“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” – Proverbs 29:18 KJV
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” – Habakkuk 2:2 ESV
This past Sunday we talked about the importance of being in alignment with God’s Word and with one another visionally. With this in mind we shared the following statements in order to show how they are in alignment with God’s Word and also to rally our church family to be unified in pursuing these statements together with the help of the Holy Spirit. The three key statements that we have written together are our Purpose Statement, our Vision Statement and our Mission Statement. Our statements are based on two key Scriptures, The Great Commission and the Great Commandment:
The Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Great Commandment: Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV) 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
PURPOSE STATEMENT (Explains “why we exist” as a church):
Our church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ who have a growing heart for God expressed in passionate worship and generous giving, heart for each other expressed in authentic fellowship and devoted discipleship, and heart for our world expressed in intentional evangelism and sacrificial service.
HEART FOR GOD. HEART FOR EACH OTHER. HEART FOR OUR WORLD.
VISION STATEMENT (Helps us “see” what we can be with God’s help):
“Saturating Eastern NC with churches of Christ-followers who have a heart for God, heart for each other, and heart for our world.”
HEART CHANGE = WORLD CHANGE
MISSION STATEMENT (A definition of our key target, what we offer and what makes us unique): We invite people to . . .
“Come as you are and be forever changed by the love of Jesus!”
These statements are only words until we put prayerful action behind them. Yet, I am convinced that the Lord will empower us to accomplish that which He has called us to do, if only we will depend on Him as we move forward together.
May the Lord bless us with strength and unity to do the gospel work He has called us to do!