The Gathering UMC Church - Vision Statement
Vision Statement
"where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18
Vision is a picture of what God wants to do in our lives and in the church. Vision comes to us when we earnestly and wholeheartedly seek it, pray for it, and patiently wait for it. The key is seeking God and His will, then joining what He is already doing and what He wants to do in us, through us, and for us. Without vision, we may be busy with many activities, but we will be wanderers rather than fruitful workers obedient to His will. Vision motivates us. It energizes us. It activates us forward in a specific direction in pursuit of God's desired goals. "So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches." I Corinthians 9:26
Vision given by God moves us toward a new reality. The vision comes before the reality, showing us what can be. It is God graciously giving us a blueprint of something better - His best for us. God invites us to participate with Him in the things He is doing. Since vision is an active, ongoing process of seeking what God wants to do, it becomes clearer as we pursue it. Ours is a growing, still developing vision, like a picture developing and becoming clearer. We see a church where each of the five purposes is a part of the church's "DNA". Specifically, we see:
Worship (Glorify...)
* A church where persons are genuinely excited to gather together for worship. Differences of background and culture melt away because people know the are loved and welcomed here. They look forward to coming. There is an easygoing atmosphere and a "come as you are" environment. Reserved parking for the first-time guest help communicate that we are expecting them. Many people arrive to sit and fellowship together over coffee and doughnuts from the cafe as music plays in the background. A few members arrive even earlier just to spend time in prayer for service.
* Everyone is greeted warmly even before they enter the building with a handshake, a smile and a word of welcome. Inside, everyone is greeted again and given a bulletin. At the guest information table, brochures are available that describe our church's various ministries as well as one that describes our purpose and core belief. Parents are comfortable bringing their children to the children's ministry area because they know they will be well-taken care of and will have fun while learning solid biblical truths.
* Excitement and expectation hangs in the air. People are excited about bringing their friends and families. God is worshiped in spirit and truth, Jesus is lifted up, and the Holy Spirit is welcomed and active. Everything about the service is done with excellence and the worship has movement - it flows. A worship team leads every attendee in praise songs as well as modern arrangements of classic hymns. The music is upbeat, biblically sound, and relevant not only to members but to first-time guests who are not yet believers. Worship and evangelism take place alongside one another as seekers sense in the worship something they are hungry for more of (it's God, though they may not know it at first). Worship is joyful, captivating, full of celebration. Technology (such as Power point) instruments, and drama are regular enriching parts of the worship experience. The church is regularly inspired and challenged by fresh testimonies of lives forever changed by God through the ministries offered. The waters of baptismal pool welcome God's fresh cleaning as new lives are claimed for Him.
* The series-based messages boldly yet sensitively proclaim God's Word and call for a response. They are lively, engaging, biblical, relevant. And in God's grace, they are effective. They paint a picture of what our lives can be in Christ and lovingly encourage us to go where God is leading. People know it's okay to laugh in church and often do, for humor is a part of the worship experience. Sermon notes are available and note-taking is encouraged. The altar is not the only place persons do business with God; each week there is an invitation to conversion and discipleship. Each person in invited to take a next step with God and commit to it through a communication card found in the bulletin.
Evangelism (Go...)
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." Matt. 12:30
* We see a church that makes the most of every opportunity to share the love of God to every person within our reach. Every member is committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those God puts within his of her reach. Church members see their own neighborhood as a mission field and make continuing efforts to get to know and to invite families living nearby. Both members and regular attendees are excited to invite their friends and acquaintances here because they know they will be loved and they see lives being transformed by God before their eyes - including their own! Loving outreach to the un-churched and the "de-churched" - those who for a variety of reasons no longer are active in any church - is a distinctive part of the church's DNA.
* We see a church where persons with little or no commitment to Christ can come and see, knowing that they will be welcomed and loved here. The environment will be conducive to drawing closer to God because of the Christ-like acceptance that is experienced here. People will want to come back, even if they aren't sure why and aren't ready to make a confession of faith or a commitment to God. Over time, God will win out in their lives as God's people love them into the kingdom.
* The church intentionally plans events specifically geared to connect with the community and draw persons from within it. These "bridge events" will respond to felt needs in the community - stress management or financial management seminars, marriage and parenting classes, divorce recovery classes, children's events, concerts, well-known speakers, community dinners - to name a few of the possibilities. The church also practices "servant evangelism" - going out into the community to share small acts of kindness in the name of Christ - free water to joggers, free car wash, etc. The church also uses high quality invitations given through various media, both free and paid, Web site, mass mailings, billboards, radio/TV spots, newspaper ads/articles will be used to continually invite persons to "come and see".
*Immediately following the worship service, all first-time guests with potential to return to our church are offered a free gift, usually a book, as a sign of our appreciation for their attendance. Every person that comes to worship is followed up upon if they provide the information necessary to do so (through the communication cards, this information will be sought each Sunday). This will be by email the next day and by letter later in the week for first-time visitors typically. The letter will contain a gift of appreciation for choosing to worship at our church. Sometimes first-time follow-up will be by phone call or even a visit, if appropriate - but often these steps are seen as to much by a first-time guest and are not helpful.
* We see a church that is missionary minded. We will support missions efforts within the Methodist connection and will personally support missionaries in various countries.
Fellowship (Gather...)
"not forsaking our gathering together..." Hebrews 10:25a Wycliffe New testament
* We see a church of small groups more than a church with small groups. The goal will be 100% participation of membership in small groups as well as active participation by regular attendees. Groups will be topical, or need oriented, or gender oriented or even common-interest oriented; most will begin on a short-term (6-8 week basis). Ongoing small groups that will balance the five purposes of worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship and ministry will develop out of some of the short-term groups. There will be an intentional strategy of helping persons become active in a small group.
* We see a church where friendship and fellowship are both intentional and natural byproducts. They are natural by products because the whole environment in one of the welcome friendliness and acceptance (of every person, not necessarily a person's conduct). We see a church that is honest and genuine with people, accepting them as they are but loving them enough not to let them stay there. Friendship and fellowship are intentionally facilitated through small groups in which every participant is richly loved and nurtured, where deep needs are met and both individuals and entire families are strengthened and made whole. We envision a church where membership classes are regularly taught by the pastor (in whole or in part) so that new members catch the church's vision and are committed to being used of God in pursuit of it.
Ministry (Give...)
*We see a church where every member is moving towards discovering and using their spiritual gifts in one or more specific ministries.. The pastor will head a ministry team made up of a worship leader and secretary (paid staff) at the beginning with other leaders added as the need arises. Godly character, high-level of competence and commitment, and excellent "chemistry" will be emphasized. This team will cast the vision and equip the laity for ministry. Lay leaders in various ministry areas will give oversight and direction in accord with the vision. I see a church in which persons hear God's call into specific vocations. Both by design and as a natural byproduct of the church's environment, persons within the church will respond to God's call into part-time and full-time ministry (sometimes in our church, or to seminary, or the mission field, etc.).
* We see a church that reaches out to our community and beyond and that ministers to the whole person. Thus, the church's impact will extend to matters of physical, emotional, and relational health as well as spiritual health and growth.
