Our ministry is structured around our Vision Statement, which identifies our three-fold approach toward making disciples.
SAVE THE LOST
We must always keep a vision for saving the lost white hot for the following reasons:
Because Hell is Real! Jesus consistently taught that hell is a real place of eternal torment where those who refuse to trust in Him will spend eternity. If we could get just a glimpse of hell and its torment it would motivate us for a lifetime to warn everyone we can to flee from God’s wrath by running into the eternal safety of the nail pierced arms of Jesus.
Because Immortals are Lost! Humanity was created in the image of God as spiritual beings; immortals who will live throughout eternity in one of the two destinies - heaven or hell. As God's image bearers they have inestimable worth.
Because Jesus is Lord! The ultimate truth that drives our saving mission is that Jesus is Lord, and as Lord He has the right to determine the vision for His Church. He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10), and He has sent us to continue His saving mission just as the Father sent Him (John 20:21). When a person trusts in Jesus Christ they recognize Him as Lord over all and they begin to live for His glory. So the Glory of Jesus is ultimately why our vision is to 'Save the Lost'.
GROW THE FOUND
We must always keep a vision for growing the found white hot for the following reasons:
Because Christlikeness is God's Vision! God's eternal purpose is to transform everyone He justifies (saves) into the image of His Son Jesus (Romans 8:29 - Ephesians 4:13). Therefore, God's vision is to grow the found, and we have the privilege and responsibility of joining Him in His vision.
Jesus said the way we are to make disciples is by "teaching them to obey everything [He] has commanded' (Matthew 28:20). Therefore, we are committed to teaching the truth of Jesus which the Holy Spirit will use in increasing measure to produce the character of Jesus in the followers of Jesus.
Because the World Needs to See Jesus! All followers of Jesus are called to be the visible, tangible, audible presence of Jesus in the world today. We are called to be holy as He is holy. The life transforming good news of Jesus is to be lived out in us as it is proclaimed through us. Our growth in Christlikeness will validate our message and impact our world with Christ's good news.
SEND THE EMPOWERED
We must always keep a vision for sending the empowered white hot for the following reasons:
Because the Harvest is Plentiful! Jesus looked at the crowds that pushed in around Him and said to His disciples; "the harvest is plentiful' (Matthew 9:37). The harvest field is wherever the lost are. For Jesus that day they were in plain sight. They still are! The vision to send the empowered includes being sent across the office, over the back yard fence, to greater Anchorage and rural Alaska, and around the world. This vision is to be owned by every follower of Jesus; both those who earn their paycheck in the ministry and those who earn their paycheck in the marketplace.
Because the Workers are Few! After Jesus identified the plentiful harvest He also said "the workers are few" (Matthew 9:37). They still are! Every follower of Christ has the potential, the privilege, the responsibility, and the available power from the Holy Spirit who lives within them to share the good news of Jesus with life transforming effect.
A biblical way to evaluate the success of the Church is not its seating capacity but its sending capacity. It is when we send followers of Jesus in the Spirit's power sharing the good news of Jesus that our impact for Him grows exponentially.
Therefore, our sending vision includes followers of Jesus who are sent into their marketplace and neighborhoods with the good news of Jesus. It also includes sending those God is calling to full-time ministry into the world as church planters, pastors, and missionaries.
This vision of making disciples through saving, growing, and sending is most effective when it takes place within and flows out of the context of community - the loving relationships within the local Church. This God given vision is not easy, in fact it is impossible for us. However, it is not impossible for God and us. As followers of Jesus Christ we have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to join Him in accomplishing the impossible!