Beliefs & Values
Beliefs
Nicene Creed
We affirm the Nicene Creed in its Eastern or Western form. We affirm it as both cosmically true and historically factual in every point.
The Nicene Creed allows Christians from many denominational backgrounds to gather together in their affirmation of the Trinity and God's work in the world.
Deference to Churches
CAI isn't a church, and we aren't out to replace them, so we do not take further public stances on points of doctrine that separate creed-affirming traditions. Instead, we encourage our staff and students to faithfully follow their traditions. We never proselytize fellow Christians.
Submission to Scripture
We affirm the Bible entirely and submit ourselves to it. We affirm that the lives of Christians must be characterized by a devotion to exploring and discussing Scripture, with an active submission to its injunctions for life.
We believe that the whole Bible is inspired for us by the Holy Spirit, who also continuously lives and acts in it. The Spirit does not err. His gifts to us are perfect for us, so Scripture is perfect for us.
Since the whole Bible comes from God, it is properly known as the Word of God and has a special relationship to Jesus Christ, the Word by whom all things were made. The Bible, the Word of God, always reveals Jesus, the Word, and represents him.
The Christian Life
We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to sanctify Christians in the image of Christ. All discussion of Christian behavior, therefore, begins with a recognition that it is the Spirit who works in Christians to apply the Word of God to their lives. The Spirit convicts and guides in the Word and in the community of faith.
We believe Christians are called to cooperate as the Spirit applies the Word of God to their lives, making them holy as Christ is holy. We must fervently seek that Christlikeness.
We further believe that we cannot separate Christian behavior—the pursuit of Spirit-led, Christlike holiness—from prayer, because prayer is the practice of our relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our living must find its source in that relationship. Likewise, we believe that we cannot separate Christian behavior from Christian community, that is, from the practice of our relationship with Christ’s body, the church. We believe that the practical foundation for Christian holiness is reading Scripture and praying individually, but also in community as members of one body.
Staff Behavioral Standards
Additionally, we have a number of more specific, concrete applications and interpretations of Christian life and doctrine that inform our hiring practices. We call them to live clear Christian lives as it relates to their souls, to their bodies, to their families, to their churches, and to their societies. These ensure a pure, safe, and rich environment in which our students—many of whom are legal minors—may pursue Christian adulthood.
Values
Service
We believe in churches, and we exist to help them. We’re not here to replace or destroy what any church is doing. Instead, we come alongside and help each church reach its best potential.
Excellence
Because we think youth ministry is so important, we strive to provide content that’s best in its class.
Hope
We believe that Christian adulthood is the best, truest, most beautiful way to be human, so we proclaim it boldly. We never resort to fear-mongering in our persuasion, our theories, or our events. We’re never satisfied with merely tearing things down; we build things up.
Mere Christianity
We’re committed to helping the whole church, not just one denomination. That’s why our content is carefully designed to be compatible with every Trinitarian, creedal tradition.
Focus
We’re here to help churches invite their youth into Christian adulthood, so we don’t get distracted by anything else, like politics or trends or fads.
Integration
We believe that good ministry appeals to the heart, soul, mind, and strength together, not just one or the other. Our approach is always holistic.
Discipleship
We’re all about Jesus. Everything we make and do points back to him and calls people to be his joyful followers.
Discussion
We believe in the radical importance and transformative power of seeking truth in community, especially in socially fragmented times like ours.
Exploration
We’re fervently committed to expanding our ability to recognize God’s glory in other people, in culture, and in creation, and to bringing others into that joyful process too.
Prayer
We think prayer must be the centerpiece of the Christian life until it expands into all of life and becomes ceaseless prayer.