The vision given to this Pastor for The Grace Memorial
Baptist Church is threefold: to
bring lost souls to the
saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
through preaching, teaching, and witnessing, using unlimited means (i.e., evangelism and
missionary efforts, radio and television broadcasts, etc.); to make true disciples for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through educating and training members to follow
obediently in the footsteps of Jesus; and
to proclaim Christ everywhere we go.
The
vision may entail reaching out through economic development programs
and special projects to our membership and community. The church strives to win souls for Christ and to spiritually nurture and feed its people. "Where there is no vision, the people perish... " (Proverbs 29:18).
It is the mission of this church to establish a fellowship in Jesus Christ that will promote the spread of the Gospel through scriptural, spiritual, and secular experiences. These experiences, in conjunction with our service and teaching ministries, will enable each member to acquire and develop knowledge, skills, and abilities that are essential to one's perseverance as a Christian individual. The primary objective is to win souls to Christ.
1. The spread of the Gospel through scriptural experiences provides the backbone for Christian maturity. It is imperative that every child of God continually familiarizes him/herself with the Holy Bible. By possessing a firm foundation in the scriptures, each born-again believer should become more knowledgeable in the Word and more convicted to do the will of God. To assist members in their scriptural experiences, everyone is strongly encouraged to attend Sunday Church School, Bible Study, worship services, midweek prayer services, and any seminars and/or workshops that may be offered. The Bible tells us to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
By studying the scriptures, we will be equipped to go into our communities and teach our fellow brothers and sisters about Christ. Indeed, this was Jesus' command to His disciples after His resurrection -"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20).
2. Spiritual experiences are also important to the spread of the Gospel. When we enter God's House, it is important to feel a sense of His Presence, and reverence to God. Our worship services are intended to provide the most rewarding spiritual experience one could possibly have through preaching, teaching, praying, singing, and personal testimonies. Varied services and Bible ministries are available to all members for the enhancement and enrichment of their worship experiences.
In our spiritual walk with Christ, and as we draw nearer to God, the Holy Spirit manifests Himself within us, leading and guiding us, thereby allowing us to grow, mature, and become more spiritual. Drawing closer to God deepens our sense of the omnipotent, omniscience, and omnipresence of God. When we share our experiences, we also enhance and enlighten the spiritual experiences of our brothers and sisters in Christ, both within and outside of the church.
3. As important as the scriptural and spiritual experiences are, our secular experiences help to define the parameters of our Christian walk. All of God's children are to confess their sins and receive Jesus as their personal Savior.
Secular experiences consist of a member's daily routines and patterns of life, i.e., working, attending school, shopping, driving, visiting family and friends, etc. These secular experiences give one an opportunity to bear witness to God's grace. Some of us were chosen out of these very same experiences to come to the Lord, and we can be examples for unsaved souls through these experiences. Jesus sat, ate, walked, and talked with sinners. While this is true, remember that Jesus never took on the attitude or behavior of the sinners. We, as Christians, should be guided by Ephesians 5:10. By obeying the example Christ set for us to follow, we can use these secular experiences to God's glory.
We remain committed to the cause of Christ through scriptural, spiritual, and secular experiences. As disciples, we will continue to win souls for our Lord's kingdom.