OVERVIEW TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 OVERVIEW 4 WHO WE ARE: CORE VALUES 6 WHY WE EXIST: MISSION 10 WHERE WE RE GOING: VISION 14 INITIATIVES 16 FULL VISUAL But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) After moving into our new campus in 2007 and experiencing significant growth, we began to seek God for what He was leading us to do next. Recently God began to stir in us a passion for a fresh vision. As a result, we began a process of asking God to show us His direction for our future. After much prayer and seeking God s heart, we arrived at a clarity of MISSION (WHY WE EXIST) which led us to a new VISION (WHERE WE RE GOING) for Rockpoint Church. Today, our world is filled with people whose lives are very broken, lost, and in need of the Gospel. With so much on the line, we who call Rockpoint home are about to team up for an amazing new vision. Each one of us is invited to join in on what God has in store for Rockpoint over the coming years, and we can t wait to see how He is going to move as we embark on Vision2020. A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR AND LEADERSHIP BOARD He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. (Psalms 40:3) We serve an amazing and awesome God! The journey of Rockpoint Church gives witness to the mighty hand of God. As our Leadership Board has looked back over the years, we are in awe of how God has worked in our past. However, instead of gazing endlessly into the past, it is our desire for God to continue His mighty work in and through our church. God continues to transform lives and desires for us to experience Him in new and fresh ways each and every day. Our relationship with Him is never static and does not cease with our past experiences. God desires for us to continue to develop a deep, abiding, intimate relationship with Him through Jesus, and as we do, He transforms us. Our response is to pursue a new work of God in our lives so that many will fear Him and put their trust in the Lord because they have seen His transforming power in us first. 2 Our Leadership Board desires this for each and every person at Rockpoint Church. It is our burning passion to know and experience the Lord Jesus in such a way that through our lives others in our community and around the world will fear God and put their trust in Him. Our goal is to embark on VISION2020 so that Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. - Pastor Roy Fruits & Leadership Board 3
WHO WE ARE CORE VALUES Before we look at our mission and vision, it s important to consider the values that define who we are. Our cultural identity is found in our values. They embody our distinct culture as we seek to live out God s Kingdom in our world. Each of these values connect us with our past and provide a constant foundation of guiding principles in an ever changing culture. GOSPEL CENTERED We are people who believe the good news of Jesus is the ultimate focus of all we do. Our goal is to help people experience the joy of following Jesus. BIBLICAL TRUTH We are people who believe that biblical truth matters. Our church and life should be based on the unchanging truth of God s Word. Therefore, we believe everything we do and say has the goal of making disciples through grace and truth found in Scripture. LOVING RELATIONSHIPS We are people who believe that life is better together. Following Jesus is not meant to be done in isolation. Our goal is to love God and love one another, which can only happen by engaging in authentic, loving relationships. 4 GRACED BASED We are a people who believe grace needs to be the atmosphere of our lives and homes. When we embrace and live by God s grace, we avoid the extremes of license and legalism. REVERENT DEPENDENCE We are people who believe in the power of prayer because Jesus said that apart from me, you can do nothing (John 15:5). In humility we depend on God through the power of the Holy Spirit to advance His kingdom in our lives and the church. 5
WHY WE EXIST MISSION WE EXIST TO MAKE DISCIPLES THROUGH: 6 7
WHY WE EXIST MISSION Our mission defines why we exist, which then informs what we do. We spent time digging deep and examining our current identity as well as where God is calling us as we look into the future. We fused the two together to come up with a renewed statement that defines the mission of Rockpoint Church. GOSPEL-CENTERED TEACHING We have an unwavering commitment to God s Truth found in the Bible. It is the good news of Jesus that enables us to live holy lives. Jesus said that making disciples means teaching people to obey all He commanded (Matt. 28:18-20). Our desire is to see total life change through the power of God s Word (Hebrews 4:12). The gospel should be proclaimed clearly, consistently, and compellingly and be applied to every aspect of life (1 Cor 9:16-23). We do not teach more or less than what the Bible teaches. Through Gospel-Centered teaching, we become obedient from the heart to all the Bible teaches as we live for His glory. WE EXIST TO MAKE DISCIPLES THROUGH: GOSPEL-CENTERED GROWTH We are here to be and make disciples, but disciple making is never an end in itself. It s an ongoing process of multiplying others to follow Jesus. These pathways should be clear. A healthy growing church is an intergenerational church, learning and becoming together. Whether you are investigating faith or are a seasoned traveler, we desire for all people to become part of the spiritual journey of following Jesus. 8 WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? The Gospel is the Good News about Jesus. God s desire is to bring glory to Himself by His plan of redemption and reconciliation for fallen mankind, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. WHY GOSPEL-CENTERED? We are Gospel centered because true life transformation only happens by embracing the Good News of Jesus and abiding in Him. GOSPEL-CENTERED INFLUENCE We seek to develop authentic, loving relationships with one another as we become a loving influence throughout our community and world (John 13:34-35). We are God s sent people who live to make disciples and bring renewal to a world in need. 9
WHERE WE RE GOING: VISION 10 11
WHERE WE RE GOING VISION VISION2020 IS TO SEE A MOVE OF GOD TO BRING 2,020 ATTENDEES EVERY WEEKEND, A SHIFT TO A LARGER GROWTH MINDSET, AND INFLUENCE THAT REACHES BEYOND THE WALLS OF OUR BUILDING, INTO OUR COMMUNITY, AND AROUND THE WORLD. 2020 We are NOT consumed by numbers but by a passion to reach the lost with the Gospel. However, every number is a person and every person is immensely valuable to Christ. By 2020 we intend to have 2020 people in regular weekly attendance. This will only occur by healthy growth through life change, salvation and baptisms. It will include the stability brought forth through a marked change in infrastructure, communications capability, staff development, and a culture of evangelism, discipleship, and small groups. This will require significant growth of our existing Lake Elmo site providing a variety of ministries with unique identity. As we approach the 2020 time frame we will have developed and sold properties providing a sound financial foundation for the next steps of our growth, as agreed upon with Lake Elmo City Council because we have strengthened our ties and relationship with the Council and local community. SHIFT For us to follow God where He is taking us with Vision2020, it will require us to SHIFT. It will mean asking hard questions and listening to honest answers. Vision2020 will push us to SHIFT to an outward focus by asking questions like, Who is a part of Rockpoint Church, and doesn t even know it yet? Reaching the lost will require us to SHIFT from being simply a welcoming church to becoming a welcoming and connecting church. We will shift our emphasis to a culture that pushes BEYOND our walls. For us to follow where God is leading us, it will require us to SHIFT culture, infrastructure, outlook, and expectations. God is calling us to more: to SHIFT from being comfortable to being bold and God-dependent. 12 BEYOND If Rockpoint were to close its doors tomorrow, would our community care or even notice? We live in a community and world with great physical and spiritual needs. Vision2020 stretches us to go BEYOND our walls to be a valuable, known, and life-giving influence for the St. Croix Valley community. BEYOND looks to a future of significant multiplication of individuals and churches, as well as global missions investment with strategic partners in order to train national leaders, work with local churches, and to address both physical and spiritual needs as part of building long-term relationships. 13
INITIATIVES CREATE A FOCUS ON IMPROVING AND EXPANDING THE ROLE OF SMALL GROUPS In order to achieve the Vision by 2020 the following five ministry initiatives have been prioritized. This is not to say that other ministry initiatives are not important, but these five primary initiatives are the major focus and foundation of the strategic plan for Rockpoint church over the next few years. There is a critical need to focus on improving and expanding the small group ministry. This is the church within the church and plays a fundamental role in the community and discipleship elements of the church. Strengthening the focus of the church in this area is a crucial element to obtain that desired improvement. This will require utilizing sufficient staff and volunteer resources to lead and direct this endeavor. Are you in a small group? PRIORITIZE EVANGELISM AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH A major part of our vision involves a significant increase in first-time conversions and community outreach initiatives. After completing our church wide review we have ample evidence of significant growth in our region. Both housing on this side of the St. Croix River as well as new growth into the western part of Wisconsin indicates that the harvest is plentiful. We as a church need to be asking the Lord for His plans to reach the unsaved in our region. We seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus by offering both physical and spiritual answers. Do you engage with your neighbors and regularly pray for them? INCREASE OUR LOCAL AND GLOBAL MISSIONARY EFFORTS Significant growth is evident in the areas of our local and global missionary efforts. However, we still see the need for an expanded mission s team with a greater degree of strategic focus. Our desire is to continue to send out various teams who serve in our community, nation and world. We envision a future that includes a significant investment in strategic locations in order to train national leaders, work through local churches, address both physical and spiritual needs, and build long-term relationships. CREATE A CHURCH CULTURE OF DISCIPLE-MAKING Have you been a part of a short-term mission trip with Rockpoint? How are you involved in serving our community? 14 Making disciples will become the operating system of Rockpoint church. Our desire is to see an increase in our conversion growth rate and intentionality in developing disciples who make disciples. Making disciples will flow into age graded ministries (children, students and adults), marriage and family ministries (which need improvement) as well as men and women s ministries. This includes a leadership development process for those who are currently serving as well as young, next generation leaders. While we have made some progress in this area over the past few years, we became aware of major gaps regarding an intentional process of moving people toward Christ centered living. Our goal over the next five years is to make this a major part of the infrastructure of our church in order to integrate the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18 20) and Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37 39) throughout Rockpoint Church. Our new approach will involve four components: shared values, shared language, shared stories, and shared practices. How are you growing as a disciple? Do you have any relationships in which you are pouring into others? FORMULATE AND INITIATE A FACILITY GROWTH PLAN Our vision is to continue to grow on site at our current location. This means that we have to formulate a plan to maximize our current plated footprint, as well as pursue creative avenues to accommodate growth at our church. As a result of our review and analysis of the demographics of our region, we need to adopt an aggressive plan for church growth and therefore be prepared to offer facility recommendations to accommodate new growth at our church. This would include signage, new construction, financial plan and the balance between debt and ministry expansion. If Rockpoint is your church, do you give regularly? 15
WHY WE EXIST WHERE WE RE GOING MISSION VISION WE EXIST TO MAKE DISCIPLES THROUGH GOSPEL-CENTERED TEACHING, GOSPEL-CENTERED GROWTH, & GOSPEL CENTERED INFLUENCE. VISION2020 IS TO SEE A MOVE OF GOD TO BRING 2020 ATTENDEES EVERY WEEKEND, A SHIFT TO A LARGER GROWTH MINDSET, AND INFLUENCE THAT REACHES BEYOND THE WALLS OF OUR BUILDING, INTO OUR COMMUNITY, AND AROUND THE WORLD. 16 17