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Community Church
communitymi.org
From the Pastor
Jesus told the story of the 'Parable of the Talents' where the master gives out an allotment of entrusted resources to his servants. We don’t know exactly what it was - maybe silver, or some kind of coin. We do know that it held value and the master mandated that the servants invest it wisely on his behalf. He gave different amounts to different servants: 1 talent, 2 talents, and 5 talents respectively.
I often wonder if Community Church has been given 5 talents from the Lord. As you consider our 45 year history, I believe and trust that a significant kingdom investment has been made into the lives of thousands of children, students, marriages and souls. Right now, we are continuing to see the fruit of that - new life, repentance, disciple-making, baptisms, and a church that is treasuring and carrying the Gospel to those without Christ. These are futures changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Why are we looking to do more, and grow more and influence more?
Jesus concludes the parable with this precept - "The one who risks nothing, does nothing - what little he has will be taken away. And the one who risks everything gets more than he ever imagined." That ‘more’ is not for our own pockets, it's an additional influence that God gives us for His glory.
So we ask ourselves these questions as we look towards the future:
- What would we do as a church if we knew we couldn’t fail?
- How could our communities look different 3 to 5 years from now?
- How can we continue to live out the Gospel daily?
- What might God have for us to do, today and tomorrow?
As we look around all of Central MI, there is a massive need for the grace and truth of Jesus. The idea that we would rest on past accomplishments is unthinkable. The message of the Gospel has never been more urgent or needed. We must ensure that a foundation of Biblically rooted faith continues to multiply and expand. And that is the work of the church.
We want to continue to press in, to show even stronger leadership, to see God’s Gospel footprint grow, and make a greater imprint in Central MI for generations to come - all this for His glory!
The Goals
We are actively relevant in serving our community. The community knows we are here, are glad we are here and are better because we are here.
We refuse to sit idly by while there are people hurting in our communities that need to know the Gospel is for them. This will be lived out in both intentionally planned initiatives as well as being responsive to the unique needs of every community we serve.
1. Serve Local
– Be unmistakably present in our community.
We are compelled to go where the Gospel has not yet gone, placing feet on the ground where there are none, and investing to see the good news take root where there is no church, no Christian voice and no access to hope. As we reach the unreached, we’re watching for those that God is calling from among us, to equip them and send them where the Gospel is not yet known. We will support the propulsion of the Gospel in 5 unique places where it is absent.
We’re committed to continue to tithe 10% of our annual budget to supporting missions, but we want to continue to seek and serve the areas around the globe that need to hear about Jesus.
2. Go Global
– Take the Gospel where it has not yet gone.
We will continue to invest into Gen Z and focus intentional ministry efforts into their development as committed followers of Jesus Christ. We want to anchor them in the timeless truth of scripture so they can rise above the chaos of the world with clarity, courage and conviction. This will empower them to become leaders and disciple-makers for years to come.
We’re proud to be a multi-generational church and we intentionally design so much of our ministry toward both the believer and the unbeliever. Must always lean toward the next generation, empowering them to be the church not just of the future, but the church right now.
3. Next Gen Now
– Invest deeply in Gen Z with truth and theology.
The establishment and maintenance of a leadership pipeline, systems and processes for the increased equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry – raising up servant-hearted leaders who will own, lead and multiply the mission of the church, so we’re poised to launch new campuses with strength and clarity. We want to equip leaders to bring heaven to Earth and reach community leaders who are far from Christ.
Our hearts desire is for people to treasure, and know, and understand and communicate the indispensable ingredient of the Gospel - the shed blood of Jesus Christ. And so, we are deliberately intent on multiplying campuses in central MI that match and align with the ministry shape and direction that is already making significant impact, in this place, at this time.
4. Lead the Way
– Develop leaders to fuel growth and spiritual
impact.
We will pursue a movement of multiplying disciple-makers – 500 people actively making disciples, sparking a second-generation wave of disciple-makers, and seeing 50% of our Sunday attenders engaged in community groups where real discipleship takes root.
We’ve already heard incredible stories from so many about how a focused and intentional look at how they live out discipleship in their everyday lives has transformed their worldview. Let’s not lose that! Let’s train up more and more disciples of Jesus who then become disciple-makers themselves; sharing what they’ve found and experienced with the world around them.
5. Disciple Deep
– Spark a multiplying movement of everyday
discipleship.
