Lewisburg United Methodist Church

 

I.     Go Make Disciples

• The purpose of the church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ. The beginning point for the vision of Lewisburg UMC is making disciples. The world needs to hear and experience God’s words of love, grace, and hope. The Christian faith is meant to be active; marked by evangelism, discipleship, and mission.

 

1) Evangelism/New Member Assimilation 

Provocative Proposal

To address the real needs of people in the community so we can lead people to Christ, bear witness to His love and see our own lives transformed.

 

Biblical Witness

The Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

 

Goals

• Develop ministries for the unchurched and new believers including appropriate worship services, small groups for new believers, and a profile of the population that we want to reach with their needs identified.
• Equip our congregation to become a community where people learn to share a confident and contagious witness to their faith in Jesus Christ.
• Increase number of new Christians by 50% by 2010 (25 per year).
• Assist New Members to connect to our congregation in three ways: through worship, fellowship and service.
• Promote/develop a ministry of invitation, welcoming and offering hospitality to visitors and guests.

Evangelism is, at its heart, sharing faith with others, particularly with those who are unchurched or disconnected, and inviting them to follow Jesus Christ as Christian disciples. If we as a congregation carry out the Great Commission of Jesus we will welcome and invite others and continue through a process of relating persons to God and our congregation and equipping and sending them forth in ministry.

 

2) Discipleship

 

Provocative Proposal

For all to come alive in Jesus; to take up the cross and follow Him. Discipleship includes education, preparation, engagement, ministry, and service.

 

Biblical Witness

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” (John 15:8-9)

 

Goals

• Help individuals in our congregation identify their spiritual gifts and talents for ministry and service, and determine where God is calling them.
• Expand training in Bible Study, Spiritual Disciplines, and Spiritual Leadership.
• Increase the number of people entering full-time or part-time ministry.
• Recruit, inspire, and train new ministry leaders for service at home/work/church/community.
• Develop a transition in thinking from “volunteers” to “disciples” for all ministries by laity and staff.

One of the greatest quests for all Christians is to discover the will of God for their lives. We know that it is God’s will for us to produce fruit that glorifies the Father and affirms our discipleship. We must have a personal relationship with God through Jesus. We can’t share what we do not have.

Provocative Proposal

To be Christ’s feet, hands and face in the community, state and world. To extend the compassion of Christ.

 

Biblical Witness

“So if I, your LORD and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:14-15)

 

Goals

• Increase personal participation (hands-on) mission.
• Expand existing mission programs and initiate new mission areas as need arises
• Create a congregational environment that encourages individuals to initiate new ministries
• Become a regional center for missions.

We celebrate the growth in mission through our service to our community, nation, and world during the past 10 years. Jesus’ model of washing the disciples’ feet calls us to not only be involved in worship, fellowship, and Bible study, but to use our gifts and talents in ministry and mission. God’s gifts are richly diverse for a variety of services. We are all made for ministry, and we will strive to equip and send out our people in mission.

 

II.         Grow In Love

• The Christian life is not stagnant. It is a life of growth. God does not want us to live in isolation. God puts us in a church. It is God’s plan that the church helps us grow in our understanding and experience of God’s love. It is in the church that we share the life of Christ with one another, the community, and the world. God chooses the church to be the instrument that shapes the lives of Christians and expresses the love of Christ on earth. Consequently, as we share the Gospel of Christ with others, and as God forms us, we experience the blessings of being a part of the church.

 

4) Spiritual Formation and Faith Development

Provocative Proposal

To grow in our relationship with God in ways that bring us closer to Christ and allow Christ’s life and love to form our faith.

 

Biblical Witness

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2) Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:13-14)

 

Goals

• Develop a comprehensive plan for spiritual formation.
• Encourage all church members to be intentional about their faith development and spiritual formation.
• Encourage our congregation to live out the Biblical principal of Tithing (10%).
• Offer a variety of classes and experiences for spiritual growth.
• Emphasize Disciple Classes and other Bible studies.
• Facilitate growth in individual, family, and corporate prayer.

Evangelism is the first step in the disciple-making process. However, God does not leave us as we are and invites us to take a second step. God molds, shapes, and forms us into mature, spiritual, Christian disciples. Spiritual formation and faith development are intended to be life-long and life-giving. 

 

 5) Fellowship

 

Provocative Proposal

All gatherings will promote unity within the body of Christ, which reflects the joy and oneness of heaven on earth.

 

Biblical Witness

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (1 Cor. 12:12) We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3) … if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another… (1John 1:7)

 

Goals

• Build relationships within the body of Christ by increasing fellowship opportunities and participation.
• Increase fellowship across age groups as well as within.
• Tie fellowship to evangelism and reach outside of church to neighborhoods, age groups and life situations.
• Include camps, retreats, church trips and seasonal activities.

A major factor in whether people remain active in a church is if they feel loved. Creating a warmer and welcoming fellowship allows us to feel connected to each other and to God. It is hoped that the fellowship we experience in the church provides all with a glimpse of the joyful bond in heaven.

 

6) Children’s and Youth Ministry

Provocative Proposal

To provide a nurturing and caring Christian environment that encourages our children to be formed by God, commit their lives to Jesus Christ, grow in their faith, and live out their faith.

 

Biblical Witness

But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1:7-8) Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  (Matthew 19:14) …what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. (Psalm 78:3,4)

 

Goals

• Provide a safe and nurturing environment for Christian formation for children and youth.
• Expand Children’s Ministry by providing a weekday children’s Christian program, daycare, and Mom’s Morning Out.
• Expand Youth Ministry as follows:-
  1. Provide dedicated space
  2. Develop small group activities.
  3. Provide recreation.
  4. Develop youth worship and music experiences.
  5. Provide midweek ministries.
  6. Build healthy relationships.
  7. Increase professions of faith.
  8. Provide opportunities for spiritual formation and mission experiences.
  9. Help prepare for educational, vocational, and life-choices.
  10. Help discern God’s call.
  11. Develop worship and ministry opportunities for our youth to invite and share their faith with their peers.

 

7) Age Group and Specialized Ministry

 

Provocative Proposal

For everyone to recognize and celebrate their sacred worth as they discover the joy of being a child of God.

 

Biblical Witness

You received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:15-17)

 

Goals

• Develop a comprehensive caring ministry
• Design specialized ministry teams that pray, examine, and empower ministry to happen with different age groups and people with specific life needs.
• Develop Family Ministry: parenting classes , seminars, and exploration of family dynamics
• Provide marriage preparation and enhancement teaching.
• Develop young adults, singles, and new believers’ ministries.
• Develop ministries for Osteopathic School and NRCTC students.
• Develop a Stewardship and Financial ministry.
• Develop a Health/wellness ministry.
• Develop a ministry for shut-ins.
• Expand older adult ministry in co-operation with Shepherd’s Center.

As a church we are asked to recognize that in today’s context, ministry cannot be one style and approach for everyone. Different people need to feel the touch of God in ways that are critical for their formation as Christians and disciples. Our church is large enough to offer a diversity of ministry that nurtures people to grow in their faith in ways that are appropriate for their life situations. 

 

8) Group Life

 

Provocative Proposal

To expand small group ministry in order to deepen a person’s faith experience and increase the church’s ministry.

 

Biblical Witness

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. (Acts 2:42-46)

 

Goals

• Increase small group participation to 100% of average worship attendance by encouraging every member to become involved in at least one small group.
• Create new small groups with a goal of one small group for every 15 people in the average worship attendance by 2012.
• Make small group participation attractive by invitation, interaction, creating various types of groups and making people feel welcome and needed in the groups.
• Provide pastoral mentoring and leadership for small group leaders.

Jesus set out to change the world by choosing a small group of people to disciple. Jesus did not start with the masses, but with a small group of twelve. John Wesley did the same with the Wesleyan movement in England. They were called Wesley Class Meetings. Through small group ministry we encourage our people to build friendships based on faith. Being active in a small group is just as important as being in worship each week. These small groups could have diverse emphasis, but all incorporate worship, prayer, and fellowship.

 

III. Glorify God

• In all of life we are called to glorify God. This is true for us as individuals and as a church. All of ministry is designed to bring glory to God. We glorify God when we lift our voices in praise and when we bow our heads in prayer. God is glorified in the preaching of the Word and the sharing of the sacraments. In addition to our worship of God, the facility needs to bring glory to God and be used for God’s ministry in our community. We glorify God when we strive to develop as servant leaders who love God and our neighbors. We want all our words, signs, and communications to be to God’s glory. Our lives and our church are called to reflect the glory of God.  

 

9) Worship

 

Provocative Proposal

To glorify God, connect with God, and be refreshed by God.

 

Biblical Witness

Worship the LORD with gladness. (Psalm 100:2) “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

 

Goals

• Increase average worship attendance to 2/3 of membership by 2010. (eg. 365 average attendance in 2006, attendance for our membership of 720 would be 480. This is an increase of 115 people.)
• Expand music/drama/dance/movement/media/multi-sensory experiences to engage both the heart and mind of the worshiper.
• Develop a service that treats unbelievers with love and respect, relates the service to their needs, and shares the message in a practical, understandable manner.
• Involve children & youth as active participants in all phases of worship.
• Strive for high quality TV worship with increased interaction of TV audience to develop a connection with our congregation.

The scripture from John’s Gospel tells us that true worship has only two requirements: We must worship in spirit and in truth. Worship is a powerful witness to unbelievers when God’s presence is felt. The following values were identified as integral in worship at Lewisburg United Methodist Church:

1. Biblically based                            
2. Practical and applicable               
3. Invitational
4. Leads to commitment to Christ   
5. Multi-level, multi-generational 
6. Inclusive  
7. Innovative
8. Relevant - culturally and personally
9. Multi-sensory
10. Authentic
11. Engaging

 

10) Facility

 

Provocative Proposal

To train laity and staff to become servant leaders who follow the example of Jesus Christ.

 

Provocative Proposal

To find ways to effectively communicate the message of God’s love using the evolving possibilities of technology and media.