VISION TEXT: Acts 2:41-47 (NLT)
41Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church – about three thousand in all. 42 They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
44 And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity –
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.
NUMERICAL GROWTH demands that
we broaden our leadership/volunteer base.
Let’s broaden the leadership/volunteer base in the following areas:
- All Children’s Ministries
(Infants, toddler, pre-school, ExCell Kid’s Church, Mpact Girls’ Club, Royal Rangers) - Hospitality Team (First Touch)
(Usher, Guest Guide, Connect Center, Coffee Shop, Guest Welcome Center, First Response Team) - Creative Arts
(Music, drama, art, set design, set construction, costume design and creation, off-stage crew) - Outreach Ministries
(Prison ministry, assisting the elderly and disabled with repairs and light construction, events for the city and other organizations, NEW outreach to Seymour Johnson AFB, ) - Church Office
- Custodial service at The Bridge
- These are only a few areas…if YOU would like to join our team in another area, let us know by calling 919-735-5411, send an email to jamie@whitleychurch.com or sign up at the Connect Center.
VISION:
- To be a God-encountering church
- #1 Target: Those who do not know Christ
- #2 Target: Those who do not attend Church
- Compassionate and Accepting
- Multi-site
- Communication
- YOUTH = Children & Teens
- Singles
- More focus on reaching out to SJ Air Force Base
- Discipleship (men…prayer…Bible in a year….classes)
- Innovative
- Relevant
- “Whatever it takes” attitude to reach the lost
- 3rd service at WC …. Sunday Morning at The Bridge?
- Explanation of Connect Groups/Pier Groups (Pastoral Care)
Question: Other than spiritual health, what quality would impact our church above all others?
Answer: The congregation taking ownership of the vision.
WHAT ARE WE ABOUT?
- CHANGED LIVES…Changed lives change a community!
- THE GOSPEL…when the Gospel is THE agenda instead of some ridiculous issue that happens to be the “fad of the year.”
- HIS PRESENCE…when He becomes UNAVOIDABLE!
- WORSHIP…singing and serving with our whole heart toward God.
- GIVING…when God is honored because Christians are willing to trust Him no matter what the economy looks like.
- SERVICE…when believers serve Christ by using their spiritual gifts rather than depending on the “paid professionals” to do it all.
- DEDICATION…when people in the church are far more passionate about pursuing Christ daily rather than showing up on Sunday and getting their “attendance star”.
- PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY…when people in the church begin to accept responsibility for where they are in their spiritual journey…and then are willing to do something about it.
- LEADERS WHO FEAR GOD, NOT MAN…leaders who know that God called them and will take care of them…and refuse to let the threat of not getting a paycheck stop them from doing what God has called them to do.
- UNITY…when we stop pursuing our own agenda or the agenda of a church we used to attend, and begin to pursue God’s agenda for this church
- BAPTISM…people going public with their faith.
- SINCERITY…EVERYONE shows up with hearts ready to hear the Word, repent and be brought face to face with God, rather that coming to church only for social reasons or to “play church” (religion – YUK!)
- DESPERATION…for Jesus to show up at every worship gathering and to make Himself known to us each and every day as we seek His face.
- EXCELLENCE…for people to love God so much that they always give their very best effort to honor Him in their ministry.
- PASSION…Through intimacy with Christ, we become so confident and fired up about what God has called us to do that we do not allow criticisms from the community and/or even other churches to discourage us……that we return love, prayers and compassion for criticism.
TEN THINGS I want to See Happen this Year
#1 – I want us to plant a church in Smithfield within the next year.
#2 – I want to help as many other churches and church leaders as possible to reach their full potential.
#3 – I want to see at least 300 come to Christ this year.
#4 – I want 100 people who not currently volunteering, to step and begin to serve before Easter.
#5 – I want 50 households who not currently tithing to begin to tithe and give to missions.
#6 – I want 30 new people/families to step up and say, “My home is available for Connect Group meetings.” I want 30 people/couples to step up and say, “I will lead a Connect Group.”
#7 – I want to see at least 150 teens get the courage to be different and step up to MINISTRY rather than always receiving ministry.
#8 – I want the consumer mentality to END at both campuses. I want people who are only coming to GET something, to start saying, “What can I do to bless someone?” rather than saying, “What does this church have for me?”
#9 – I want to see God create 2 new EXCELLENT worship bands this year.
#10 – I want to see husbands and wives STOP being selfish and begin to take on the characteristics of Christ toward one another. The enemy is using divided homes to hinder the work of God in this world…AND in our church.