“God has not called us to hold the fort, but to storm the heights!” Again this year we purpose to move ahead with the Father in reaching out to a lost and hurting world. While the economy is down and most of us are being affected by this, we are working to keep a strong emphasis on our local ministry and ministry to unreached people groups that are responsive to the gospel.
While last year we believed that we were led to lower our budget by about 7.8%, this year’s vision reflects an overall 1.88% increase. We are trusting and asking the Father to enable this challenging step forward for the purposes of touching people’s lives with Christ and for our growth in Him.
Below I have highlighted some of the important vision features of next year’s vision.
1. WORSHIP (one of our four basic functions as a church)
• We purpose to have messages with a more evangelistic emphasis 3-4 times a year. This would include Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Mother’s/Father’s Day as part of our reaching out to culture.
• As a congregation, we hope to grow in the quality of our times of sharing in prayer or quiet time highlights as part of our Sunday worship.
2. EDIFICATION (developing of believers)
• We are updating our explanation of the path to spiritual growth. For some years we have used the “Ball Diamond”. “Connect, Grow, Serve, Go” will be our new simplified description of how we hope each believer matures into a fully committed follower of Christ that can and does spiritually multiply.
• “NET” – new training for sharing Christ as a lifestyle
• LEADERSHIP development continues to be an important value as we give priority to equipping new saints to serve as council/elders, deacons, teachers, etc.
• Youth – Partner with parents in better communication and involvement in developing and implementing ministry. ALSO we purpose to guide our youth into deeper experiences in serving and leading with peers.
• Children’s Ministry: Priority on exploring and researching better methods and strategies to help our children live out a biblical world-view that’s relevant in their culture. We will also be working on implementing better ways to partner with parents in ministry to preschoolers and children.
3. EVANGELISM (outreach-personal evangelism) is still believed to be a value of God’s in which He wants to help us all grow. We believe God will empower us to be more fruitful.
• Our Local Ministry Team (LMT) is seeking to be a catalyst in both small group initiatives and church wide efforts. We will continue to connect adults and youth with Lloyd Price who has worked with Boaz and Ruth ministry in Highland Park and now is working to establish a new church there.
• PERU – Efforts to help the unreached Wanka Kechua Indians begin their own church continue. We will have 10-12 Grace/Cambridge trips in 2010. These will be smaller teams that focus on discipleship and training of new believers.
• Renewed commitment to 3 mile radius ministry
• New training in sharing Christ (NET)
• Indian church plant with support to Anant Shinde
• Highland Park community – Boaz & Ruth and Lloyd Price church planting
While this highlights some of the ministry priorities for 2010, we will continue to emphasize our going further in “LOVING and ENJOYING GOD and PEOPLE”. This is a very old Biblical value that must never change with the trends and times. Pray that in the midst of the “DO” part of our lives together, we will make even more progress in the “BE” part of our journey with Him. This is worth your life!!
Please click here to view our 2010 Budget.
|
