| Vision Essay |
Imagine a church…  Imagine a church committed to loving unchurched people into a relationship with Christ. Imagine if the deep truths of God’s love and grace were spoken in everyday language so that everyday people could hear, understand and respond. What if the message of Christ is presented clearly, creatively and contagiously enough to penetrate and attract the hearts of the even the most guarded and unsuspecting? What if a band of surrendered and transformed hearts-on-the-mend began to give away grace, hand out hope, and scatter seeds of second chances? Imagine a tribe of believers inspired and equipped to attract their not-yet-surrendered friends, family, neighbors and co-workers toward relationship with Christ through friendship. What if we did that intentionally, strategically and continually? Expanding the borders of God’s Kingdom one life at a time. What if our ever-expanding clan continued to love without labeling, care without critiquing, and encourage without expecting anything in return? What if so many people came under the influence of transformational faith that the change in the community was noticed by even the most casual observer? What if the crime rate fell and shelters for the victimized and abused emptied? Imagine if every single Great Commission church in the twin cities region was filled to capacity by hearts ablaze with love and gratitude for Christ. What if this burning passion for loving the lost was extended beyond the twin cities and into the nations of the earth? What if we became a measurable force for world missions through praying, sending and going to the unreached in every corner of the globe? Imagine a church that is more than a church. What if it became a church factory? A church that produces other churches which carry its core values and DNA to other cities and nations all over the world. Imagine a church bathed in the warmth of honest and unguarded relationships. Where new friends are embraced freely regardless of their past… and relentless hope and commitment is focused on a brighter, healthier future through Christ. Where a robust network of small groups provides a safe place for folks to know and be known, love and be loved, serve and be served, celebrate and be celebrated. Imagine a circle of friends who can know your dark side and fully accept you still, who give you permission to have a bad day and still be wonderful. Where supreme value is placed on relating to one another in a joyful, hopeful, life-giving way. Where suspicion is replaced by inclusiveness, loneliness is replaced by friendship, and anxiety is replaced by laughter. Imagine a church determined to leave behind the enslavement of destructive life patterns and enjoy the freedom of Christ-likeness through insight and application of God's Word. Where the Truth of Christ’s cross breaks the chains of guilt and frees people to love God and live life well. Where age-appropriate ministry helps Christ-followers integrate scripture into the very fabric of our hearts and lives through every season of our lives. What if Christian growth goes beyond memorizing Bible facts and seeps into every aspect of life --- spiritual, emotional, physical, relational, intellectual, and social. Imagine if marriages were strengthened and homes restored; children become teenagers who are strong and healthy and secure in who they are. What if we offered real relief for real pain and real answers to real problems? A church without any particular theological point to make, but only a people to mend through the Truth of God’s Word. Where insight for living life better flowers into financial stability, relational security, and successful strategies for facing life’s challenges… and winning. Imagine a church energized by loving and gift-oriented service. Where God’s teachers teach and God’s leaders lead and where God’s intercessors pray and God’s artists create. What if every member of Christ’s body did their part so that the load was shared and the team was optimized? Where ministry tasks are matched with ministry gifts in order to provide success in mission and fulfillment in heart. Imagine a church with a lively facility buzzing with energy and purpose. A facility which is nice enough to characterize our value of excellence but conservative enough to characterize our value for world missions. A facility which serves as a nerve center for influential ministry both within and outside its walls, as well as frequent family fun. A facility which provides the technical resources necessary to present ministry through music, drama, and the arts without compromise. A ministry center filled 24/7 with activity all the way from mission-critical programs, strategic planning, and purpose-driven events to a gathering place for friends enjoying relaxed conversation. Imagine a church alive with enthusiastic praise and heart-felt worship. What if the craft of music could be used to showcase the God of the Universe in almost all His wonder? What if believers and unbelievers alike find themselves standing together in His tangible presence? Fascinated by the beauty and mercy of Christ and mesmerized by the thought that all this is not about them, but all about Him. A symphony of heartbeats consumed by the call to turn everyday people into whole-hearted followers of Christ. Do you think that church could happen? Do you think that church could make a difference? We think it can… we believe it must. This is our dream. This is our church. |
