Why Refine Our Mission Statement?

Our mission statement as a church from 2008-2016: “To glorify God through making passionate disciples of Jesus Christ who love God, one another, and the world.”

Our new, refined, and more focused mission statement: “Transforming religious and irreligious people through the Gospel into passionate disciples of Jesus.” 

In preparing for our Capital Campaign (called Transformission) we have been doing more than preparing a business plan to raise funds. The campaign is just the tip of the ice berg. As leaders we have been diving deep for months into prayer, Scripture, our mission, vision, values, strategies, and discipleship measures to see how we might bring refinement in our approach, clarity in our communication, and effectiveness in our processes. We felt it was key to accomplish some break-through clarity about where God is calling us as a church in light of the new season and “Place” the Lord has given us at 410 Lord Berkley Rd. Note: Please note that these are refinements only – not big changes, departures, or compromises from who we have always been. In fact, I would contend that the new and refined ways of stating things (spoken about in my sermon Sunday) is actually more accurate to who we are than the old ways, because it has all very recently emerged from collaborative and lengthy conversations among our current leaders at our church.

• Our mission statement has always been very strong and well-known.
• Our mission statement was very Biblical (it read almost like an actual bible verse), which is why it could be used as a benediction/commission at the end of every service.
• Our mission was generic. Other than the word “passionate” it is pretty much the mission statement of 7 out of 10 churches in the country… Generic can be a good or bad thing depending on what you are aiming for.
• Our mission statement was long and a mouth full (18 words).
• Our mission statement gave a disciple definition that, on the surface, could easily be misunderstood or felt as “law” (for example: no one loves God, one another, and the world without first receiving the love of God through the Gospel).
• Our mission statement left people with work instead of grace at the end of each service (not wrong, but a consideration)

• Still includes making passionate disciples (which is the great commission for every Biblical church)
• It speaks to our context (many are religiously lost and many others are irreligious)
• It does risk being confusing (i.e. someone could say that they thought being religious in in the good sense of it is a noble goal in the Christian life)…. I totally “get that” but it’s a risk we’re okay with – and at least it sparks a conversation.
• It gives an A-to-B aspect (i.e. people are going from one place to another) and it clearly provides the “means” by speaking about transforming through the Gospel
• Unlike our old one, it does not read like a Bible verse so it will not be read at the end of every service (instead we will seize that moment at the end of service to begin doing a very grace-giving benediction each week). We will find other ways (other than the benediction) to make the mission statement prominent.
• Again, it is a refinement and not some big church altering change.
• IT WILL TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO. I perhaps feel that more than anybody.

Disclaimer… I one thousand percent believe that carefully worded mission statements DO NOT change the world. There are thousands upon thousands of lifeless and pointless clever mission statements in dusty file cabinets in church offices. Jesus changes the world. The Gospel changes the world. Amen! However, being super clear on one’s mission, vision, and values does make a felt impact and help a church fulfill it’s calling with excellence.

Hope this helps. Grace and peace.