God's Church (And Our 4 Objectives)

God's Church

 This past weekend we had a board retreat. It was held here, at the church, and we looked at the wonderful things God was doing in and through our church. There are so many God-led stories in our church. I have really enjoyed hearing the stories of our people in our ConneXions tour, held every other month. God is bringing many faith journeys together to make an impact in our community. We want to be a simple people who are all about the Father’s business of reaching the lost. I am so glad to serve the Lord at such an awesome church with a unified leadership and congregation.

While being a people of prayer and truth, we have set out 4 objectives to work on in this year ahead. Let me share briefly what they are:

1. Create Irresistible Ministry Environments
We want to evaluate our facility and our ministries and be more intentional at doing everything with excellence. From our greeters to our classrooms, we want to prepare people for a move of God to be fluent every day. This will create an environment people can know God more and not deal with distractions.
 
2. Expand Ministry Involvement
Improving the way we go about sharing ministry needs and opportunities for people to serve along side of each other. Developing leaders, helping people to find their strengths, and giving people an avenue to make a difference are just a few of the things we will be focusing on.
 
3. Work on the Discipleship Process
We want a grace filled place where people can come to know the Lord, new believers can be discipled, and mature believers can continue to grow in their faith. This spiritual formation has to be simple and clear. It is our responsibility as a church to create a culture of Spirit-filled living.
 
4. Continue to Expand our Ministry in the Community
We don’t ever want to be complacent of the needs around us. As we continue to be generous and look for opportunities to meet physical and spiritual needs, we will be mobilizing our efforts to be a missional people by being a visible light in this dark world.

God is moving, people are growing, and lives are being changed. Jesus’ last commission to the disciples is found in Matthew 28:18-20. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We need to live this out.

In the book of Acts before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised the gift of the Holy Spirit. He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Not only has God called us to make disciples, He has promised to personally live in us through His Holy Spirit. That same authority Jesus was given, now resides in us.

Let’s keep inviting our family, friends, and neighbors to come and be filled with the presence of God in order to make a difference in this dark hour. Just spending a few minutes watching the news is enough to know that our world needs a miracle of God in all things.

On Sunday we will be looking at what we need to do to revive our faith. We all need a Fresh Faith. My prayer is that people will not wait for the National Back to Church Sunday onSeptember 21, but that every Sunday people will feel welcome to come.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike