Do you remember those year-long emphases?

 

“My Actions Reflect the King” was our mission statement for 2003.

 

“Walk With Me” was our mission

statement for 2004.

 

Using a concise phrase and, in the case of MARK, a button as a reminder, we used these themes to focus our attention on our mission as the church and disciples of Jesus.  I think we should do the same thing in the coming years with our mission statement and/or core values. 

 

During this fall’s stewardship “pie meetings” I sensed Mount Cross members appreciated hearing about our strategic plan.  For some, this was the first time they had heard of our mission statement, our strategic plan, our fiscal challenges, etc.  These meeting also clarified for many how our own church does stewardship in relation to the larger church (synod and churchwide) as a model to our own members. 

 

If we can find creative ways to continue to implement our strategic plan (especially recommendations 1, 1A and 1B*), I believe we will be helped in many ways, including stewardship.  Toward this goal, I would like your help in identifying, verbally and visually, the key components of our mission statement or our core values.

 

Using the language of Natural Church Development, let’s assume that each of the emphases in our mission statement or each one of our core values is a “short stave” in our barrel.  Let’s find a way to characterize its importance and also strategize to strengthen it.

 

3 year plan: take the mission statement apart and treat one section each year:

·         2009 – Our Year of Caring.

·         2010 – Our Year of Compassion.

·         2011 – Our Year of Worship.

 

4 year plan: use our core values

·         2009 - Knowing God the God we worship

·         2010 - Guiding the next generation to know God

·         2011 - Knowing God through compassionate outreach

·         2012 - Knowing God in a caring community

 

If this has started your creative juices flowing and you get any ideas, please share them with me.

 

Thanks!

 

Pastor John

 

 

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* #1 – New Mission Statement: To know God through care, compassion and creative worship.

* #1A – Internalize the Mission Statement:  Every confirmed member of Mount Cross make the church’s mission statement their own personal statement of mission. 

* #1B – Continue To Grow The “The Vision Tree”:  Continue to use The Vision Tree as a model for planning, action and evaluation for all aspects of our ministries.