So, now what?
Dear church,
The Lord is good, and his love endures forever! Magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together!
On Sunday, May 25, we celebrated the conclusion of our year-long visioning journey. We presented the final vision report and embarked on the beginning of a new phase in the life of New City. We praise God for his merciful, wise shepherding of his people.
So, now what? I want to address some of the questions that we received.
When does the clock start on the timeframes (90 days, 1 year, 3 years)?
It started Sunday, May 25!
To be clear, these are rough timeframes, not hard deadlines, to keep us moving in the right direction and to keep us accountable to one another. Nothing will blow up and there will be no guilt or condemnation if we don’t complete the tasks in the exact timeframe we assigned. We are simply saying that certain objectives and tasks should be achievable within certain timeframes. And by God’s grace, we look forward to celebrating His kindness toward us!
How do we stay on track and stay faithful to our vision?
a. We have identified “advocates” for most of our objectives and tasks (e.g., evangelism training for the church: Enzo Guerra). This does not mean that the advocates will do all the work themselves. Rather, they will “rally the troops” and lead the way in the fulfilment of the assigned tasks.
b. The Session will check in with the advocates over the next month or so.
c. Three times a year, we will hold all-advocates meetings to share our progress and encourage one another in prayer.
d. The Session will add a “standing” (permanent) item to its monthly meeting agenda: vision check-in.
e. The Session will also work with our ministries and teams to report regularly and creatively about the progress we are making in the months to come.
3. What’s up with these “Measurements,” like 5% conversion growth and 280 people in weekly worship attendance? Are they not presumptuous?
It would, indeed, be presumptuous, even arrogant to say that we will absolutely reach these benchmarks within the allotted timeframe because we are smart enough and industrious enough to reach them.
Rather, these numbers are meant to serve as measurable signs that we are making progress in the right direction. For example, if we are praying that the Lord make us a fruitful, missional community, and we are preparing ourselves to be fertile grounds for conversions, it is good and right for us to humbly but eagerly expect that the Lord will answer our prayers. Only the Lord can ultimately “win souls” to himself, but it is good and right for us to pray and boldly expect that He will do so through his church.
So, think of these measurements as prayerful goals and faith-filled expectations, not make-it-or-break-it absolutes
4. What are some of the objectives and tasks that are already underway?
a. Finished or underway:
i. New mission statement (Discipleship, 90 days): finished
ii. Outdoor activities and sidewalk events (Neighbourhood, 1 year): started
iii. “One another” sermon series (Community: 1 year): started
iv. More large group gatherings (Community: 1 year): started
v. Evangelistic services (Mission: 90 days): started with Joint Good Friday Service
vi. Family-oriented events (Mission: 90 days): started
vii. Increased prayer for unbelieving friends (Mission: 90 days): started
b. Launching shortly:
i. Churchwide spiritual health assessment (Discipleship: 90 days): within 1 month
ii. Launch of new church app (Community, 90 days): within 2 months
iii. Launching new Discipleship Pathway (Discipleship: 1 year): in September
As I mentioned at the congregational meeting, just as David prepared the plans and materials for his son Solomon to build the temple (1 Chr 28), we believe that the Lord will faithfully provide the resources, the people, and the Spirit’s power to accomplish his mission.
As David said to Solomon, “Be strong and courageous and do the work! Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won’t leave you or abandon you until all the work for … the Lord’s house is finished.” (1 Chr 28:20)
Church, the time for deliberation and hesitation is over. It is time to be strong and courageous in the Lord and start building!
Yes, we will encounter fears and discouragements as we build. But the God of David and the God of Solomon is our God. And in all our stumbling, failings, hardships, the Lord our God is with us. He will not leave us or abandon us until all the work for the Lord’s house is finished.
Church, magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together!
Moses, on behalf of your elders