Mon 10/07/2013 11:34:58.31
This week's bulletin is now available for viewing at www.wscoc.net/voice.cfm.
God bless,
Jim Black
Monday, October 7, 2013
Forget the Mission Statement... What's our Mission Question? (part 1)
Fifteen or more years ago the
leadership of this congregation along with input from many of our members wrote
a “mission statement” to try and capture the purpose of the Washington Street
Church. After much discussion, prayer
and planning it was decided that the statement which best described what we
were about was this: The Washington
Street church of Christ seeks to serve and share Christ. In the years that have followed that simple
statement has continued to describe us.
We have incorporated it into our publications and I have preached on its
implications in many ways. I wonder… does
it still describe us? Does it still
capture our mission?
On Sunday I began a new series
entitled “Mission 2020”. We will be
re-examining our mission throughout this month and looking for ways to emphasize
it. I will also be talking about ways
that each of our members can be a part of this mission and how we can bring new
believers to it. We will be setting some
specific goals towards that mission and what we would like for year 2020 to
look like for this church. What will be
different? What will be the same?
I recently read an article from a
business magazine that talked about mission and “mission statements.” The author had interviewed the CEOs of some
of the country’s most successful corporations and had come to a startling
conclusion. Forget the “mission statement” he said… what’s your “mission question”? Great companies must be good at asking the
right questions, the article went on to state.
It’s an interesting principle and I am curious as to how it might relate
to churches. The author went on to cite
four specific questions which every successful organization must answer. The first question?
#1 Why are
we here in the first place? Every organization must be able to articulate
its reason for being. In our case,
church, why are we here? It is easy, the
article states, for companies to get so involved in the business of running the
company that it forgets why it is in business to start with. If this is true for businesses, it is surely
true for churches! The Washington St
church has been here on this corner of Washington Street and Franklin for many,
many years… since the mid 1830’s if our understanding of history is correct. Do we remember why? Is there a unique purpose for us to occupy
this block? There are many more churches
in the county today than there were in previous decades. Is there still a reason for us to be here? You see why this is such an important
question to ask… and one that must be answered not only by every church, but by
every subsequent generation. Times
change. Circumstances change. Our purpose must constantly be re-evaluated
and “re-remembered”, lest we forget what it is we are here for.
Scripture gives us a profound mandate. In the words of Jesus in Acts 1:8, “You will be my
witnesses…” Put simply, we are
here to witness to the profound grace
and power of Jesus Christ. Our mission
expands outward from there, but it is there that it begins. Join us Sunday as we explore Jesus’
instruction there. In the coming weeks
I’ll bring you the next three questions that we must also consider… stay tuned & God bless.
-Jim
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