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A GROWING CHURCH IS A HEALTHY CHURCH,AND A HEALTHY CHURCH IS A GROWING CHURCH.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ~ I Corinthians 12:27 [NIV] Our church
is an organism, a living thing, the very Body of Christ. Like any living entity it has capacity to either be in-shape or out-of-shape, either growing or dying. The purpose of this ongoing strategic growth plan is to lay
out the core foundational beliefs and the developmental framework of the practices for renewing and energizing this Body of Believers in mutual health and growth.
I. He alone is Lord of the Church; He alone is Lord of our church
- Rick Warren
"You never find God asking persons to dream up what they want to do for Him." - Henry Blackaby
As a Body we are wondrously joined to Him who is our Head. We affirm that He and He alone is Lord of His church, and ours is the responsibility to faithfully watch for the work He is doing in
our midst and joyfully join Him in that effort. We believe that this strategic growth plan is a living document evolving from our ongoing experiences as a body of Christ together experiencing the revelation of God and
His purposes in this place.
Jesus replied, …and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ~ Matthew 16:18(b) [NIV]
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working." … Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees
his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son does also". ~John 5:17,19 [NIV]
II. Growth and health is about fellowship and relationshipWe ascribe to the proposition that healthy churches grow:
- warmer through fellowship,
- deeper through discipleship,
- stronger through worship,
- broader through ministry, and
- larger through evangelism.
We acknowledge that a healthy and growing church is best portrayed as a uniquely bonded group of individuals actively pursuing fellowship and relationship with God, thereby enabled to be in
fellowship and relationship with others.
Matthew 6:33(a) [NIV] Jesus
replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as
yourself.'" ~ Matthew 22:37-39 [NIV]
III. Strategic Vision: Ascension Lutheran Church--A Discipleship CongregationAscension Lutheran Church actively seeks to live as a body of "
therefore" believers; in all aspects our life and ministry together purely reflects the awesomeness of all that has first been done for us.
I John 4:19 [NIV]
As therefore believers Ascension Lutheran Church eagerly commits itself to "discipleship," the walking along side of one another so that, in love, we might encourage
relationship with, and growth in, the Father. As a discipling congregation Ascension Lutheran Church eagerly commits itself to "invangelism," developing passion from within the Body so as to
create an evangelistic outpouring outside of the Body. IV. Strategic Growth Plan, Phase I: Putting First Things First
If our church is His Body, and if He, and He alone, as Lord of this church will grow this church, then we must ready ourselves to follow His lead. Simply put, it all begins with Him. We
firmly uphold that it is our relationship with our God which enables us to be in fellowship and relationship with others and determines the scope and quality of our ministry efforts. We are drawn to Him in relationship,
and we acknowledge that healthy relationships must be cultivated to grow. To serve Him better, we must know Him better. We therefore:
- dedicate ourselves to the single-minded goal of knowing Him better,
- challenge all members of this congregation to become deeply involved in study and prayer, and
- commit the primary work of this congregation to the guidance and care of His Spirit to cause observable and sustained growth in and among the believers at Ascension Lutheran Church.
What does this mean? Together we shall disciple, encourage and admonish each other such that:
- The commitment to active spiritual growth becomes an observable part of the culture of who we are as a congregation. A pervasive "growth attitude" frames our congregational lifestyle.
- All members are actively engaged in private and corporate study of the Word.
- All members are actively engaged in private and corporate prayer.
Is this easy? No. Is this difficult? For us, yes. For Him who created us, loves us, redeems us, and sustains us, no. By His Spirit He can do incredible
things with a willing heart. Is this realistic? Without a doubt, by the grace of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~ Ephesians 3:20-21 [NIV]
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