Our Strategic Mission
The Mission Statement for Joy! is strategically crafted:
“To be a joy-filled, Christ centered community that is PASSIONATE about reaching our neighbors with Christ’s radical love so that all our lives are changed.”
It describes us:
We are a “joy-filled, Christ centered community that is PASSIONATE”! We reflect God’s passion for us and for the world.
It states our purpose:
“Reaching…with Christ’s radical love.” This is the greatest gift we have to share and we can do it through our actions and words.
It says who we are called to reach:
“neighbors”…the people God has put in our lives and within our sphere of influence both inside and outside the church. These are people in our extended family, our neighbors, the people we work with and others whose lives we can touch in some way.
It states the result of carrying out our calling:
“…all our lives are changed.” Not only will those we reach be changed but we will be changed by the encounter and the process. We will grow and be encouraged to reach farther as we impact the lives of others. As our neighbors come to know Christ’s radical love more fully, their lives will be richer and their passions more in line with the things God cares about.
That’s the mission of the Joy! community. How do you see yourself in that mission? What passions are alive in you because of your faith? What has been the impact of Christ’s radical love on you that you can share? Who is the neighbor you will reach? What life changes do you hope to see?
Pastor Scott Hackler
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December 2nd, 2009 at 10:34 am
When I think about “reaching our neighbors with Christ’s radical love”, I think about a recent conversation in my bible study group. We talked about inviting people to church and talking to them about our faith. Linda Belles said, “The problem is, all my friends are Christians and everyone I know has their own church.”
I’ve read that about 80% of Americans say they are religious. If our neighbors already know Christ’s radical love, we can encourage each other (even if they belong to another denomination!).
This reminds me of Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” We can be Christlike examples to our neighbors, but also rely on them to change us.
When the ATF teens went on a Savenger Hunt a few weeks ago, our group had to go to Wal-Mart and get a photo with an employee. The lady at the door agreed, and when we told her about our church, she said she was a Christian too.
Right then, we asked if we could pray with her, and she also prayed over all of us. Though it might have been uncomfortable to pray in a busy store, I think that we were all encouraged by praising God together in public.
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Pared down it seems to me that we are to be a strategic training center for the disemination of good news and good works.
Our work is cut out for us as Chrst followers. But His yoke is of featherweight.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Way to shine the light of Jesus guys! I’m going to invite some new neighbors to Joy (actually, they’ve lived by us for 3 years and I just met them a few weeks ago).
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:30 pm
After reading both Pastor Scott’s blog and Angela’s comments, I’m reminded of a time when several families went out for dinner after a Saturday service. There were at least 12 of us at a busy local restaurant, and when the food came we all lifted up a prayer of thanks. Sometime later we received a note from an anonymous fellow patron, saying how wonderful she thought it was that we were setting such an example for our children and for others. If this one patron noticed and had the conviction to say so, how many others observed that witness and had a seed of faith planted in their lives that evening?
We don’t always know how our actions have chain re-actions down the line. It’s not necessarily in God’s plan that we know all the good we can do when we witness to others in different ways. That’s probably a good thing – if we did, we’d probably get swollen egos. My hope is that one day when we meet Jesus face to face, we’re also greeted by the many people whose lives we affected for the better, and hear the words we recently heard in Matthew chapter 25: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
A PASSIONATE and worthwhile mission and message. Reminds me that Joy is a wonderful place. Thanks for keeping me updated! The Patrick’s will see you this weekend!
December 4th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Scott, et. al.,
The passion is good, and the vision is clear and concise. I appreciate the stories shared about witness to neighbors, which show the intention worked out in real lives and relationships, as opposed to just remaining on the proverbial page and merely theoretical.
I would encourage something about Scripture being worked into the statement. Here’s why: 1) we can’t claim to know Jesus (the real Jesus), let alone Jesus as Savior and Lord, outside of our knowing him through Scripture; 2) Scripture is the (only) standard by which we can understand, let alone measure, whether we’re truly bearing the fruit of the Spirit, and therefore being effective in living up to, and living out the mission statement.
I wouldn’t claim to know at this point where or how it should be fitted in, but the Word of God is God’s own tool for revelation in the dark world in which we live. It’s how we know our passion is not only appropriate, but moving us in an appropriate trajectory toward the kingdom of heaven.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Excellent point, David. Do you have any particular scripture in mind that would apply to our passion and mission?
December 7th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I’m guessing that it’s not a direct Scripture quotation that’s needed within the mission statement itself, but maybe something of an additional compound word, reading like this:
“To be a joy-filled, [Bible-based,] Christ centered community that is PASSIONATE about reaching our neighbors with Christ’s radical love so that all our lives are changed.”
The Scriptural rational is based on both Luke 24:27, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself”; and 2 Tim 3:16,17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the people of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
These passages speak to the source and foundation of our passion and mission. We cannot know either who Jesus is, nor how to live out our faith without the Holy Spirit’s illuminating the revelation of Jesus Christ without Scripture. Without either of these, as rooted in Scripture, our passion and mission are no different than any other “group” with a social (or even spiritual) concern.
Hopefully this answers your question, Angela. Thanks for asking
December 8th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Dave,
You are such a stickler…THANKS! I will work on it. I’m finding it hard to make time to write and would appreciate any help you and others can give. Check out an upcoming post on why we are passionate.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Scripture that fits the mission statement. Retrieved with the help of biblegateway.com
Acts 2:44 (NIV)
44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
December 10th, 2009 at 10:18 am
David, I love the addition of “Bible-based”. Without the foundation of scripture in our faith (and church) we become just another social organization.
Larry, I LOVE that vision of the new Christians. I have had that relationship with other Christians at times in my life, and it is a beautiful experience. How different from our segregated, isolated suburban lives!
December 10th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
@ Scott, Larry, and Angela – As Angela notes well, the addition of “Bible-based” shows our foundation. It also gives us a biblical picture of who Jesus is, as opposed to an image that is based on one’s personal experience or preference. It points us to the One to which we must conform, even as we learn of and exercise our unique gifts through His Holy Spirit. The passage of Acts 2:44-47 is one of my favorites, as it informs what body life is about (though not limited to). I’m not suggesting that a passage like this one should somehow be forced into the mission statement. It would better serve as a scriptural rationale that would go toward explaining the statement.
@ Scott – email me, and we can catch up. I’m happy to serve in helping you.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:02 am
On our Joy! Website, I think the “What we believe” statement is an excellent reflection on our church’s foundation in scripture.