 5:17-18) and instead of receiving missions support should be primarily generating it for others. If values 1-4 are in healthy operation over an extended period of time self-sufficiency should be the result.
This may be the most difficult of all the values to produce in healthy churches. Before European settlement, Native peoples were very self-sufficient and independent. Unfortunately, the reservation system is a welfare state, which has created a dependency and entitlement for Native peoples that is crippling. Native churches will not be full healthy until they can break the cycle of dependency.