Within GPC, people find a meaningful spiritual home in the contemporary world:

• We find the spiritual truths of the Bible are explained in language we can understand and in ways that help us know how to apply these truths to real life;
• We find we do not have to fear the judgment of others as we explore faith;
• We develop spiritual practices that keep us growing in faith, including reading the Bible with understanding, developing a life of prayer, taking time for rest and reverence, and serving other people;
• Families find support within a community in which the joys and challenges of life are shared;
• Children are honored and loved as they learn the great stories of the Bible and how God wants us all to live;
• Teens and adults of all ages find a place where their life experiences are valued and their participation is important.

From GPC, people go out to do God's work:

• We invite others to experience the joy and strength faith gives us;
• We are active as citizens in Goleta and Santa Barbara, bringing a moral perspective to issues such as education, housing, and health care;
• We take a leading role in working with other faith communities and religious traditions on projects of common concern;
• We are involved in the creation of a healthy, multicultural community;
• We are active in national and international affairs, pursuing peace, human rights, environmental responsibility, responsible uses of technology, and an end to hunger and poverty;
• Our actions are sometimes in support of government policy and popular opinion and sometimes in constructive opposition, depending on our understanding of how to most faithfully apply Christ's teachings.