FIRESIDE CHAT 2014

Kaleidoscope: any complex pattern of frequently changing shapes and colors.

The Church of Jesus Christ is a kaleidoscope of many people reflecting the light of Christ in a variety of different colors and patterns.

The ministries of the local church are constantly changing without losing the light source of its mission.

STRATEGY

• Our mission– To be a biblical community turning

unbelievers into followers of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20)

• Jesus’ mission is our mission.– Seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10)– To serve and give life as a ransom (Mark 10:45)

• Keeping the mission central. – The Gospels are filled with stories of lost people being

found.– Think stories not numbers.

• Our Vision (Acts 2:42-47)– Celebrating God with fully engaged worship.– Communicating God’s word with clarity.– Cultivating life development. – Caring for people in faith, hope and love.

• Our Image of Development– Salvation – receiving the gift of grace through

faith.– Spiritual growth – growing into Christlikeness.– Spiritual gifts – discovering and developing our

God given abilities.– Service – expanding the Kingdom of God.

OUR CORE VALUEDoing life together in community

• Community is the desire to know and be known, love and be loved, serve and be served, celebrate and be celebrated without pride and prejudice. – Commitment– Outreach– Maturing– Mentoring– Unity– Integrity– Trust– Yielded

STRUGGLES

Unhealthy Community

• Consumerism• Pride• Punishment• Uniformity• Myopic• Fleshly• Cliques

Healthy Community

• Contributors• Humility• Grace• Unity• Missional• Spirit• Caring

STAFF

2020 VISIONEACH OF THE FOLLOW AREAS WE WOULD LIKE SEE DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS

SERMONS

• Who is God For? January-February 14• Givevitudes March 14• The Shepherd, the Lamb (Lent) April 14

– 40 day devotional– 16 page activity book for the kids

• The Sermon on the Mount May-August 14• The Book of 1 Thessalonians Sept-Oct 14• The Book of 2 Thessalonians Nov 14• Advent Dec 14

STEWARDSHIP• Acts 2 (11/1/2006-12/31/2009)• Open Doors (4/1/2010-3/31/2014)

– $1.4 million borrowed to build the CLC• End of the Open Doors campaign (3/31/2014)

– Have paid $449,154.93 principle and interest– $1.2 million to pay off loans

• Beginning of a new campaign – (4/1/2014 - 3/31/2017)– $9,600 per month needed to pay the mortgage.– Will need further campaign phases until completion. – What if we could pay it off by 2020?

SUSTAINING THE BUDGET

• Erieside 2013-2014 budget– $435,650.00

• Salaries• Ministries• Missions = $84,420.00

– Our weekly budget need is $7,600.00– Our weekly giving average is $7,251.40

• Income over expenses so far in 2013-14 = $2,859.21

SMALL GROUPS

• A place to learn, a place to do life

• A ministry vs. An identity

• New opportunity:– Brian & Jody Beller – 4th Wednesday in

Willoughby (6:30-8:30 pm)– Mission of the group: encourage each other in

knowing the truth of God’s word so that we can be set free to fulfill our mission as ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

SIMPLICITY VS. COMPLEXITY• The longer an organization exists the more

complex it becomes.

• The delicate balance of keeping our mission, messages and ministries simple enough to be understood but sophisticated enough to meet the ever changing dynamics of our world.

STALE MINISTRIES

• Evaluation of our current roster of ministries.– What needs repaired?– What needs replaced?– What needs a eulogy?

• Envisioning what the church will need to become into the future to stay relevant rather than a relic.

SUPPORT MINISTRIES

• What are the needs in our community that we can serve?

• Who can be partners in serving the needs of the community.

• What in-house ministries can be developed for:– Community care– Encouragement– Special needs

SYSTEMS• Administrative

– What is needed in equipment?– What is needed for involvement?– What is needed for better organization?

• Security– What is needed to best protect our children,

youth and adults?• Background checks• Certification process

– What is needed to train people to be ready in the case of an emergency?

STRUCTURE

• What needs finished?

• What needs repaired?

• What needs replaced?– The front steps– The chapel decor

• What needs discarded?

• What needs better space planning?

STUDENT MINISTRIES

SPECIAL EVENTS• Concerts• Christmas • Conferences• Celebrations

– January 2015 marks the 80th anniversary of Erieside Church.

– Parent-Child dedication– Baptisms– Weddings– End of life

SPIRITUAL GROWTHDiscipleship

Learning to be a better follower

ServolutionLearning how to be a blessing