In order to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, we believe that we are called to “Meet, Greet, Grow, and Go!”

 

First, we MEET.  Each and every day, we encounter all kinds of people.  We meet people from all walks of life and from all points along life's journey.  However, do we take the time to speak the Good News to them through our words and our actions?  As disciples of Christ, we are sent out into the world to meet others and to lead them into a relationship with God.  This means that we must (yes, must) do our part to invite others to be a part of the family of faith, to attend worship, to join Bible study - to begin a relationship with God's Son, Jesus Christ.  We do this not because we want more people or more money in our church, but because we want to share God's incredible love with everyone we meet.

 

Next, we GREET.  After we've met someone and invited them into the family of faith (the church), the family has a responsibility to greet them.  In greeting them, we adopt them into our family just as God has already adopted them into his.  We greet people through radical hospitality, through getting them involved in the ministries of the church, and through making them feel completely at home.  Through the process of greeting, we help people make a decision to join the church and to commit their lives to Christ.

 

Third, we GROW.  Meeting people and greeting people are pointless unless we provide opportunities for persons to grow in their relationship with God and with one another.  We grow as disciples when we gather for fellowship, Bible study, prayer, holy conversation, and ministry planning.  We grow only by God's grace!  As a church, we must provide opportunities for every person to grow.  If we aren't growing, then we must ask ourselves whether we are fruit-bearing disciples or just dead branches needing to be pruned. 

 

Fourth, we GO.  After we've come into the family of faith and we've grown, we must begin the cycle again by going out into the world.  We must GO!  Jesus made this clear in the great commission of Matthew's gospel:  "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you" (Mt 24:19-20a).  Why do we do this?  Because God's love cannot be contained.  If God's love is in us, it will naturally flow out of us and inspire us to share it with everyone!