{"id":4761,"date":"2013-09-19T12:00:17","date_gmt":"2013-09-19T16:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/?p=4761"},"modified":"2013-10-03T10:25:54","modified_gmt":"2013-10-03T14:25:54","slug":"initiatives-for-20132014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/2013\/09\/19\/initiatives-for-20132014\/","title":{"rendered":"Initiatives for 2013\/2014"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>(Please don&#8217;t miss\u00a0<a title=\"awesome vbs post\" href=\"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/2013\/09\/19\/a-picture-of-vbs-adventures-in-narnia-2013\/\" target=\"_blank\">the wonderful picture-filled post<\/a>\u00a0of our tremendous VBS that follows this lengthy post.)<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Initiatives 2013-2014<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vision Night was such a memorable evening together. For those of you who were able to make it, I know you won\u2019t soon forget it. I got so caught up in recounting God\u2019s work through Christ Community in the year past that I ate into my time presenting this year&#8217;s initiatives. So here they be.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Remember that these are in addition to maintaining the five functions of every biblical church:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: 1.6em;\">1.) Empowered Corporate Worship.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: 1.6em;\">2.) Evangelistic Effectiveness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: 1.6em;\">3.) Counter-cultural Community.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: 1.6em;\">4.) The integration of faith and work.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: 1.6em;\">5.) The doing of justice and mercy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Briefly, they are:\u00a0<em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">become a people of prayer<\/span>, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">train leaders<\/span>, and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">specify our calling in the world<\/span>.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><!--more--><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Become a People of Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Despite the view that we have a tremendously high view of God and are steeped in the Scriptures, we have not, as yet, become a church that prays.<br \/>\nSpurgeon:<em>\u00a0If a church is to be what it ought to be for the purposes of God, we must train it in the holy art of prayer.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">We will pursue this in at least the following ways:<br \/>\n\u2192 Corporate Prayer Meeting<br \/>\nThe first Sunday of each month we gather to pray for God\u2019s glory to be manifest through our church and in the world as outlined in the five functions above. This year we will mix in two prayer meetings that are almost entirely singing, led by Chris Hiatt and our musicians. We will also encourage community groups to join at least one meeting as a part of their group-life together.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Household Prayer<\/p>\n<p>We created the \u201cTake 5\u201d document to encourage the little communities of Christ Community to gather in prayer a couple of times (or more) per week. Soon we\u2019ll release a little \u201cHere\u2019s how easy it is\u201d video on the blog.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Encouraging all of our groups (Community groups, men\u2019s, women\u2019s, Crossroads, Missions) to prioritize this in their normal gatherings.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Pastoral Prayers<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">This element was recently incorporated into our Sunday liturgy. The Pastoral Prayer is a continuation of Christ\u2019s ministry in behalf of His people and participation in His work of furthering the kingdom.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 After Service Prayer<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">We want to train an tribe of people who can be made available at the conclusion of each service for folks who\u2019d like to receive prayer.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 \u201cIn the moment\u201d Prayer<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">On the immediacy theme, this is when each of you has another person tell you of a struggle or need. Stop! Right there and say, \u201cCan I pray for you right now?\u201d It is amazing how it:<br \/>\na.) helps you to remember to pray for them later<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">b.) encourages them in the moment that they are not alone<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">These prayers can be a sentence or two and should normally be less than a minute.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Here\u2019s one brief testimony from our community: \u201cDuring the last week my younger brother experienced a heart attack. Paul is only 57 and is a stalwart for our family so I was shocked and a very worried. As I shared the news with my Christian friends on two occasions they stopped immediately and prayed for Paul and our family. What a blessing. What joy to have the presence of God the sense of peace. It is truly a privilege to have God&#8217; s people to intercede for your family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Kingdom Prayer<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The purpose of all of this prayer is to extend the gracious reign of Jesus Christ in the world. A helpful article is entitled \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/spenceshelton.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/03\/prayer_article_powlison.pdf\">Pray Beyond the Sick List<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Train Leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Last year\u2019s foundations encouraged us that training our leaders (in both bible knowledge and leadership skills) is so very important.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Foundations<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Last year we stumbled on something that really seemed to help folks grow. This Spring we will be back to focus for another 8 weeks.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Biannual leadership community meetings<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In January and August we bring officers, staff, group leaders and their spouses together to for training and encouragement and prayer together.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Group Leaders<br \/>\nThe group of men and women who lead groups in our church is stellar. We want to see them grow even stronger and fruitful this year.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Select, equip, and deploy a community group coach.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">This will be a major step forward for us. To see a lay leader begin to be a resource, providing care and leadership to our community group leaders.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Global Leadership Summit<br \/>\nAugust 14 and 15. The staff and some lay leaders have been to this two day event the last couple of years. This year, we make it a staple in our leadership training.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_P1JqbTWW2M&amp;feature=youtu.be\">Here\u2019s a 4 minute highlight<\/a>\u00a0video from what your staff experienced August 2013.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Men<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">We need to focus on men. Our men\u2019s ministry will establish a leadership team that resources and empowers the men of Christ Community to serve together and focus on the specific leadership roles that God calls men to embrace. We think this will benefit families, as well as our church family.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Assistant Pastor<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">We are hoping in the not-too-distant future to be in a position to call an Assistant Pastor who would have training leaders and leading teams as his primary area of ministry. There are two things to happen that will get us there. One, for us to be in a better financial position than we are to date, behind budget by $16,000. We need to have a very strong remainder of 2013 to begin to sniff at beginning a search. Two, the session needs to complete a job description that is 90% complete.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Specify Our Calling to be Faithful In the World<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Jesus clearly stated that He wants His people to be \u201cin the world but not of it.\u201d What does it look like specifically for Christ Community to, by the power of His Spirit, walk this faithfully. We hear the call to re-present the great truths of Scripture to our day. That calls for us to listen to our world and seek to understand our context. To know the hurts, goodness, and idols of our neighbors we will need to grow, individually and corporately, in the art of\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ransomfellowship.org\/articledetail.asp?AID=38&amp;B=Denis%20Haack&amp;TID=8\">discernment<\/a>. We long to see Jesus adored and magnified and believe that comes as we tell and live the story of God right here and right now.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 The Opus Project on Faith, Work, and Culture<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Opus Project on Faith, Work, and Culture, out of love for God and neighbor, nurtures reflection and conversation about our shared contribution to the flourishing of society and the renewal of all things. (Currently there is\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/2013\/09\/04\/eating-as-prayer-reading-class-begins-sept-15\/\">a class on food &amp; faith<\/a>\u00a0meeting Sundays at 10:30am.)\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/2012\/10\/25\/opus-project-on-faith-work-and-culture-blossoms-on-nov-16\/\">More on Opus<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Adult education courses<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Right now on Sundays at 9:00am there is a study of \u201cThe Gospel According to Job\u201d.<br \/>\nFuture classes include a study in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.monergism.com\/directory\/link_category\/Apologetics\/\">apologetics<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Bible Overview Reading Plan<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">We\u2019ve compiled a plan to take you on an overview the Scriptures. We\u2019ll be posting thoughts to the blog, as well as seasoning each week\u2019s worship service with a bit from the readings of the previous week.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/2013\/09\/18\/bible-overview-reading-plan\/\">Get started now!<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Making our facility an instrument of God\u2019s blessing and outreach to our neighbors<br \/>\nThe deacons and \u201cfacility\u201d team are honing and overseeing the use of our building God\u2019s building that we steward.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192 Global &amp; Local Missions<br \/>\nOctober 18 and 20 is a great time of emphasizing the role each Christian has in the advancement of the world-wide church.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2192\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/aqjones.sbac.edu\/pages\/AQJ0052\">A. Quinn Jones<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">This ever-growing connection that we have been graciously given can use you in a variety of ways. Perhaps after\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/28\/womens-ministry-outreach-update\/\">reading this overview<\/a>\u00a0you might know how to jump in.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">&#8211;Identifying our geographical neighbors<br \/>\nWe plan to become more familiar with the people God has placed near us.<\/p>\n<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0;float:none;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/2013\/09\/19\/initiatives-for-20132014\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"25\" show_faces=\"true\" font=\"arial\" action=\"recommend\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Please don&#8217;t miss\u00a0<a title=\"awesome vbs post\" href=\"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/2013\/09\/19\/a-picture-of-vbs-adventures-in-narnia-2013\/\" target=\"_blank\">the wonderful picture-filled post<\/a>\u00a0of our tremendous VBS that follows this lengthy post.)<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Initiatives 2013-2014<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vision Night was such a memorable evening together. For those of you who were able to make it, I know you won\u2019t soon forget it. I got so caught up in recounting [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-from-the-pastor"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1FrAa-1eN","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4761"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4772,"href":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4761\/revisions\/4772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/christcommunitychurch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}