Mission

Men's Retreat 2008

Phil Gelston's Ordination Service

The Vision, Mission, Values, and Distinctive Characteristics of the Spring Run Mission

I know many of you are wondering what the Spring Run church plant will be like. I would like you to read this and consider what role you have in Christ’s Church as we begin this daughter church. Everyone has a role. You may be one who the Lord leads to go and be part of this new church in the Spring Run community. However, most of you will remain at Sycamore. You too, have a mission in the Midlothian community. Think especially how you will help serve the body of Christ wherever God leads you.

In an effort to give you a better picture of what the Spring Run church plant will be like the Church Plant Initiatives Team has asked me to describe in some detail the vision, mission, and distinctive characteristics. This description is not fully developed but is a foundational beginning. Much of it is drawn from resources I have read and friends who have planted churches. As the whole congregation is praying and considering their role as mentioned above it is especially appropriate for those interested in going with the church plant to begin praying and evaluating their readiness to be involved.

VISION

When I think about this new worshipping community it makes me wonder, “What will we look like in 5, 10 or 15 years?” In other words, it’s important to dream. By God’s grace and for His glory I imagine…

	a progressively growing and authentic community of faith in the Spring Run area that proclaims the gospel in word and action and is an agent of transformation spiritually, socially, and culturally to our own lives and those in our community.
	a partnership with other like-minded churches in a church planting movement that multiplies throughout Chesterfield County, the city of Richmond, and the commonwealth of Virginia resulting in at least 12 new churches by 2020.
	our people sharing the gospel locally through their personal relationships and spheres of influence so that many people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
	our people sharing the gospel globally through short-term mission efforts and by some committing to life-time missionary service.

MISSION

I think the mission could be succinctly stated as follows like this:

The Spring Run Church Plant will be an authentic worshipping community proclaiming to our neighbors the gospel of Jesus Christ so that together we are progressively transformed by His power and passionately live for Him.

Values

With that dream and mission it is also important to recognize what values will shape our worship, life, and ministry.

God is at work for his glory and our good – ironically, we get the most joy because God’s passion is for his glory. For him to be most glorified he delights to shower his love upon us and he must be faithful to keep his promises of forgiveness to those who believe. Our joy and confidence is not in our ability to be good but in God’s faithfulness to be good to us for his glory. The worship of God in all things glorifies him and is both our highest duty and greatest delight.

God’s truth – the Bible is more than a guidebook; it is the truth and is as relevant today as it was millennia ago. His word teaches us to follow and obey God, but only after it has changed our hearts to see our need for the Savior—Jesus. It’s not about doing better or being nicer; it’s about being a new person and having whole new object of worship. This change doesn’t normally occur in isolation, but through the word of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of believers.

God’s Church – it must be a body which cares for all its parts so that people are loved; where prayer is not supplemental, but fundamental; where worship champions the truth and is Spirit-filled. The church is both the result and agent of proclaiming the gospel and therefore the gospel must be central to everything we think (mind), feel (heart), and do (will). The Gospel is this: sinners are forgiven and acceptable to God solely because of the completed work of Jesus Christ. We will not be ashamed to proclaim the Gospel. It is the good news because “it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” (Rom. 1:16).

The Freedom of the Gospel

The gospel changes lives – Our security is not in our reputation and image, but in redemption and a new identity. It gives freedom to live the way we were made to live. (Is. 43:1; 2 Cor. 5:17)

	The gospel defines community – It allows us to be authentic admitting our own struggles, sins, weaknesses and addictions and to receive compassion and love from the church. We welcome seekers and skeptics, and offering true rest to the spiritually weary (Matt. 11:28).
	The gospel builds up families – Relationships are restored. Marriages are made stronger and children challenged by the gospel to honor God.
	The gospel breaks down walls – It brings reconciliation to strained relationships and across racial and economic boundaries (Col. 3:11; 1 Cor. 12:13).
	The gospel renews culture – Jesus did not simply establish a church, but a Kingdom. This Kingdom is not against the culture, nor does it condone wrong. It is a Kingdom that renews our whole culture. Every sphere of life should bring glory to God. Work becomes more than just the daily grind or a goal to achieve—it is valuable and honorable to God. (1 Cor. 10:31)
	The gospel continually breaks out – It spreads to new areas stretching us to take risks for the kingdom for when we are weak then we are strong. We will go to our community and interact with them where they are rather than expecting them to come to us.

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS

	Our church model may be described as a mission-fellowship. 1 Thes. 2:8 says, “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” I don’t know exactly all the resources we will have to offer as we begin. I expect those to become clearer as we discover the giftedness of our people. This I know, we can share the gospel and our lives as we love our neighbors.
	Our worship style may be described as a reverent yet relaxed environment of passionate and participatory worship. It will be a kind of ancient-modern worship. It will reflect the ancient in that it will draw from our rich historical tradition of hymns and creeds. It will be modern in that it will also incorporate the best of hymns and scriptural songs arising in the present day. Our musical style will lean contemporary and will probably be eclectic incorporating the various gifts of our people.
	Our leadership style is to mobilize people for ministry utilizing an active lay leadership. We will shepherd our people in truth with tenderness and love
	Our relationship to the community is to seek the peace and prosperity of our community as we take the gospel to where they live, work, and play. We will seek to initiate and be supportive of community ministries.

So, are you ready? Being part of a church plant is not something you do because it is easy or convenient. It requires a lot of work setting up chairs, musical equipment, nursery, classrooms and putting them back in order every Sunday morning. Those are just a few things, yet each of things can be greatly rewarding as we see God do marvelous things in people’s lives.

Please commit to praying for this and possibly about your involvement in it. If you didn’t hear Pastor Long’s sermon on June 12^th then you need to get the tape or listen on the web. You will see that characteristics of good churches have everything to do with the characteristics of Christians in the church. The things he addressed are fundamental to any church.

As you think about your involvement here are some additional questions to consider. Could God be leading me to be involved in this church plant? Have I prayed regularly about it? Why would I want to go? How could I help? Am I a person who brings people in? Do I have musical abilities? Am I an organizer or networker? Can I teach? Do I have resources to offer? I remember a pastor from Tennessee once giving me a wise piece of advise as I would try to discern God’s will in looking for a place of ministry. He said, “You must consider your personal life and reasons for going or staying. Don’t go if you are running from sin or running to sin.” In other words, there shouldn’t be unresolved issues of sin that drive you to a decision. That is probably a good piece of advice for you to consider as well.

I will be happy to talk to anyone interested in hearing more or asking questions. The plan is to meet with all interested persons and have a defined core group committed to the church plant by the end of September. In the mean time pray for me as I finish fundraising, pray for unbelievers to come to saving faith through this church plant and through Sycamore, and pray about your involvement in whichever church God leads you to serve in.

For the King and His Kingdom,

Andrew Conrad