Last night we discussed The Mission of New Life as the second of three installments in our M3 series. We learned that the vision of the church is to preserve and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to make mature disciples of all nations for the glory of God. Then we broke down why this is our vision and how we attempt to live it out in our daily lives.
This past summer, I took a seminary course that focused on strategic planning. Our primary textbook was Aubrey Malphurs’ seminal work, Advanced Strategic Planning. In the 6th chapter, Malphurs discusses the importance of vision to a church. He states:
“The right vision creates meaning in people’s lives, providing them with a cause and giving them a sense of divine purpose. They are a part of something bigger than themselves, something great that God is accomplishing at this time and place in history. They are a part of God’s cause. With a shared vision, people see themselves not just as another congregant or a ‘pew warmer’ but as a vital part of a church that is having a powerful impact on a lost and dying world” (147).
Malphurs is right on. At New Life, we aren’t interested in attracting or creating “pew warmers.” We want every person preserving and proclaiming the Gospel, that God might use us to make mature disciples of all nations for His glory.
Every person at New Life is different – and that’s a great thing. God has given us different gifts and passions, but has filled all of us with the Holy Spirit and burdened us with the same vision. One body with many different parts working together toward the same goal is a beautiful thing to watch and an amazing thing to be a part of. If you aren’t a member at New Life, I encourage you to consider joining this fall. Be on mission with us and watch God do great things.