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!