Churches like any other organization need to know why they exist and what God’s mission they are to fulfill. Being unified in this mission is essential for the growth of the church community. We recently conducted a church survey, a type of spiritual health check to determine to what extent we are aligned in our mission. Our mission here at Ashburn Presbyterian Church (APC) is to glorify God in all we do, make and equip disciples of Christ, and be empowered by the Holy Spirit to love and serve others through word and deed.
Our CORE VALUES are to be Christ-Centered, Fellowship-Driven and Mission-Focused.
Christ-Centered: Christ is at the center of everything we do. His life and teaching directs us on how to live, and his death and resurrection not only saves us from sin and death but empowers us to follow Him.
Fellowship-Driven: It is essential for us to gather regularly on Sundays and during the week. Spiritual transformation occurs when we gather for worship, study the Bible together, and pray for one another.
Mission-Focused: in everything we do we are focused on making disciples of Christ. We are committed to communicating the gospel in words and good deeds.
To effectively achieve our unity in mission, it’s essential to clarify who we are and how we can work together. The culture of a church is defined as "people like us doing things like this." Mission statements can unify a church, but they will have little impact if members work in silos, pursuing their own agendas against the stated mission. True unity occurs when we align ourselves with a shared mission focus.
The mission of the church is best accomplished through the character of leaders. While not everyone may have the skills to lead, it is the character of leaders that shapes how our community lives together. A leader with integrity who lacks experience is preferred over someone knowledgeable about best practices in leadership but lacking in character. This principle is echoed in the Beatitudes, from the Sermon on the Mount, which highlights those who acknowledge their need for Christ and hunger for righteousness. Pete Scazzero observes that “unhealthy leaders engage in more activities than their combined spiritual, physical, and emotional reserves can sustain.” We need to fill up our reserve with God’s word and prayer as we pour our heart out to the Lord. Does the church’s mission align with your life mission?
When I was 17, I asked the adults around me what their personal mission in life was. I was disappointed to find that many had never considered the question. God had intervened in my life and stirred these thoughts within me. What is your mission in life? Does it align with your church's mission? Have you sought God’s guidance to discern what He calls you to be and do? Take the time to reflect on these questions and seek clarity in your purpose.
In the Book of Acts the early church demonstrated that the individual commitment of Christians aligned with the church’s life together. They devoted themselves to the apostolic teaching, sharing the communion, praying, singing, and caring for each other (Acts 2:42). In short, they were embodying the gospel to each other for all to see. This is the kind of impact a church can make as it is unified in mission and leading others to come to faith in Christ.
