Welcome to the Inside-Out Blog, which is dedicated to communicating God's vision for our church. One of our leadership team will make a post here each week. So make sure you check in regularly.
If you want to make a comment, check the instructions in red to the left.
So to get us started, here is a summary of our vision and where we are with it right now.
Why a New Vision? Why not do church the same old way?
The world doesn't just need to hear about God's love. They need to see it. It's so easy for a church to remain stuck behind its four walls, isolated from the community God has called us to serve. It's no wonder that fewer and fewer people in our society see church as being relevant to their lives.
At lifepath we want to turn church Inside-Out. What does that mean?
- We will equip our church family to be an influence for the Kingdom of God in our homes, schools, workplaces and in our community.
- Equipping parents to share their faith with their kids.
- Equipping adults and students to start Bible studies and support groups in their workplaces and schools
- Helping members discover their gifts to serve in their communities outside the church
- We will listen to and partner with the community to address our community's needs.
- Assisting in existing community ministries to get us comfortable being out in the community
- Eventually, moving towards programs that help our community in strategic, focused ways
- We will seek to design any future buildings around meeting community needs. What might that look like?
- gyms for youth afterschool programs
- a job training center
- a food pantry
- a coffee shop
- a resource center for some other community need
- or any number of other possibilities
- We will not be afraid to put our hand on the pain of the world. What might that look like?
- Hosting seminars open to the community on parenting, or
- Hosting support groups for addictions to alcohol, pornography, or other substances or behaviors, or
- Training life coaches for financial planning, and other life skills for members of our community
Where Are We in This Vision?
A Time of Exploring – September 2009 to Early Spring 2010
The elders have created the volunteer position of Community Development & Outreach Director for Susan Nichols, who will work with our elders, staff and members to move forward on the Inside-Out Vision.
The elders have instituted a time to explore and discern what God is calling us to do.
At the end of the Exploratory Period in early spring of 2010, we will have accomplished the following five things:
- We will know which ministries God wishes to begin working on and who in the community we will be serving.
- We will have a business plan for a building which will house these ministries as well as serve our congregation.
- We will have formed relationships with community leaders to open doors for service.
- We will have educated ourselves about biblical community ministry and the specific needs of our community.
- We will have begun to serve in existing community ministries.
Elliott Scott
Lead Pastor