SPIRITUAL OUTREACH WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY

WORSHIP

Our worship team must continue to develop itself in order to reach full potential. We need growth in prayer meetings in multiple forms, times and places. People need to be encouraged to learn more about prayer and to make it a foundational element of their lives. Prayer must be a hallmark of the congregation as we are about spiritual vitality. We must “sow in the Spirit” in order to “reap of the Spirit.”

We must begin to add elements that speak to our culture such as videography in service and adding surround sound technology.

Worship is a very important part of life at Heart of Mercy Community Church. We have a great team that leads us into the presence of God weekly. But realistically there is very little we can continue to do in the development of this service without it becoming a self-serving service that meets our felt needs but is unresponsive to the community The people must be in touch.

DISCIPLESHIP

Everyone that comes to Christ needs to be discipled. Actually, discipleship is the command… “go and make disciples. Jesus does not say go and convince people that they are sinners, or put on a program to fill up people’s lives. We are commanded to make disciples. Worship services cannot be the only discipling venue of the church. People must be able to be involved in communication and application. A one-hour Sunday school is also not sufficient to accomplish this goal. One hindrance that we have in discipling is a lack of participation in church activities. People need the ability to be involved in dialogue as they are growing in godliness. They need the intimacy of a small group to care for them, to share their successes and failures so that others realize that they are not alone and God’s name is glorified because He has enabled His people to live victorious lives and His power and faithfulness are witnessed regularly. Our people need to be involved in regular discipleship training. They need to be encouraged.

EVANGELISM

Evangelism is and will be the heartbeat of this church. We must share the good news of the life transforming power of Jesus Christ. We need to explain and explain again that each of us are called to be missionaries. We have to find creative ways of penetrating our community so that those who are bondage may be free through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“They are not commissioned to come – We are commissioned to go.” We have to build a place where all are welcome to come and worship. We must become militant in our approach to reaching our community. While not neglecting our responsibility around the world, we must begin in our Jerusalem by being evangelistic in the community in which we live.

MINISTRY/SERVICE

Each believer has been giving gifts and talents by God, which we must use in acts of ministry and service. God gave us these gifts to be discovered, developed and used. Our goal is to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading so that the right people wit gifts are in the right place at the right time. The gifts help keep us balance in ministry efforts inside and outside the church. Jesus came to seek and save the lost; they are the ones whom He spent His ministry. Our ministry also has to be outward focused. Though there are often many places of service available inside the church, there is an ever-increasing need for us to be people that use our ministry gifts outside of the walls of this church. Through God’s grace this will be done.

FELLOWSHIP

Does eating dinner together equal fellowship together? What is this word anyway? How about this as a possible definition – “fellow” “ship” is a “fella that is in the ship with me.”

Fellowship means these questions will be answered before visitors ask.