unlikelyclay.com

Every church needs an overarching purpose.  Ours is to help as many people as possible take their next step toward Jesus Christ.  We do this by helping people Know Jesus, Know Community, Grow Character, and Go Share.
But churches also need to answer “What’s important now?”  This past Sunday, at Vision Night, I shared with our church what God has laid on the hearts of our leaders.
We need to some face some BIG things in 2008:
1.       Reaching the people in our circle of influence.  Over 72,000 lost and unchurched people live in our county.  Within a 30 mile radius of our church, there are 178,000 lost and unchurched people.  How do we reach these people?  We Invite, Invest, and Include them.  We also need to develop a television presence on our local cable network and on the internet so people have a safe way to preview who we are.
2.       We need to look over the horizon to Africa and continue with our goal of having hundred of volunteers transform their lives by sharing a faith journey with African believers.
3.       We need God’s big power to pour out on our church.  Beginning next Monday, at noon, we will have a one hour prayer time called Prayer Force to ask God to anoint and empower His church and expand His kingdom.
We need to also get small in 2008:
1.       We want everyone to get in a group in 2008.  We like to launch five new groups and recruit 15 new adult leaders.
2.       We want to ask people to find themselves on the Leadership Pipeline.  Is God asking you to lead yourself, lead by doing, lead others, or lead leaders in 2008?
3.       We want people to FISH – First improve spiritual health throughout this year.  Read the Bible.  Pray.  Give.  Serve.
God will give you this year for a reason.  What is God saying to you about what’s important now?