ST GEORGE'S CHURCH VISION DAY 2015 12 Midday - Welcome, prayer & discussion in groups over lunch. Christ's Mission for his church The purpose of church 12.45 Coffee & Tea & feedback of lunch discussions 1. pm The purpose of mission, vision & God's values. 1.10 pm Prayer for God's vision for St George's 1.25 pm Discussion of vision document in groups. 1.50 pm feedback and open discussion 2.10 pm quiet and prayer 2.30 pm feedback - what is God calling us to do now? 2.50 pm sum up and what next? 3.00 pm close in prayer and tidy up. 1
Draft Mission Statements for opening discussion. A mission statement is a simple and broad statement that encapsulates what an organisation is about. Please read these and the connected bible passages before the vision day and think about Christ's mission for his people - the church, rooted in his ultimate purpose, that of glorifying God. The mission of this church (St George's) is to be, make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28v19-20); to increase in knowledge (Ephesians 1v17, Colossians 3v16) and love (Matthew 22v37) of God; be united in the gospel (1 Corinthians 12v12, Ephesians 4v3); live daily lives of worship (Romans 12v1-2); love each other (John 13v34-35) and love others, especially our community (Matthew 22v39). The mission of this church is to be, make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ, to increase in knowledge and love of God, be united in the gospel, live daily lives of worship, love each other, and love others, especially our community. simple version The mission of this church is to make, grow and be disciples of Jesus Christ, to love God, love each other and love others. flowing version The mission of this church is to be, make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ; to know and love God more and more as we live daily lives of worship, loving each other with unity in the gospel, loving our community and God's world. mission 'strap line' serving (in faith as disciples of Christ) building (each other and God's kingdom) belonging (united by the spirit in love as God's children together) What is a mission? - Firstly, the mission of the church is based on God's mission handed to us by Jesus. A mission is broad but clear. It describes what the church supposed be doing and informs everything that we do. It is used for guiding our vision, which is the specific work that we do here in this parish and further afield to glorify God as we fulfil His mission. 2
Mission is NOT vision, purpose, strategy or values, although all are interconnected. Purpose While a Mission statement underlies and guides everything that we do, our purpose is the reason behind why we exists and want to carry out our mission. The purpose of the church is ultimately to bring glory to God through everything that the church is and does, and enjoy him forever. - John 4 v23, 1 Corinthians 6v20, 10 v31, Revelation 4 v11, Isaiah 60 v21, Psalm 86. I came across this quote recently ' Swimming won t make you a fish but if you are a fish you will swim. Basically all those things that are thought to be the purpose of the church (evangelize, care for the poor, etc.) are characteristics that flow from the church that is fulfilling its (ultimate) purpose.' i.e. if we are disciples of Christ, our ultimate purpose is to bring glory to God and therefore we will be a people who want to carry out his mission as disciples. That works its way out in specific ways. Values Values are the characteristics of God that he calls us as his people to hold on to in scripture. Our values should be visible to all as we carry out Christ's mission and implement God's vision for us in this town (and further afield). e.g. holiness, faithfulness, honesty, integrity, thankfulness, compassion, humility, patience, mercy, forgiveness, generosity, to name but a few. Vision If our vision does not scare you, is it from God? A Christian vision must not be limited by human fear or man-made barriers. If God is calling us to do something, often when we set out we do not yet have all we need to finish the job. He calls us to trust that he provides as we act in faith. and sometime he changes our plans en-route. Just think of Paul on his missionary journeys and plan of going to Spain (Rom 15v24-29). What is a vision? A vision is specific but big and rooted in God's values and mission. It gives a picture of where we believe God is taking us at a snapshot in time, e.g. part of a vision statement might read, '...sharing the good news of Jesus with thousands of people in south Washington and beyond,' and/or, 'developing church members to spiritual maturity through small groups, bible studies and deeper theological teaching.' '..be a place where each week dozens of people struggling with hurts, frustrations, illness, addiction, financial issues or doubts can come and find peace, love, support, acceptance, forgiveness, guidance and the good news of Jesus.' 3
A united vision rooted in God's mission and values does a number of things: It excites. It energises. It strengthens unity A vision should be exiting - what excites you about being a follower of Christ and his mission? A vision builds meaning - what is our purpose as being Christians, what do we do to achieve that? A vision is bold - what do you think God can do through you/us? A vision gives a map - where do you think God can take us? A vision will face opposition from Satan - it will involve spiritual warfare and a lot of prayer. A vision is a snapshot in time of the mission working. A vision comes from the soul and the heart. A vision helps us get past fear of change and fear of the future. A vision should be clear, but not set in stone. A vision should come from God and encompass God's core values and God's mission. Is it biblical to have a vision of where we think God wants the church to be in x years time? Did Jesus have a five year plan for the church? Not exactly, but God had a plan and Jesus knew what that involved. Acts 2v23, Isaiah 53 v5. Luke 24v25-27, John 10v18, John 12v23, 1 Peter 1v20 He has an eternal plan to bring all things under Christ. - Ephesians 1v8-11 God definitely has broad a plan. That is his mission, and ours... to be and make disciples, but what about God's people having a vision, a plan that they believe God is calling them to implement in specifics to carry out that mission? I would argue, yes. God's mission is often implemented in scripture with specific plans for the future, but it is God's plan that we need to discern, not our own plans. e.g. Abraham in Genesis 12, Moses declares a vision in Deut 8v7-10, David and the temple in 2 Sam 7 v1-7, Nehemiah 1v3-4, 11 & 2v5, Romans 1v13, 15v24, 2 Corinthians 1v12-17 Strategy The strategy is simply the plan for implementing the vision God has given us. It is the who? when? how? where? etc. Once we have a vision, this is the journey towards it! 4
Action Plan Ministry and Church Community develop 'plus one' to help people move from fringe to being a part of 'church'. Improve people's engagement with 'new' people. new home group for newcomers. encourage greater discipleship through small groups. pastoral work for needy Next Steps Stewardship to enable church to cover costs. Start ministry trainee project work on warm contacts made through toddlers, baptisms, etc with accessible outreach understand community better to better enable us to 'go out' Develop and encourage the communal prayer life of the church. Mission More prayer. Develop regular lunch club and open church more regularly. Raise up more leaders. Create an invitation culture. Raise up a new generation of people confident in the gospel and able to share it. Make everything we do more accessible to unchurched. resources for second toddler group / pram service. Buildings There are many in the church who feel the facilities are dated and lack what is needed to create an inviting atmosphere for unchurched people. There is a desire to have a church cafe with the church open every day, facilities for young people to meet safely and regularly, new north side glass fronted and welcoming entrance with offices/community rooms Finance (including stewardship) Increase giving, initially to ensure the ability to cover actual costs. longer term to raise funds externally to develop building and internally or externally to support ministry trainees, then youth worker and/or associate ministers and CAP debt centre. Cross parish/deanery/ecumenical Food Bank and CAP through Washington. Washington churches together prayer and worship event. Medium Term (1 5 years) Church open more regularly with more regular lunch club Develop plans for building vision. Fund raise. Build facilities/cafe/entrance. Start youth work and over time bring on youth worker once resources allow Develop CAP work. dads and toddlers? pram service? sort church sound out. Long Term Plant churches/outreach groups/ spiritual communities throughout the parish in the different villages and even perhaps the large businesses and schools. these can look like anything from a group gathered to pray for 15 minutes, an evangelistic group, house church, new congregation in alternative setting. Growth Poverty Children & Young People Contribution to Diocesan Priorities Accessible ways of church, e.g. community/family events, all age 'messy church' direct evangelism through 'Alpha' style courses, encouraging personal outreach, discipleship group, baptism preparation, improved welcome, better hospitality, regular outreach events & services, men's group, drop in, lunch club. This is the area with most ideas but need resources to implement. Seeking to bring on interns to enable more to happen, e.g. cafe church, more regular community days. Relationship building by congregation key here. Working with Washington Community Foodbank providing volunteers and hosting an 'outpost' for those in the parish. Running CAP money courses and have longer term vision to run more CAP courses/debt counselling. Involved in collecting for Wearside Women in Need & People's Kitchen and have links with projects in Romania. Regular assemblies and occasional lessons in primary schools. Vicar is governor in Biddick Academy where he also takes lessons, assemblies and runs a weekly lunch club. Church runs a toddler group with 50+ names on the list, a 7-11 kids club, a young persons bible study/youth group, weekly Sunday school and an all age 'messy church style' group twice a month. Need a proper youth group and leaders. 5