Earlier this year I felt led to move away from the Purpose Driven Church strategy and simplify our vision. Our new vision statement proclaims that “We worship. We grow. We serve.”

We expect every member to participate in a weekly worship on one of our three campuses. Although giving is lower than budget needs, God supplied ample resources for a very successful launch of our Joplin North Campus. Total attendance for all three campuses averaged over 1,700 last month. That is a lot of people worshiping our amazing God.

We further expect every member to grow by being involved in a Small Group Bible study (LifeGroups, Fusion, Sunday School, etc.) Jesus and his disciples modeled the best way to put on spiritual muscle: live your life in community with other believers.

Finally, we expect every member to serve in a ministry. Some of these ministries build up the church. Others reach out to the world that needs Christ. Our church is one of only three churches in our state convention to baptize more than 100 people for six consecutive years. Our missions board also reported 565,967 baptisms overseas last year and 26,970 new churches planted. What a joy to be involved in ministries that are reaching people at home and around the world. I received an email last week from one whose life has been touched. She said,

I am a believer who is struggling with a husband that has an alcohol problem and a teenage son that is in rehab due to drugs. Even though I am going through that I am standing strong in the Lord knowing that there is going to be VICTORY in JESUS name! My kids started coming to your Awana program last Wednesday and they loved it! My daughter was telling her dad what an awesome time she had and wanted for him to come to this church with her. We came and when we got there I told the door greeter that it was our first time there and she took us to get the kids checked in and then brought us back to the sanctuary. After the service was over we went to get our kids that were saying that what great time they had! As we left I asked him what he thought and he said I LIKE IT! It made sense and we will be back again next week. I want to THANK you and your staff for making a good impression on his first visit and making the aim perfect at people that come feel at home.

Your giving is making a difference. Thanks for helping us touch lives for eternity!

New Vision Statement