Values: The Intro
Recently our church rolled out a set of four values that define our mission. These are not new values, just updated ways of expressing the principles that have guided us since our inception in 2002. (You can listen to the sermon series here, if you’re so inclined.)
Our values are based off of our mission:
Following the Holy Spirit, we exist to create a movement of disciple-making disciples, in RDU and around the world.
This mission and the subsequent four values have been a project our staff team has been working on for the better part of two years. We know that words matter, so we wanted every word to accurately reflect who we are and where God is leading us. We didn’t want to waste a noun or verb in defining our identity and marching orders.
But for me and my team, this project begged a very important question:
How does an inside-the-walls ministry (like guest services) fit in an outwardly-focused church?
Can our Guest Services plumb lines align with our new values?
Can our volunteers embody our four values as they serve our guests?
Can a “come and see!” ministry thrive in a “go and tell!” church?
Can we be both attractional and missional?
Well, spoiler alert: yes. Yes our plumb lines and values can align. Yes our volunteers can live out these values. Yes we can be both attractional and missional, both come and see and go and tell.
But I thought a brief series might be in order to demonstrate how a specific ministry must check its own identity in order to make sure it’s running with the overall mission of the church, rather than scraping against that mission.
Here are our four values, and where we’re heading over the next few posts:
- We prioritize the gospel above all.
- We do whatever it takes to reach all people.
- We make disciples, not just converts.
- We send every member.
- Values: the Outro
design credit: Jason Mathis
