What are we about? Why do we exist as a church? If your answers sound anything like, “have a place to worship,” or “have a refuge from the world,” or “safeguard doctrine,” then congratulations: you’re in good company with the ancient people of Israel! But let’s get on the same page with God rather than with his people who often missed the mark.
God’s mission given to Abraham has not changed: “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” As expressed by Jesus, the mission is to “disciple (i.e., train) all peoples.” In other words, what we are about is blessing and training all peoples so they will be reconciled to God through Jesus. Or more simply stated, we are to be about them more than about us.
Each year the Board and I set goals that help to guide our work (and provide a basis for evaluating my effectiveness as Pastor). These do not define “what we’re about,” but they identify practical and measurable steps to help us be what we’re about. Here are those goals for 2019, in no particular order:
These goals, in various ways, are about others: knowing and being increasingly transformed through God’s word; drawing more people who want to know Jesus; gathering together outside Sunday mornings so we can draw more people into our lives and relationships; giving more generously and sacrificially so we can bless more people; celebrating transformation reflected through baptism.
These may be “Lead Pastor Goals,” but the reality is that most depend on you bringing hope and healing to your community and the world. And as we do that together, we will be changed and our community will be changed.
Pastor Randy
God’s mission given to Abraham has not changed: “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” As expressed by Jesus, the mission is to “disciple (i.e., train) all peoples.” In other words, what we are about is blessing and training all peoples so they will be reconciled to God through Jesus. Or more simply stated, we are to be about them more than about us.
Each year the Board and I set goals that help to guide our work (and provide a basis for evaluating my effectiveness as Pastor). These do not define “what we’re about,” but they identify practical and measurable steps to help us be what we’re about. Here are those goals for 2019, in no particular order:
- Increase the number of people reading their Bibles; and increase the number studying the Bible on their own.
- Develop and implement a plan to move visitors from guest to engaged participant.
- See 43 people in monthly dinner groups between May and September; and have at least two small groups (one for teens, one for adults) from September through December.
- See at least 75% of our regular attenders engaged in service outside the church at least once a month. (We’re currently at about 67%.)
- Baptize 5 people.
- Reach an average Sunday attendance of 65 by the end of the year.
- Average $9,000 a month in tithes & offerings.
These goals, in various ways, are about others: knowing and being increasingly transformed through God’s word; drawing more people who want to know Jesus; gathering together outside Sunday mornings so we can draw more people into our lives and relationships; giving more generously and sacrificially so we can bless more people; celebrating transformation reflected through baptism.
These may be “Lead Pastor Goals,” but the reality is that most depend on you bringing hope and healing to your community and the world. And as we do that together, we will be changed and our community will be changed.
Pastor Randy
