The Mission

So, there are many important matters to be tended to in our churches like calling on the sick and tending the wounded in general within our fellowship and beyond.
But there is one major focus that is our primary mission and that is that someone's life becomes changed by the grace of God and that they decide to follow the way of Christ to make this world a better place.
Every thing else we do like worship, committee meetings, the giving of our money to God, clusters, covenant groups, conflict resolution in our churches etc, these ALL are only the means to the end, or the mission, and not the end in themselves. They should all take second place in regard to our attention as opposed to our primary attention being on our mission to change people's lives or plant the seeds that God will eventually cause to bear fruit.
In other words, we have got to keep the main thing the main thing!

So, imagine this. Someone stands up in church and says, "Hi, my name is_____________. I want you you to know that because of this church and the grace of God that my life has been changed. I want to give my life to Christ and his ways and do my part to further God's way in this world."

I pray that it might be so.

changing the culture

I am fascinated about how an organization creates or changes their culture. For example, Heritage Pointe, the UM nursing home in Warren where my parents live, has had a marvelous culture of respect and care for the residents instilled in all their workers. How did/do they get that done?!

Well, here's some thoughts about affirming or creating a new culture with the churches of the Northwest District.

FROM.....TO

FROM an occasional and random focus regarding how things are going in the church
TO a regular focus on how the church is doing in living out the 5 Practices

FROM the church members mostly studying/learning
TO church members mostly supporting/holding each other accountable concerning discipleship.....for ex: discussing how it's going with the 3 Simple Rules

FROM the value of me and my church
TO the value of us...our church, other churches, pastors, clusters, covenant groups etc.

FROM having a messy conflict resolution/peacemaking culture in the church
TO having a well defined and shared conflict resolution/peacemaking process and desire in church to stay a unified, mission focused family of God

FROM the church basically thinking about ourselves
TO a focus on who/what is our mission field and how we will love and serve them

What would you add?

May we work together to create a culture of Christ!

IF

In our churches,
WE NEED THE ABUNDANT LIFE THAT COMES FROM THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD.
We must seek after God's Spirit of Life, Love, Joy, Service, Peace, and Adventure.
IF we seek transformation and growth within the glory of God,
THEN we are empowered to move forward in unity with our mission!
IF we realize our need for God to make us a humble and loving family of God,
THEN we are able and inspired
to make disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world.
IF we seek to experience the good news of the kingdom of God in our midst,
THEN we can go forth together to be the good news of the kingdom of God for the world.
Jesus said "They will know you are my disciples IF you love one another."
I pray that we will be so changed by the power of God
that we will love, serve, connect deeply, and celebrate with one another
SO THAT the world will know for sure that we are his disciples.
Amen.

Sharing the Good News Stories

I was with an old friend today who is an active layperson in one of our churches. We had a nice time catching up with each others' lives. I also had the opportunity to share some of the cool ministries I've witnessed as a DS in some of our churches...ministries both inside and outside the walls of our church buildings. I was bragging on the UM Church and sharing the good news of what God is up to in our midst.

I believe that this is part of the culture we are seeking to develop in the Northwest District which by the way officially is birthed January 1, 2010. It is a culture which involves sharing the good news of the kingdom of God that is happening through our churches. It involves hearing about the many ways hungry people are being fed, churches are connecting to make a difference, people giving their lives to become like Christ, children and the youth of the community are being served, and the mission of Christ's church is moving forward.

This blog seeks to help us get our mission accomplished. Part of doing that is sharing the good news stories of God at work in our midst....stories which will inform, inspire, challenge, and keep us connected and focused on the mission.

Together, we will be mission minded in the Northwest District.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.