Values and Goals Protect us from Aimlessness

Pastor Wayne Jenkins
 
One of the purposes of our recent Pastor Retreat was to prayerfully seek God’s Values and Goals for FBCA for the coming year. It is through these Values and Goals that we will pursue God’s direction for FBCA in 2023. Values establish curbs for our way forward to keep us from wandering from God’s path and principles. Values fuel us forward. Values can be seen as our passions that infuse all that we do. While we possess many important values, these are four we will accentuate for 2023.

The Values that we are elevating in 2023 are:

• Redemption (Romans 8:28—And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to His purpose.)
• Relationships (Philippians 2:5— In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus)
• Responsibility (Hebrews 12:1—And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…)
• Renewal (2 Corinthians 4:16—Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.)

Redemption
The redeeming power of God through Jesus Christ transforms people and situations. As a church community, FBCA is dependent upon and committed to the redeeming power of God in salvation but also in the daily life of the disciple. We are recipients of and agents of redemption. One of the values that generates our goals and actions is redemption.

Relationships
Vital in everything we are and do as FBCA, relationships are both the means and the ends. Relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Relationship with family. Relationship with others within the FBCA community of faith. Relationships with those who live and work around us. The depth and quality of our relationships define us as disciples.

Responsibility
With faith comes responsibility. Disciples are commissioned with roles and duties. Our accountability to God and to others in the Body of Christ quantifies our discipleship. As stewards, witnesses, disciple-makers, leaders, influencers, worshipers, pray-ers, and missionaries, all Christ-followers carry responsibilities to fulfill God’s mission and purpose.

Renewal
All believers and churches need the revival, reconnection, resilience, recommitment, and rejuvenation that come from fresh encounters with Jesus, His Word, and His Holy Spirit. Realities such as routine, grief, disappointments, and fatigue can weigh us down, dim our hope, distract us, and rob our joy. If we are not renewed in our faith and commitment, some of the best parts of us will expire from lack of vitality, spark, and zeal.

Our 2023 journey as a congregation will undoubtedly involve much which we cannot predict, but we can rely on faith values to keep us in the faithful lane as we travel. In our journey together, having curbs along the road is not enough. We also have to know where we’re headed. That’s where goals emerge. Goals determine what we do, and don’t do, and why.

The goals the pastors illuminated for 2023 are the following:

• Fresh Liturgy (energized practices of faith).
• Leadership Development (tapping and equipping new leaders)
• Emotional Health (continuing in healing and recovery)
• Hospitality (welcoming, valuing, and including people into our lives)
• Spiritual Formation (developing believers as disciples that make disciples)
• New Gatherings (starting new groups and events in various locations)
• Shared Responsibility (leading collaboratively across ministries and programs)
• Leading by Example (leading as servants and role models)

Thank you for the privilege of doing faith and being church together. Let’s pray for God’s guidance and strength as we honor the values and pursue the goals He reveals to us.

#4suchatimeasthis!