SWChurch Idea Session. The Vision-History of Southwest Church: Chapter 1 - A church to reach the...

SWChurch Idea Session

SWChurch Idea SessionThe Vision-History of Southwest Church:•Chapter 1 - A church to reach the upper classes in SW Orlando (Scott Tonges)

•Chapter 2 - A church "In the Word to Win the World" (Kevin McWilliams)

•Chapter 3 - "Growing a Healthy Church" (Tom Welch)•Winning the Lost

•Cultivating relationships with non-Christians•Planting the seed of the gospel•Reaping the harvest of salvations

•Building the Believer•Equipping the Worker

•Chapter 4 - "A People with a Passion for the Glory of God" - four values:•Truth•Prayer•Community•Mission

•Chapter 5 - A renewed vision and mission•NCD: National Church Development•Church Health Team•Visioning Team•Current Vision, Missions, Values, and Motto:


Our Vision: “We will be a community of believers who love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and make Him known in our community and around the world”

Our Mission: “Our mission is to develop fully devoted followers of Christ who will meet the spiritual needs of our church and our community”

Our Values: 1. Worship: We are created to find our joy in worshiping God.2. Teaching: Knowing and obeying God’s Word is fundamental to all true

success.3. Outreach: Lost people matter to God. He wants them found.4. Discipleship: Completing the Great Commission will require fully devoted

followers of Christ of all ages.5. Prayer: Prayer is the primary work of the people of God.6. Community: Building community is essential for church health.7. Stewardship: Everything we have belongs to God. We are only stewards.8. Growth: Achieving God’s purposes involves taking faith-filled risks.

Our “Motto”: “Ordinary People, Empowered by an extraordinary God, Building a community of Christ, In West Orange County.”


When asked “what would need to change for you to invite someone to church” most answered: “me”!


Goals: We have a goal to financially balance our budget. How can we do this?

Work toward growth of the church (#1 answer)

My instinct is that everyone is already giving what they can but maybe we need to pray more about sacrificial giving.

Pray, Pray, Pray

Provide details of the budget (incoming funds vs outgoing funds) on a monthly or every other month basis so the members are more aware of where we stand.


Barriers: What might be keeping us from achieving our goals?

Discouragement, loss of energy, complacency

We tend to talk about these things and then continue as we have been going all along. Our congregation is a group of very committed Christians but we seem stuck in a rut.

Need of more activities/events that would allow people to know each other better, which will foster a more caring and supportive community of believers…., Relationships need to be fostered more than just Sunday mornings - starting with leadership on down.

We've been comfortable with the same things (and the same people) for so long, it's going to take more effort to change them. So perhaps prayer would be a good place to start after all...


How can our church serve our community?

Hook into existing service organizations: Food for Families, Crisis Pregnancy, Project Angel Tree, Relay for Life, etc.

Become more involved in the community through activities. Some involvement is already there - Relay for Life, Oakland Festival, Borders Wrapping, Light Up Winter Garden, etc. Is there potential to do more things through the Y (class offerings)?

We need to be seen actually doing something that serves the needs of the community - example - daily bread, habitat for humanity, etc.

Community outreach to those in need, creating partnerships with local businesses and community programs to assist, become more engaged with the YMCA

SWChurch Idea SessionDo you have any other thoughts, ideas, or comments you think would be helpful?

Have printed information for our church with pictures and church life always available whenever we do anything in the community or at the YMCA…, Increase signage and publicity.

In our busy lives, we MUST see the church's ministries as a priority, invest TIME into the lives of others, pray with and for one another and be willing to get our hands & feet ready.

Could the church be evaluated by an outside source? I think we are all a little to close to really see the big picture…, could the C&MA send someone who has had a church turn around after 20 years?

We have great people involved with the church. No one knows there is a church that meets at the YMCA let's use that base to begin with. Let's all commit to inviting one friend a month.

Thanks for asking!! I love our church and am excited about the future!

SWChurch Idea Session. The Vision-History of Southwest Church: Chapter 1 - A church to reach the...

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