This priority focuses on building transformative community in the Name of Jesus Christ by inviting people into authentic, Christ-centered community that will foster a believer’s perpetual growth into Christlikeness (See appendix A in Executive Summary).
Vision 2013 describes what transformative community can look like:
“We believe spiritual growth and transformation happen when people participate in authentic community with others seeking to follow Jesus Christ…It is in this community that we best experience discipleship. It is in community that we not only focus on teaching to develop right thinking Christians but are accountable to each other and encourage each other to become right living Christians.” (Vision 2013, pg. 18)
The strategies involved in this priority will tap into our strengths as a congregation and offer an opportunity for transformative community to be experienced by all.
The new discipleship model will equip our congregants to worship God with their wholelives and live out their faith “here”: where they live, work, play, and worship. The newdiscipleship model forms people to:● Become more like Jesus as they grow in love for Him and in community● Thoughtfully engage the culture with a biblical and theological mindset● Love like Jesus to live out the mission of JesusPeople need to be equipped with the practices and postures that will help themexperience life-transforming closeness with Christ. A new discipleship model for thechallenges of today must equip and send people with the biblical, theological, andrelational skills to engage the world around them with the gospel. This requiresaddressing the complex issues that all generations are experiencing in the changingculture, as well as delving into the questions we are asking in our particular life stages.A discipleship pathway must make it clear where to go and how to grow at FPC.
