Visioning Process

On July 13 an open meeting was held in the sanctuary to prayerfully consider what we hope to be God's vision for the people of PBUMC and our surrounding community. Several new ideas were discussed, and their was a great spirit of "thy will be done" in the room.

One thing we all agreed on was the need for an intentional model for making disciples. The mission of the United Methodist Church at large is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformaton of the world, but rarely do our local congregations have a clear plan of how this is to be done in relation to their local context.

Here at Perdido Bay, we've talked about "Sharing the Love of Jesus" in general terms for quite some time now, but now we recognize the need to specify how we plan to share the love of Jesus, and perhaps more importantly, how we can encourage and teach others to do the same. It is a process that must be easily replicated for the sake of the future Kingdom!

Thus, to help move us forward, I have proposed the following stages based upon our prexisting language of Connecting, Strengthening, and Serving (did you ever notice this peculiar phrase on the front of every worship bulletin? Ever wondered what is was for? Well, so have I!). At this point, specific details about the different strategies and needs of the vision are believed to be best reviewed in group conversation, but for now, I'd like to invite you to start thinking in terms of these three 'phases' if you will.

1) Meeting phase…Do we love them?

Connecting: Focus on welcome, hospitality, engagement, outreach, and assimilation.

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).

“Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another” (1 Peter 4:9).

2) Message Phase…Why do we love them?

Strengthening: Focus on teaching, training, equipping, discerning, and other modes of spiritual formation.

“Make me to know thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths” (Psalm 25:4)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom…”
(Colossians 3:17)

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).


3) Mission Phase…How will they know that we love them?

Serving: Focus on sending, going, doing, leading, stretching, extending, and other expressions of Christian vocation.

“…whoever would be great among you must be your servant…even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-27).

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all…” (Galatians 6:10).


There were many exciting ideas that were discussed around the room at last night's meeting, and I plan to bring the conversation to our next Council meeting which is scheduled for Sunday, August 1, at 12:30 in the Community Center. Furthermore, I'd be glad to cast the vision to any small group--Sunday school class, foyers, supper club, Bible study, etc. that would like more information before the Council meeting. I'm ready to share, so just let me know here on the blog or call the office to set up a time. Rest assured that things will be coming into focus more and more in the weeks ahead, so feel free to keep the comments and questions rolling here on the blog.

These are exciting days...for as promised, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people...your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions" (Joel 2:28).

And that goes for the women, too!

Please be in prayer for theses 'holy conversations.' Lead us, dear Lord!

Yours,

Darren