Draft vision

Last night I went for a walk and started thinking about what should be the vision for our church. The following is only a draft of some ideas.

1. Our vision should centre on seeking to please God.

Pleasing God should be our ultimate goal. This should effect all that we do. It should challenge both our public and private actions (knowing that God sees everything), it should challenge how we view people we find difficult in the congregation (remembering how much the quality of our fellowship matters to him), and it should challenge the attitude to those we come in daily contact with (keeping in mind that God is good to all and desires that all people come to repentance).

2. The gospel should be at the heart of all we do.
Our aim is not simply to meet people's felt needs. We want to bring people into contact with the truth. We believe that the gospel contains God's rescue plan to the core problems of sin and hell. We also believe that God's salvation brings people into an experience of life in all its fullness. We remember that we are commanded not simply to make converts but disciples.

3. Conversion should make people more compassionate.

Think of people like Wilberforce, Barnardo and Booth. Their faith prompted them to care. That makes sense when we consider that we follow a compassionate God and Saviour. Sometimes people wonder what the relationship between evangelism and social action is. It helps if we realise that social action is an aspect of holiness. We know that we are called to be holy. We know that holiness can help lead people into the kingdom, but we don't simply seek to be holy for that purpose. We know that holiness has value in itself. We seek to be holy to please God.

4. Richhill is not our only mission field.

Many of our members spend over eight hours of every working day in various work places (particularly in Armagh, Portadown and even Belfast). This provides invaluable opportunities to honour God and witness to him there. These members do not simply go as individuals, they go as an extension of our community. We want to help support and equip them in the mission that they have to these places.

Some of our members live in places outside Richhill (including Loughgall, Armagh, Portadown and Hamiltonsbawn). Through them our mission extends to these places too.

Yet Richhill does have a special place in our mission because it is here that we are centred and here observed being in community. We also recognise that we are a part of a Christian community in Richhill that is bigger that simply Richhill Methodist Church.

Christians have always had a concern for their fellow-believers in other places. We are enriched with our links to places like Lira in Uganda.

5. Community is an essential part of our witness.

Jesus spoke of the impact that a community of love will have on the observing world. It is essential that we care for one another. Grace and holiness must be at heart of this fellowship. In grace we accept people, like ourselves, with failed pasts and from differing backgrounds. As members of the church we realise that we are accountable to the fellowship and even submit ourselves to its discipline. We can expect that the devil will seek to sow division, if we are not a people who practice forgiveness we will help him achieve his aims.

6. Our vision is not just for the lost.

We are commanded to do good to all, especially those who belong to the family of believers (Gal. 6:10). We are to seek opportunities to serve one another to the glory of God. We meet to encourage and build one another up. We are hoping to be a people who grow in God together. We do not want to be static in this faith but increasing in maturity.

7. Contact and flexibility are essential to how we meet social needs.

We operate as a dispersed people centred in a village. This will effect any social projects that we attempt. My belief is that flexibility is key to how we operate in this setting. A couple of years ago we were made aware of the need and opportunity to run English language classes for new residents. This was a very valuable activity. It also was one that ran its course. We should stand ready to meet similar needs, as they arise, in the future. In terms of the new building I think it will be more beneficial to design general spaces rather than specialist spaces.

8. A people depending on God.

Finally, let's be a people of prayer. Let's ask him to guide us. Let's long for him to give us the opportunity to act for his glory as we speak the truth and act with compassion.