Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mosaic?
Mosaic is a community of followers of Jesus Christ, committed to live by faith, to be known by love, and to be a voice of hope. The name of our community comes both from the diversity of our members, and from the symbolism of a broken and fragmented humanity which can become a work of beauty under the artful hands of God. We welcome people from all walks of life, regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey.
Is SF Bay Mosaic Affiliated with Mosaic in LA?
Yes, we are the same movement spread across the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas. Our vision, values, mission and leadership are the same. The SF Bay community was launched in August of 2007.
Where do you meet?
Mosaic meets on Sundays in 7 gatherings at 5 different locations in the Los Angeles and San Francisco area (Inland, Pasadena, West Los Angeles, Downtown Los Angeles, and Berkeley). For families with children, we recommend the morning gatherings where full childcare, children’s programs, and youth ministries are provided.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Mosaic meets at 10:45 at Berkeley Adult School in Berkeley, CA. Get directions.
See www.mosaic.org for information regarding the current series. In our other campuses, the campus pastors are our primary communicators or our speaking team shares.
What are the Core Values and Vision of Mosaic?
The best way to get an in-depth look at the vision and values of mosaic is to get the book An Unstoppable Force, by Erwin Raphael McManus. It is an inside-out look at the values that drive Mosaic as a community of faith.
But if you’re just looking for the bullet points, here you go:
Overview
Mosaic is a community of followers of Jesus Christ, committed to live by faith, to be known by love, and to be a voice of hope. The name of our community comes both from the diversity of our members, and from the symbolism of a broken and fragmented humanity which can become a work of beauty under the artful hands of God. We welcome people from all walks of life, regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey.
Mission
To live by Faith, to be known by Love, and to be a voice of Hope (1 Thess 1:3).
Vision
To be a spiritual reference point throughout Los Angeles , and a sending base to the ends of the Earth.
Core Values/Metaphors/Environments
Wind (Commission): Mission is why the Church exists. The Church is a movement, not an institution. Every follower of Jesus is commissioned by God.
See: John 3:1-8, Acts 1:8, 8:1-14, Acts 2, Acts 8:26-40, Luke 4:14-21, Genesis 2:4-7, Ezekiel 37:1-10, Mark 4:41
Water (Community): Love is the context for all mission. The Church is relational, not programmatic. Every follower of Jesus is part of a larger community.
See: John 4, John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:7-21, Psalm 42:1, Psalm 1:1-3, Isaiah 32:1-3, Isaiah 58, John 7:25-44
Wood (Connection): Structure must always submit to Spirit. The Church is empowering, not controlling. Every follower of Jesus is called and connected uniquely to serve.
See: 1 Corinthians 12, John 15:1-17, Romans 11, Matthew 9:14-17, Romans 12:3-8, John 15:2, Jeremiah 31:31, 2 Corinthians 3
Fire (Communion): Relevance to culture is not optional. The Church is incarnational, not esoteric. Every follower of Jesus celebrates communion with God.
See: John 1:14, Philippians 2:5-9, Acts 17:16-34, Romans 12:1-2, Genesis 22, Exodus 3, 1 Kings 18:16-39, Psalm 51, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Hebrews 12:29, 1 Corinthians 14
Earth (Character): Creativity is the natural result of spirituality. The Church is transforming, not conforming. Every follower of Jesus grows in Christ-like character.
See: Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 8:4-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Ephesians 4:17-5:2, Genesis 2:7, Isaiah 64:8, 2 Corinthians 4:7-11
Core Convictions
The Bible is God’s authoritative word to us. Jesus is the only hope for a lost and broken world. The local church is God’s agent for redemptive change. Every Christian is called and gifted by God to serve the Body and seek the Lost. The Church is called to whole earth evangelism.
What is the Mosaic membership process?
To become a “member” of Mosaic, there isn’t a process. To be a part of our community at Mosaic, all you need to do is come. We will do our best to serve you, teach, share with you, love you, and allow you to serve no matter where you are in your spiritual journey.
What is the Mosaic volunteer staff process?
On the other hand, to become a part of our volunteer staff involves a process. The only reason to join staff is if you want to make a greater commitment to serve.
The Staff Process looks like this, and does not have to be done in this order:
- Have made a focused commitment to Christ.
- Have made a public confession of faith through baptism by immersion (must have made a focused commitment to Christ first).
- Be connected to a Small Group or Ministry Team.
- Have completed “Mosaic Life in Christ” (a 6 session conversation with others about our life in Christ).
- Completed Mosaic “Life in Church” (a luncheon with leaders from Mosaic sharing our vision and values. You must complete #s 1-4 before attending this evening).
- Embrace the Staff Covenant.
- Be commissioned at Elements.
The Staff Covenant is:
- Invest your passions—Honor God by following Christ personally and passionately. Your reputation is Christ’s reputation and the church’s reputation.
- Invest your talents—Participate in the life of the congregation through genuine worship, sharing, learning, and serving.
- Invest your resources—Support the Gospel here and worldwide by tithing (10% of your income) and then by giving more as the Lord leads. Invest your time, skills, talents, and gifts in and through the church.
- Invest your relationships—Develop authentic loving relationships with other in the church and establish significant relationships with those who do not know Jesus.
Mosaic is a huge volunteer force of talented, gifted, unique and committed “unpaid staff.” If you want to come to Mosaic to become a part of what we’re doing — to connect, learn, grow, and impact the city — we welcome you with open arms.
If interested in coming on “staff” with Mosaic, please let your small group leader know or contact someone at the connections area of the Sunday Gatherings.
What is your Doctrine?
The absolute best way to understand and learn about any community is to experience it on the relational level. Statements of faith can tell you what a community of faith’s beliefs are, but they can’t tell you who they are. If you’d like to discover who we are at Mosaic, please come to one of our Gatherings.
If unable to make it to Los Angeles and you want a more in-depth and relevant look at Mosaic (e.g. our core values and philosophy of ministry), please pick up a copy of the book An Unstoppable Force by Erwin Raphael McManus.
If the actual “statements of faith” are what you are still interested in, please reference the Baptist Faith and Message.
Are there any mentorship programs for pastors through Mosaic?
Although we do not offer any mentorship programs for pastors through Mosaic, there is a growing alliance of churches and leaders who are committed to the mission of Jesus Christ. Although there are no classes or programs available at this time, there are opportunities to connect and be invested into through experiences like The Mosaic Leadership Experience called Origins.
Origins is a three-day conversation with leading practitioners from around the world surrounding the mission of Christ in the post-modern context. It is more than a “how to” conference; it is an experience designed to immerse your thinking in a cultural architecture for the 21st century. Origins also serves as the annual convergence of the Mosaic Alliance.
Does Mosaic offer any Internships?
For info concerning the 10 week internship experience check out what’s happening with The Barbarian Project.
For our two year internship experience, become a Protégé.