Following a summer of prayer, including two personal prayer retreats and a ministerial staff retreat, I recently shared with the church family “A Glimpse into Our Future” (see audio sermon for August 30).
Our MISSION does not change. Our mission is to bring people to Jesus.
Our VISION (as is customary every 3-5 years), has been updated. We have restated it to say: Being intentionally accepting of all people groups, we will share the Gospel and develop worshipers and disciples who actively serve God, both in the church and outside its walls.
I also shared the following SIX OBSERVATIONS gleaned from my/our time with God:
1. Answering God’s call to remain in our present location, we will become more creative and diverse as we multiply the use of our existing facilities.
2. As our congregation mirrors our community, we will welcome and minister to more people groups and a younger generation.
3. God will continue to provide for our financial needs through an ever increasing variety of sources as we also renew our emphasis on Biblical stewardship.
4. Staff leadership composition will become more flexible and diverse through the use of part-time positions, interns, and volunteers.
5. Lay leadership will play an increasingly vital role, which will necessitate discovering and developing additional leaders.
6. We will strengthen our discipling opportunities and utilize additional methodologies and technologies to develop Christ-followers who actively live out their ever-growing faith.
As a church, we know where we are going . . . and it is not a surprise. This is the direction that God has been taking us for several years. We know that the road ahead is not necesarily easy, but God has promised to go with us!
