Pastor Jacob Birch and GAC's proposed new Vision Statement

I want to roll out here on my blog today a proposed new vision statement that GAC is currently considering. I want to do a little reflecting on it for my own benefit and yours perhaps as well. This also gives you the opportunity to react to it in the comments.

GAC is following Christ 

as He disciples people from all nations and every generation 

through us 

for the glory of God. 

What is vision? A short, inspiring statement of the "preferred future" you are trying to achieve. 

It can't and shouldn't do everything but a vision statement should summarize the Why? and the main What? questions of any organization. Why are we doing something as opposed to nothing? and What is it we are trying to do. 

Things i like about this version of the vision statement are:

1. Its use of biblically rooted verbs, nouns and concepts. 

    Follow - This is the most ancient call of the gospel ... to follow Jesus. Matthew 4:18, 8:22

    Christ - or maybe we should use Jesus? Christ emphasises his position... as the Messiah. Jesus emphasizes his mission... as the preacher, healer, convict from Galilee Matthew 26:71, Mark 1:24

    disciples - This is the most ancient title of the closest followers of Jesus Mark 10:32

    nations - Jesus' target market from the beginning Matthew 28:18-20

    generations - A vision for people in each age group... not just seniors or young families or youth Psalm 145:4

    glory - The uber motivation for everything the believer should do. 1 Corinthians 10:31

  

2. Its focus on Christ being the prime worker. 

We are not the subject of our own vision statement. Christ is the worker. He is the one discipling the nations and generations through us. Which is of course very biblical. John 10:14-15

I think that too many vision statements are too enamoured with what the church is attempting and not connected enough to WHOM is attempting it. It is God working, God enabling, God empowering, God changing, God giving, God transforming. 

What is our responsibility in this revamped statement?

To follow Christ

To stay connected to Him so that He can complete His mission through us. 

3. Its explicit inclusion of people from many nations and generations. 

Our new vision for GAC is competing with other visions for GAC... most notably among some of our critics that we are becoming "a seniors church". By specifically branching out to include congregations and to start church plants among different cultural groups and generations, GAC wants to offer worship services in the "heart language worship services" of as many tribes, nations and generations as possible.