INTENTIONAL SPIRITUAL GROWTH PATH

Team Report Version 2

TEAM MEMBERS

Jim Barnhart, Markus Dickinson, Stacee Gehring, Julie Phillips, Jonathan Purvis,

Jessy Zachariah

WHY IS THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH PATH IMPORTANT?

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go 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 I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

2 Timothy 1:6-7

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

We believe that life is a never-ending journey of growth in grace, faith, love and service. There is a mystery to faith development, directed by God, that is both individual and communal, and our faith community has a long standing tradition of offering opportunities that encourage and support an ongoing relationship with the living Lord.The proposed intentional spiritual growth path is intended to build on this tradition by providing even moreclear and intentional opportunities for individuals who ask themselves “what is next for me in my faith journey?”

Specifically, the spiritual growth path:

  • adds a cohesiveness to all the good work the church already does
  • is rooted in our Wesleyan tradition
  • recognizes that we are always moving toward perfection and that our sanctification is always a journey
  • adds clarity (especially for a new attender) regarding how to connect with the various ministries of the church, the good we do in the community and the world,and what opportunities exist for those asking“what is next for me in my faith journey?”
  • is not a rigidly prescribed or linear program, but rather an intentional, yet adaptable,spiritual framework developed to help individuals explore their personal faith journey

HOW DOES THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH PATH WORK?

Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

There are four components of the spiritual growth path which, in combination, work to maximize the opportunities individuals have to grow in their spiritual journey and discern and live out their God-given call. These four components are directly aligned with our core values anddesigned not to prescribe a single “right” path to spiritual growth, but rather to provide clear and intentional opportunities to individuals who ask themselves “what is next for me in my faith journey?”

INVITE

Core Value: We are Open to All. We are filled by the love of God, which inspires us to open our hearts and doors to everyone.We endeavor to build a community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

To aid in intentionally living out this core value, we will:

  1. Provide worship opportunities that inspire all people to come and experience God through our congregation
  2. Create a church-wide culture of hospitality that encourages the curious visitor to return and all to experience the joy of our faith community

LEARN

Core Value: We are Christ-Centered.We love and follow Jesus. We strive to find our Christian voice as we share Jesus’ message.We explore what it looks like to live Jesus’ love daily.

To aid in intentionally living out this core value, we will:

  1. Provide multiple learning opportunities to explore core Christian beliefs
  2. Provide opportunities to learn the tradition, vision, and values of our congregation
  3. Provide opportunities to explore other topics that enhance Christ-centered spiritual development

RELATE

Core Value: We are a Safe Place to Grow. We acknowledge that we all have unanswered questions and God welcomes our search.We believe asking questions is foundational to our spiritual development.We provide a safe environment where people share their doubts and convictions, without fear of judgment or repercussion.

To aid in intentionally living out this core value, we will:

  1. Developvibrant small group opportunities that provide a trust-filled and safe environment for individuals to wrestle with difficult questions andgrow in their faith

SERVE

Core Value: We are a Servant Community. We are called to serve as Jesus served and give as Jesus gave. Our individual gifts are to be used for the good not just of those inside the Church but the world outside the Church. We serve God and the world in gratitude and joy, expecting nothing in return.

To aid in intentionally living out this core value, we will:

  1. Provide opportunities to serve our community and world
  2. Through these opportunities, intentionally help individuals discern, discover, and live out theirGod-given call