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Over the past two months our Strategy Planning Leadership Team has been conducting Congregational Listening Sessions and interviewing "new paradigm" ministry leaders. We have also invited church leaders to complete a brief online survey. All of this input and data is being collected and explored by the Leadership Team in an effort to help us better understand the conditions of our world and the needs of our churches. This is a tough time for churches as they seek to find ways to share the Gospel and minister to community needs in our rapidly changing world. Many are struggling to find effective strategies. We need to understand these challenges if we are to provide real help to our churches.
In 2005 we adopted our First Priority Strategic Plan. It laid out our vision for our cooperative ministry for five years. We said our vision was to be an organization that gives first priority to serving churches. In some ways that should have been obvious; however, my experience tells me that many times denominational organizations too often begin to believe churches exist to serve them. We know the opposite is true. We exist to serve churches, and many churches across our state need help.
Our current planning process will take a fresh look at our ministry for the period of 2010 through 2015. It is challenging to try to take a look five years into the future. Most of us have trouble keeping up with the changes happening this year. No wonder many churches seem locked in the past as they try to find effective ways to carry out their mission.
Our mission and vision statements are far more than mere slogans. We really do want to serve churches and church leaders. We want to help you equip your people for ministry. We desire to see your church become healthy and effective. Our hope is you will discover new mission and ministry opportunities in your community and around the world.
When I was a home missionary serving in the Kansas City metropolitan area 30 years ago, one state convention leader said to me, "Jim, if you have a need ask. If we cannot do it, we will tell you." I asked often, and they rarely ever said "no." He understood that the denomination exists to serve and to help. What are your concerns for your church? What needs do you have? What could we do to help your church be more effective? We would love to visit with you as we seek to find answers to these and other questions.
