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Weekly Update from the Senior Pastor
November 10, 2005
Dear Family and Friends,
We’ve been wrestling over creating a new Mission Statement to clarify our identity now, the way our original mission did in 1997, when we were leaving a denominational identity and ministering to many of the burned or bored by that former identity.
The new Mission Statement centers in one four-word phrase pregnant with potential strategy to build believers and reach seekers: “Building Homes of Light.” If those four words become the bottom line of our congregational identity, then our mission is clearer. Whether a “home” (house or apartment) contains a single adult, a single parent, a couple without children or a couple with children, our “building” task centers in creating Spirit-filled, healthy relationships in that home (the place we live and move from all week) that radiates influence for Jesus 24/7.
“Building Homes of Light” emphasizes that “church” is not a building, or a great Sunday worship service once a week—but us living for Jesus in every venue of life. The church is us (you and me). Our worship services should be celebrations and refueling stations equipping us to be “the church” in our spheres of influence all week long!
If our mission is BUILDING Homes of Light, we must be intentional about BUILDING. We need to BUILD Christ-like characters, BUILD a foundation for pure relationships in singles, BUILD strong marriages, BUILD healthy children, BUILD meaningful friendships with neighbors and work associates. We need BUILD homes free from the darkness of debt or addictions to pornography or destructive substances. We need to BUILD lives of integrity and godly action rather than allow the mediocrity of the media be our defining influence. Most of all, we need to BUILD believers personally connected with God each day through Jesus Christ, who said: “I AM the LIGHT of the world! Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.” John 8:12.
Begin praying about BUILDING and so, being, a home of LIGHT.
In the Lamb,
Richard
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