During the summer, we always spend time thinking about and preparing where we are headed in the fall, and I have been giving this a LOT of thought this summer. Over the last 4 1/2 years, we have grown from a few families in a living room to over 500 people attending on a regular basis, and with those kinds of changes comes some major changes in our systems, and in how we DO church on a regular basis. So here are a few things that we will be working on for the fall:
- Every Growth Group will kick off with multiple leaders! In order to ensure the success of not only the current season - but future seasons - we will have the main leader in each Growth Group, as well as someone who has never led a Group, but is learning how to for the next season! Our biggest barrier to growth right now is LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT and this is one of the areas that we need it the most!
- We will offer even more opportunities for Study Groups! The goal of Growth Groups is to make friendships, but it can also be a great opportunity to further study the Bible, or topics of life from a Biblical Worldview! We want to continue to increase availability in those areas!
- We will also offer more opportunities for service projects through our Growth Groups, our Charity:Water Campaign, and different initiatives on Sunday morning like our baby food for Haiti!
- We are working with each Team Lead to create an environment with our serving teams that is less "task-driven" and more "team-driven"! Every volunteer should feel like they are not only helping to accomplish the mission of the church, but that they are valuable to their team as well!
- We are working hard to mobilize more volunteers than ever before and training volunteers who train volunteers who train volunteers... I think you get the idea!
- We are working hard to continue to create an environment that makes it EASY for you to invite your friends and neighbors! We will continue to grow as you continue to invite, and more and more lives in our community will be changed!
The Bible says that God will continue to perfect the work that he began in us, and I believe that doesn't only apply to people, but to churches as well. We are only getting started and the best is yet to come! Please consider what your part will be as we strive to create an environment in the next year that continues to HELP PEOPLE FIND AND FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST!
Well said Jeremiah!
Posted by: Joy Gullings | August 02, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Excited for you guys!
Posted by: Erik Lindeen | August 02, 2011 at 01:35 PM