Vision

God’s vision for Grace Church

 

Since 1996, the following vision statement has led Grace Church: 

God’s Vision for Grace Church:  "To partner with God in transforming people from unbelievers to fully devoted disciples of Jesus to the glory of God."

 

This vision statement serves as our litmus test to determine whether we are on mission or not.  It is our plumb line against which we line up our program, personnel and property decisions.

 

Explanation of vision statement:

This vision statement seems to fall into four categories:

 

1.  Our Partnership: To partner with God… Jesus came to Earth to reveal God to us, to be “God with
     skin on.”  Now we partner with God to be “Jesus with skin on” to others.  Throughout history God
     has chosen to work through His people.  It is a joint venture where we follow God and work with
     God to help people experience God’s grace and salvation.

 

2.  Our Product: …in transforming people… Our focus is transforming lives.  We partner with God to
     take people from where they are into who God created them to be.  Taking broken lives and
     transforming them into a new creation that is growing toward healing and wholeness. 

 

3.  Our Process: …from unbelievers to fully devoted disciples of Jesus… Some who come to the
     church do not know God.  Others come with a relationship with God.  No matter where they are
     in their walk with God there is always room to grow.  It is an ongoing growing process toward
     becoming a fully devoted disciple.  What is a fully devoted disciple?  A fully devoted disciple is a
     person who has taken up their cross and follows Jesus.  Every part of their lives fully devoted to
     following Jesus.  

 

4.  Our Promise: …to the glory of God!  Even though we get to play a part in God’s work, He does
     the life changing and therefore, He deserves all the credit.  This is our promise and pledge!

 

The prayer we pray at Grace Church:

Since 1996, we have prayed a simple prayer:

"God, send us the people nobody else wants!"

 

Our hope was that Grace Church would be a place where everyone would know of God’s outrageous love for all, including those who had previously felt left out or unwanted.  And, over time, God began to answer this prayer!  God has given Grace Church a reputation as a healing place for all broken people to find restoration. 

 

Later, God expanded this prayer. Grace Church leaders had become increasingly captivated by God’s heart for the poor and marginalized of our community and world.  The prayer was lengthen by two words: 

"God, send us the people nobody else wants or sees!"

 

This prayer reflects the heart of Grace Church to include all people in the body of Christ.  We pray for God’s grace to break through all divisions and or dysfunctions that threaten to separate people from God’s love and one another.  We pray God would help all persons experience that they are “a child of God and person of worth”.