GRACE CHURCH GROWTH TRACK

Transcription

1 GRACE CHURCH GROWTH TRACK W E E K O N E M E M B E R S H I P

2 OUR VISION WE ARE ONE CHURCH IN MANY LOCATIONS UNTIL EVERYONE HEARS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. OUR MISSION GRACE CHURCH IS CALLED TO BE A MULTICAMPUS, MULTICULTURAL CHURCH FAMILY SEEKING TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION BY TEACHING ALL GENERATIONS TO GATHER, CONNECT AND SERVE. 1

3 WEEK ONE MEMBERSHIP THE PURPOSE 1.VISION 2.MISSION 3.VALUE 4.BELIEFS We re sharing these with you in hope that you commit your life to Christ and become a member of Grace Church. You are a member of God s very own family and you belong in God s household with every other Christian. EPHESIANS 2:19 (LB) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 PETER 3:18 (NIV) 2

4 OUR LEGACY HOW GOD STARTED IT In March 1966 the late Rev. Franklin Jones and his family of five came to Houston to assume the pastorate of Mt. Houston Pentecostal Church. There were twentyone voting members at that time. Over the years the Lord smiled upon the growing congregation and the Jones family. Many great things took place at the location on Mt. Houston Road. As the church grew, so did the pastoral demands. In March 1985 the church family voted to have Brett and Gizelle Jones to come serve as associate pastors. This proved to be a key move for Mt. Houston Pentecostal Church. Great growth followed, including a merger in 1989 with the congregation of Faith Tabernacle where the late Rev. Forrest Ford and the congregation were meeting at Grace Church s present location. Then in March 1995; the congregation voted to have Scott and Melanie Jones to come alongside and partner with Brett and Gizelle as pastors. A team concept was born and God honored the move. Growth and revival have been constant. On Father s Day 2008; Grace Church fulfilled the dream of becoming One Church, Many Locations by launching Grace Church Garden Oaks. In June of 2012 we expanded to three campuses with the addition of Grace Church Liberty. Our fourth campus in Tomball was launched in June We are one church, many locations, reaching Houston and beyond (Humble, Houston-Garden Oaks, Liberty and Tomball). With our campus additions and online services, we offer fifteen weekly services to accommodate the more than 6,000 in weekly attendance. We are excited about our future growth and construction. In the fall of 2014, we began the ONE campaign in an effort to expand and improve all campuses. We honor the legacy and history of Grace Church, and the great future that God has for us. 3

5 There is no place, like this place, near this place, so this must be the place. BISHOP FRANKLIN JONES 4

6 KEY TRUTHS BELONGING TO GOD S CHURCH 1. The church is a spiritual FAMILY 2. God expects you to be a part of a CHURCH FAMILY 3. A Christian in a church family experiences enourmous BENEFITS He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as His own children through Jesus Christ EPHESIANS 1:5 (AMP) 5

7 MEMBERSHIP AT GRACE CHURCH Every church has a culture, by default or by design. We choose to be very strategic in the cultural development of our church. We are ONE church in many locations striving to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ until everyone hears. The process in which this happens is by gathering, connecting and serving. Membership at Grace Church is about living out these three phases of church life. 6 6

8 GATHER Weekend services offer an opportunity for salvation. We consider reaching people one of our greatest responsibilities. Our weekend services serve people at all stages in their spiritual journey but are primarily geared toward the lost and unchurched. 15 WEEKLY SERVICES 4 CAMPUSES 1 ONLINE CAMPUS Our weekend services focus on: 1.CELEBRATION I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord. PSALM 122:1 (NKJV) True worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. JOHN 4:23-24 (NIV) 2.INSPIRATION I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. PHILIPPIANS 4:13 (NKJV) 3.PREPARATION It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. EPHESIANS 4:11-12 (NIV) 4.SALVATION Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But who can ask them to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ROMANS 10:13-14 (LB) HUMBLE CAMPUS Saturday 6 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., & 1:00 p.m. Wednesday 7 p.m. GARDEN OAKS CAMPUS Sunday 10 a.m. TOMBALL CAMPUS Sunday 9:15 & 11 a.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m. LIBERTY CAMPUS Sunday 10 a.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m. ONLINE CAMPUS Sunday 9:30 & 11:15 a.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m. 7

9 CONNECT SERVE Connect groups offer an opportunity for discipleship and friendship. Serve teams offer an opportunity for fulfillment. Real life change happens in the context of relationships connect groups. Connect groups provide a setting for discipleship and the development of relationships. We believe that our church must become larger and smaller at the same time so that we can have a focus on reaching others and on personal spiritual growth. Connect groups provide a place for... 1.EVERYDAY DISCIPLESHIP When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. ROMANS 1:12 (NLT) 2.LIFE CARE If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ECCLESIASTES 4:10 (NLT) 3.BUIDLING FRIENDSHIPS So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11 (NLT) All of us were created by God to make a difference in the life of another person. God has a place for you where your unique abilities and passions can touch the lives of others. Serving fulfills these kingdom principles: 1. Serving makes us more like JESUS For we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them. EPHESIANS 2:10 (NET) 2. Serving UNITES US Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities and there are different kinds of service to God (ministry) All of you together are the one Body of Christ and each of you is a separate and necessary part of it. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-5, 27 (LB) 3. Serving promotes HUMILITY & GENEROSITY Strength is for service not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good people around us, asking ourselves, How can I help? ROMANS 15:1-2 (MSG) 8

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11 STRUCTURE The culture at Grace Church is centered around team collaboration and servant-hearted leadership. The structure of our church is made up of the following: 1. Jesus Christ 2. Overseers 3. Senior Pastors 4. Pastoral Team 5. Advisory Council 6. Ministry Directors & Service Pastors 10

12 TEAM ONE OF US ISN T AS GOOD AS ALL OF US. OVERSEERS The overseers are a group of pastors, ordained and seasoned ministers and their wives who advise the pastors. Each year the overseers come in to review our past year s progress and our coming year s goals. They take oversight on every aspect of our church and especially the area of the pastors personal and professional lives. SENIOR PASTORS The pastors are the shepherds of the congregation. Grace Church is quite unique because we have two senior pastors working side-by-side. Both pastors oversee the overall day-to-day operations of the church. According to the Word, the pastors are to: 1. Preach and teach the Word. 2. Encourage the weak. 3. Reprove and warn the wayward. 4. Train, equip, and release lay-ministry leaders. 5. Be ready for every good work. (TITUS 3:1) and Garner. Pastor Brett provides mentorship to many pastors and their congregations. With a passion for missions and evangelism, he has traveled the globe ministering the Gospel and equipping missionary leaders with the necessary resources to reach the unreached. Pastor Brett s heart is to see the lost saved and to never lose sight of the one in the masses. He considers his most influential role model his father, the late Bishop Franklin Jones, whose rich legacy of ministry, service and honor is woven into the very fiber of his being. Two of his greatest accomplishments have been walking to the altar with Jesus and walking to the altar with Gizelle, his beautiful wife of over 35 years. him to rally people around any worthy cause. Ordained in 1990, Scott has held various administrative and executive positions in ministry. He currently serves as chairman of the Global Network of Christian Ministries a network of ministers with over 550 members. Pastor Scott has a natural gift for communicating, and as a public speaker he utilizes his sense of humor and life experiences to effectively reach audiences of all ages. He also holds a degree in theology and Christian psychology, and is a Certified Christian counselor. His ministry has taken him to over ten countries and around the nation, speaking to audiences ranging from eight to eight thousand. In 1995 he and his wife, Melanie, settled in Humble, Texas to serve as pastors at Grace Church. Melanie s ministry scope reaches from women s ministry to worship. She is a gifted and anointed vocalist who has been featured on many recording projects. She and Pastor Scott truly partner together in ministry. Pastor Brett and Gizelle Jones are the proud parents of three adult children, Kimber, Casey and Carley and two precious grandchildren, Ella Pastor Scott and Melanie Jones are the proud parents of two incredible children Spencer and Savannah. Since graduating as senior class president and valedictorian of his high school in 1984, Pastor Scott embarked into society with the desire to make a difference. He has been full time in ministry since His natural aptitude for leadership and administration has always enabled 11 Joyce Jones Lady J is the widow of Bishop Franklin Jones and the matriarch of Grace Church. She is actively involved in the day-to-day

13 activities of the church, and mirrors the values that have directed God to pour out abundant blessings on the church. Joyce Jones is all about people and she has faithfully served this church for more than 50 Years. She loves deeply, purely, without reservation and is truly the matriarch who encapsulates the calling of Grace Church. PASTORAL TEAM The pastoral team is comprised of executive pastors, campus pastors, and ministry pastors and their wives. They assist the senior pastors in the leadership of Grace Church. ADVISORY COUNCIL The advisory council is comprised of members of Grace Church who meet periodically with the senior pastors. These members provide counsel and valuable input which enables our senior leadership to have better insight into the heartbeat and pulse of the congregations from each campus. MINISTRY DIRECTORS & SERVICE PASTORS With a church of over 6,000 spread over four campuses, we are committed to equipping, empowering and releasing our leaders into roles that extend the reach of our pastors. Ministry directors lead, organize and facilitate a number of ministries throughout the church. Service pastors and directors are available to pray, answer questions and make decisions as an extension of our pastoral staff. 12

14 STATEMENT OF FAITH THIS WE BELIEVE 1.THE BIBLE is the word of God. God s Word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority and we accept the Bible as our manual for living. Our first question when faced with a decision is, What does the Bible say?. We practice daily Bible reading and Bible study. The Bible is the basis for all we believe. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 2 TIMOTHY 3:16 (NLT) And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but actually as it is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13 (NIV) 2.JESUS CHRIST is the Son of God. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth and voluntarily paid for our sin by dying on the cross as our substitute. This substitution saves all who receive His grace and trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead and is the only mediator between God and us. He baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit and will return to earth to fulfill prophecy. Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. JOHN 14:6 (NIV) 3. You must be BORN AGAIN. God created humans to have fellowship with Him, but they defied God by sinfully going their own way. As a result, we need God s saving grace to end our alienation from Him. Salvation comes only through God s grace not human effort and must be received personally by repentance and faith. At the end of this life, everyone will experience bodily resurrection and the Judgment. Only believers will enjoy eternal fellowship with God. If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. ROMANS 10:9-10 (NLT) When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. The old passes away, a new life has begun. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 (LB) If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. MATTHEW 16:25 (NLT) 4.WATER BAPTISM is essential to living an overcoming, victorious life. We believe that all of God s people are to be buried with our Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of baptism, subsequent to conversion. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them. ACTS 4:11-12 (NLT) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. MATTHEW 28:19 (NIV) Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ACTS 2:38 (NKJV) 13

15 In essential beliefs, we have unity, in nonessential beliefs, we have liberty and in all our beliefs, we show love. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and should walk in newness of life. your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even ROMANS 6:4 (NKJV) on servants men and women alike. JOEL 2:28-29 (NLT) 5. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is promised to all who BELIEVE. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God s they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. power within us. Every believer can be filled with the Holy Spirit by Acts 19:6 (NLT) simply asking. We seek to practice a daily dependence on God s Spirit to enable us to do what is right. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. to those who ask him! ACTS 1:8 (NIV) LUKE 11:13 (NIV) 14

16 CORE VALUES THE ONE DISCIPLESHIP Everyone matters to God. Every family. Every person. Everyone. In the fifteenth chapter of Luke, Jesus teaches the value of the one using three different parables the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. LUKE 15:10 (NKJV) The Bible speaks clearly that people perish for a lack of knowledge. We work diligently to never allow that statement to have credence at Grace Church. By equipping the youngest child to the eldest adult with Biblical teaching, we strive to see the Word of God disseminated, studied and learned by everyone. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And, if someone asks you about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 1 PETER 3:15 (NLT) 15

17 SERVICE GENEROSITY Serving others is a Kingdom principle, and service to Grace Church is vital to the spiritual health of any member. Throughout His ministry, Jesus not only taught the value of serving, but He set the ultimate example. To become involved in the leadership of Grace Church, you must first be willing to serve like Jesus. We believe generosity changes everything. Generosity is one of our core values because we know that it is one of God s core values. The deep love of God shown on the cross of Jesus is a generosity that cannot be repaid individually or collectively. When God s love was distilled, He gave. Since God is our model, we value generosity to our core. Strength is for service not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, How can I help? ROMANS 15:1-2 (MSG) For God so loved that world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. JOHN 3:16 (NKJV) 16

18 The difference between attendees and members can be summed up in one word: commitment. 17

19 YOUR NEXT STEPS GO ALL IN OUR HOPE FOR YOU 1. Become a member of Grace Church today. 2. Return for week two of the Growth Track and get connected through either groups or classes. 3. Complete week three of the Growth Track and join a Serve Team. MEANING OF MEMBERSHIP The difference between attendees and members can be summed up in one word: COMMITMENT Every team must have a roster. Every school must have an enrollment. Every business has a payroll. Every army has an enlistment. Even our country takes a census and requires voter registration. Partnership identifies our family. 4.A PERSONAL REASON It produces spiritual growth. The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for Christians to be accountable to each other for spiritual growth. You cannot be accountable when you re not committed to any specific church family. FOUR REASONS TO COMMIT TO MEMBERSHIP 1.A BIBLICAL REASON Christ is committed to the church....christ loved the church, and he gave his life for it. EPHESIANS 5:25 (GN) 2.A CULTURAL REASON It is an antidote to our society. Commitment always builds character and is the necessary foundation upon which to build a successful society. 3.A PRACTICAL REASON It defines who can be relied on. 18

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21 I want to do something in my generation to help, not hurt; to heal, not make ill; to build up, not tear down; to strengthen, not weaken. I want to do something in my generation to dry its tears, soothe its hurts, feed its hungry, clothe the naked, turn it around, and lighten its darkness. BISHOP FRANKLIN JONES 20

22 NOTES 21

23 APPENDIX MEMBER CARE SUPPORT Monday-Friday: 9:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. (281) At Grace Church, we believe everyone matters. Our Member Care team provides a network of care to individuals and families of Grace Church in every season of life. CRISIS CARE Grace Church partners with many organizations in our community to help when life challenges occur. The Member Care Department can assist in a variety of ways. Crisis Care may include: Sudden Death Medical Emergency Hospitalization TO ALERT US: 1. Go to gracechurchlive.com 2. Click Members 3. Click Member Care 4. Scroll down to Hospital or Bereavement Notifications 5. Click on Contact Us 6. For Financial Emergencies call x385 For after-hour medical emergencies call the Crisis Care Line at (281) Click on Locations 3. Click on your campus link 4. Scroll down to the Connect With Us section 5. Complete the form with your prayer request and hit submit COUNSELING We care about you and your family s mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual needs. If you are in need of counseling resources, please contact Member Care at membercare@gracechurchlive.com or call x317. WEDDINGS Your wedding is a very important and sacred event in your life. Grace Church welcomes the opportunity to share this blessed time with you. For wedding information, please contact Member Care at membercare@gracechurchlive.com WATER BAPTISM The act of water baptism is a very important step in a Christian s life. Just like a wedding ring, it is an outward sign of the commitment you have made in your heart to Jesus Christ. We are honored to celebrate this special day with you! Grace Church conducts water baptism the 2nd weekend of each month. To register for water baptism, please: PRAYER REQUESTS Grace Church believes in the power of prayer. We have a dedicated group of people who are committed to pray for you according to God s will when you face difficulties and challenges in life. If you have a prayer need, please: 1. Go to gracechurchlive.com 1. Log In to TheCity at gracechurchlive.onthecity.org. 2. Click on the Events tab. 3. Click on the baptism event date link of your choice and register. For any questions regarding water baptism, please contact Member Care at membercare@gracechurchlive.com. 22

24 GRACE CHURCH IS ONE CHURCH IN MANY LOCATIONS UNTIL EVERYONE HEARS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. 23