Over the last several months, each time I have read the Gospels, I have found myself thinking about how Jesus was not setting out to create a new faith. Instead, he was helping the faithful recognize the good that had already been done and imagine how much more could be possible if they were willing to remain open.
Most of us would readily say we are open to new things. At the same time, many of us will also admit that we do not like change. How baffling—and how human! New ideas almost always bring change. After all, our church began as a new idea that brought change to an existing church, a neighborhood, and dozens of people.
Over the last year, we have seen just how impactful new ideas and faithful change can be for us as a church. Moving to one worship service has helped us see one another in ways we might not have before. On Tuesday mornings, our campus has grown from a few staff cars in the parking lot to a bustling ministry serving more than 100 households each week through food bank distribution. Our increased social media presence and our hosting of Jen Hatmaker have brought new people to our church and into our community. Welcoming new staff has also created new ways of ministering to our children and youth.
So maybe new ideas and change are not only necessary—they can be really good.
Over the next six to eight months, we will enter a visioning process together. We will listen for the new ideas God is leading us toward and discern how those ideas might shape the next chapter of our shared ministry. Since we are a church whose people listen for God, respond with faith, and engage the world around us, I am confident we will discover many new ways to further our mission: Love. All. Now.
So let us be like those early followers of Jesus: open to new ideas, new visions, and new possibilities.
We will be sharing much more in the days to come. For now, here is the team who will guide us in this process.
- Kelly Criswell
- La Nelle Ethridge
- Kim Flenniken
- Jessica Gorman
- John Huffhines
- Mike King
- Alan Lackey
- Tim Lyles
- Alexa MacKenzie
- Morgan MacKenzie
- Cate McCauley
- Krystal Morrell
- Dianne Powell
- Marsha Sharp
- Allie Smith
- Carrie Veal
- James Ward
- Justin Wright