About The Leaders
For years, Ike and Sharon Miller have sensed God calling them to lead together, and they believe God was equipping them specifically for Raleigh-Durham. In addition to their years of ministry experience, both earned Master of Divinity degrees from Duke Divinity School and PhDs from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Together, they have a passion for making the deep things of faith accessible to everyone, no matter where they are in their faith.
Ike loves Duke basketball, good food, friends, and coffee. Sharon is an author and a speaker, with a big heart for teaching and encouraging women. She also blames Ike for her addiction to coffee. They have two boys, Isaac and Coen, and they recently welcomed their first little girl, Sadie, who is in charge now.
Why “Bright City”?
Our City
The RDU area is one of the fastest growing in the nation, but we don’t simply want to see it grow. We want to see it flourish. We want RDU to shine as a bright city because of our presence.
Our Church
Jesus’s followers are called to be “the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.” Just as Jesus was a beacon of hope and good news, his church is called to do the same.
Our Hope
Scripture describes the kingdom of God as a bright city that “does not need the sun” because the glory of God is there. We want to be a foretaste of that reality even as we anticipate its coming.
Our Core Values
Christ
We believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. All that we do in our work, our worship and our way of life is rooted in the truth of his life, death and resurrection.
Calling
We believe that Jesus calls every person to impact the world around them. When we embrace this call, we embark on a life lived with purpose.
Community
We believe that Jesus began the church as a community of life-giving relationships. We believe that we experience life more fully when we experience God together.
Courage
We believe that answering Jesus’ call demands great courage. In courage, we trust the voice of God over our fears.
Character
We believe that Jesus desires our heart to reflect his own. Character is our capacity to choose the priorities of Jesus in place of our own.
Compassion
We believe that Jesus calls us to love those right in front of us, regardless of who they are, where they are from, or what they believe.
What We Believe
For centuries, Christians have affirmed a common statement of faith that has endured division and promoted unity. It’s called the Nicene Creed, and it encapsulates the core beliefs of the Christian faith. We affirm it fully, and the inspired scriptures from which it was drawn.
THE NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen