Our Missional Identity
As we emerge from two years of pandemic challenges, we are aware that we are ministering in a world that has changed. This new world needs healthy churches that can discover the practices, priorities and systems that can communicate God’s love and light to the world. We are determined to “let our light shine” (Matthew 5:16) so that we can point others to the love, grace and transformational power of Jesus Christ. Healthy churches do just that because:
“Healthy churches focus on Jesus Christ through transformative worship, compelling evangelism, invitational community, extravagant generosity, and radical hospitality. They also work to transform the community around them, to bring justice to the marginalized and to embody the love of Jesus. Healthy churches follow Christ’s mandate to make disciples and are involved in forming missional communities beyond themselves. Missionally vital congregations can adapt to changing realities, remaining both connected and relevant to those that they serve…Healthy churches have healthy leaders. It is simple as that…A healthy church has a clear sense of purpose that is focused on Jesus and what Jesus loves. This clear purpose shapes the church’s ministry initiatives.” [From the Evangelical Covenant Church’s Periodic Health Check report. Learn more here.]
We know that for us to pursue this kind of health, we have to focus on areas of passion and strength. So, over the next couple of years we will focus on the following areas:
Our Priorities:
Practicing Hospitality
A healthy church actively welcomes and accepts people of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities and helps them feel part of the church. People feel not just welcomed but actually included in the congregation and its activities. There is a deep understanding of biblical hospitality and its importance as we strive to live out our faith.
Hebrews 13:1-2
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Making Disciples
A healthy church helps people grow as followers of Jesus Christ by teaching them to engage spiritual disciplines, helping them understand the Scriptures, and providing them training on helping others grow in their faith. The worship services also help people grow as followers of Jesus.
Ephesians 3:16-19
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Developing Leaders
In healthy churches, the elected and pastoral leaders develop future congregational leaders by encouraging and empowering them to use their gifts and skills to participate in the church’s vision. There is a regular assessment of the congregation’s spiritual gifts, as well as a process for discovering their skills, passion, and knowledge. Potential leaders are identified through this process and then intentionally developed through a pre-determined process.
Proverbs 9:9-10
Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Focusing Outward
A healthy church intentionally focuses on loving others outside of the congregation. A healthy church exists for the well-being of others, pouring itself out for the sake of the gospel.
Luke 10:27
“He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”