Prov 29:18 If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
As a local church we are Jesus focused, encompassing Biblical vision and values. For the sake of our local expression we will call these vision and values :- “ Bridging Blocks”.
As a leadership team we have over the last year been on a journey to help us to evaluate what God is saying to us and are we staying true to that. Always a challenging exercise.!!!!!!.
We have felt to define a phrase or mission statement that will carry us into his future for us, a statement from our hearts, opposed to from our heads; in having hearts for the lost, welcoming true seekers of God, a deep desire for His presence and power through each one of us having a love and yearning for more of His Word and Spirit. With much prayer and discussion we landed with :
“ At the Bridge we connect All people to encounter God’s Word and Spirit”.
In the same way as we changed the name of our church to reflect our heart and ethos, as an expression of what God has called us to be in connecting with our community. In the same vein our mission statement encompasses a heart issue as opposed to a cerebral assent to what God has called us to and what we will give our lives wholeheartedly to.
We know that we are called to function and be part of a local church, understanding that every local church in someway has a different ethos and expression. However to be part of that local church’s expression we need to grasp hold of the mission, vision and values, (The Bridging Blocks), that God has appointed to that Leadership team.
Unfortunately too often when we hear the words Mission, Vision and Values, we pretty much dial out. If we take heed to Prov 29:18, a bell or two should ring in our heads. As Pastors our job is not to find your Bridging Blocks for your life. However as God appointed leaders of the Bridge, we are meant to provide Bridging Blocks that God has placed upon our hearts for those that call us Pastor, and acknowledge that they are part of the Bridge family, and who will willingly follow Jesus, the leadership team, and the ethos at the Bridge. We as the Bridge will also wholeheartedly be part of this family and the Bridging Blocks he has placed within us.
Our Bridging Blocks are our treasure, the things we stand for, the things we hold dear to, and would not compromise on. They are not rules, but are essential Bridging Blocks. They are not a majority vote on moral or doctrinal views.
These values are Kingdom values – not the values of a culture or a movement. They are born out of our conviction about how we should live according to God’s Word and Spirit.
Join with us, take hold of, imbibe into your hearts, as we continue to seek wholeheartedly after Gods Word and Spirit, as we delve into our Bridging Blocks, as we build together for a preferred future.