The Church I See…
Pastor Ross Parsley also shared this in a message with our church on a Sunday morning. This is the type of church we have been and strive to become.
1 - I see a church where people can experience the life-altering presence of Jesus. A church where worship is so pure and passionate and people are miraculously transformed, healed, and strengthened in God’s presence. I see a church that is so radically consumed with the presence of the Holy Spirit that we become empowered witnesses of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 - I see a church with a deep commitment to helping people move from where they are to where God wants them to be, walking confidently with each other toward Jesus and finding freedom from their fears, failures, and wounded yesterdays. I see a church where community and relationships are so actively cultivated that vulnerability, honesty, and acceptance become the life-giving characteristics of vibrant spiritual growth and formation.
3 - I see a church where every person has the opportunity to discover their God-given purpose, supernatural gifts, and life-giving roles in the church in order to collaborate with God’s great plan for our lives, for our community, and for our mission in the Austin region.
4 - I see a church where people are intentionally and tangibly growing in the character and competencies of Jesus, becoming His followers and disciples; where every person is empowered, trained, and encouraged to make a difference in the lives of others.
5 - I see a church that is intensely committed to demonstrating and communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ to every man, woman, and child in the Austin region and beyond. I see a church that is committing resources, gifts, time, and boundless energy to church planting as part of our mission to place the gospel in every community in the Austin region…10 congregations in 10 years, and more!
6 - I see a church that is so willing to help the poor, to heal the hurting, and to act on behalf of the marginalized within our culture, that there will never be a reason for anyone to call us divisive, hateful, or uncaring. I see a church that is so steeped in generosity that we can meet any need, purchase any building, and achieve any goal for God’s purpose in our city, our nation, and in the nations of the world.
7 - I see a church full of artists, creatives, and cultural influencers, who use their gifts for the sake of the gospel and God’s kingdom purposes in our region. I see a church where business owners, entrepreneurs, and innovators receive Holy Spirit ideas for serving others by finding solutions for societal ills, and investing in the common good of the Austin community and beyond.
8 - I see a church that is a multigenerational family where each generation is aware of the others in the family, but also collaborative, respectful, loving, and always leaning toward the next generation. I see a church with generational viability where the gospel is translated and transferred to our kids, grandkids, and great grandkids with vibrancy, innovation, and cultural relevance.
9 - I see a multi-cultural and multi-racial church where people who are different from each other become one, as Jesus prayed in John 17, surrendering their lives to one another in such way that love, strength, and life emerge in unity to heal the racial and cultural divide in our nation. I see a church that is so committed to the unity of the Body of Christ that people everywhere will recognize Jesus in us and be astounded by the grace, healing, and forgiveness we show toward one another.
10 - I see a church where joy, optimism, and faith contribute to a culture of hope and expectation that God is for us, with us, and always active among us.
