Recap of January 19, 2025, Listening Session
If you are going to change the status of this church – a dying church, embrace the goals of the Christian church - which has to be a church wide effort and a shift in the church leadership and members mindset. Change must happen.
What is the purpose of the Christian Church?
What is Not the purpose of the Christian Church?
Common mistakes of a church
1. Continuing of programs that no longer work
2. Not being relative to the culture - defeated before even starting
3. Not willing to try new things even if they do fail (can’t have the fear of failure)
4. 90/10 rule-not having church attendees participate in the rebirth process
5. Judging success as a short-term goal and not as a long-term goal
Comments:
“ We can’t change everything… it is a balancing act.”
“Many times, we don’t see the success.”
What are the practices of a growing church today?
Comments “age is going up and less people moving into Riverton Township area.”
“Ludington is growing in population.”
“Using what talent, we have already and how to use them.”
“Community does not have to have boundaries.”
“Reach out to community and offer our skills to those that would like to learn those skills.”
“Starting small group, like yoga, has brought people into our church.”
“We need to be prayer warriors.”
“How can we build upon the contacts that we had from the Halloween Party?”
Things to think of this week:
What are your thoughts?
What is our mission?
What are our goals?
If you are going to change the status of this church – a dying church, embrace the goals of the Christian church - which has to be a church wide effort and a shift in the church leadership and members mindset. Change must happen.
What is the purpose of the Christian Church?
- Glorify God – Ephesians 3:21
- Edifying Believers
- Evangelism -Matthew 28 19-20
- Serving Others
What is Not the purpose of the Christian Church?
- Filling the church pews
- Judging others
- Being profitable
- Being comfortableOperating like a business
Common mistakes of a church
1. Continuing of programs that no longer work
2. Not being relative to the culture - defeated before even starting
3. Not willing to try new things even if they do fail (can’t have the fear of failure)
4. 90/10 rule-not having church attendees participate in the rebirth process
5. Judging success as a short-term goal and not as a long-term goal
Comments:
“ We can’t change everything… it is a balancing act.”
“Many times, we don’t see the success.”
What are the practices of a growing church today?
- Majority of the budget is spent on people that are not there yet.
- Networking through social media
- Small groups
- Serving
- Doing ministry in the context of the community
Comments “age is going up and less people moving into Riverton Township area.”
“Ludington is growing in population.”
“Using what talent, we have already and how to use them.”
“Community does not have to have boundaries.”
“Reach out to community and offer our skills to those that would like to learn those skills.”
“Starting small group, like yoga, has brought people into our church.”
“We need to be prayer warriors.”
“How can we build upon the contacts that we had from the Halloween Party?”
Things to think of this week:
What are your thoughts?
What is our mission?
What are our goals?
1/26/2025 Listening Session
St Paul congregation met for about one hour after service with Pastor Joe chaired session
The present Mission Statement was discussed, should we change it, keep it
Most discussion revolved around keeping the existing Mission Statement.
It stated our purpose, was short easy to remember, made sense.
Discussed adding “Goals and Objectives” to enhance the Mission Statement.
Goals could be: Glorify God; Edifying Believers; Evangelism; Serving Others.
Could these goals be our vision?? - Is there a Vision Statement currently?
Will research and see if there is one already.
Do not get too carried away, start small and complete Goal, discuss how to complete and what results we are looking for, evaluate after a period of time such as month, 6 months, and year and adjust as needed.
Some ideas for outreach:
Offering our church for funerals/assisting families not in our present group…. gas cards, other assistance as needed
Mentoring-offering our skills, classes
Gift baskets /offer help and assistance to new mothers in the area... diapers, clothing, offer to help with childcare (Erin Gutowski will contact hospital to set up arrangements)
Birthday parties for residents at Oakview and Medilodge quarterly, semi-yearly etc.
Visiting nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
Visiting new residents to the area like Welcome Wagon and invite to church
Pastor Joe commented – Goal is to reach out to others and be disciples, not necessarily to come to our church and fill the pews but to invite
Next session is Sunday February 2nd
St Paul congregation met for about one hour after service with Pastor Joe chaired session
The present Mission Statement was discussed, should we change it, keep it
Most discussion revolved around keeping the existing Mission Statement.
It stated our purpose, was short easy to remember, made sense.
Discussed adding “Goals and Objectives” to enhance the Mission Statement.
Goals could be: Glorify God; Edifying Believers; Evangelism; Serving Others.
Could these goals be our vision?? - Is there a Vision Statement currently?
Will research and see if there is one already.
Do not get too carried away, start small and complete Goal, discuss how to complete and what results we are looking for, evaluate after a period of time such as month, 6 months, and year and adjust as needed.
Some ideas for outreach:
Offering our church for funerals/assisting families not in our present group…. gas cards, other assistance as needed
Mentoring-offering our skills, classes
Gift baskets /offer help and assistance to new mothers in the area... diapers, clothing, offer to help with childcare (Erin Gutowski will contact hospital to set up arrangements)
Birthday parties for residents at Oakview and Medilodge quarterly, semi-yearly etc.
Visiting nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
Visiting new residents to the area like Welcome Wagon and invite to church
Pastor Joe commented – Goal is to reach out to others and be disciples, not necessarily to come to our church and fill the pews but to invite
Next session is Sunday February 2nd
Recap of “Listening Session” Sunday, February 2, 2025
After looking at past church records, it was determined that we only have a mission statement and there is no vision statement. The mission statement is to “To Know Christ and Make Him Known” In 2016 there was 5 core beliefs that St. Paul Church had. These are the Core beliefs developed in 2016
1. Everyone has gifts for ministry
2. God calls everyone to service and ministry
3. The ministries of the church should foster spiritual growth and discipleship
4. The church’s mission is outward focused
5. The work of the church is to encourage people in their callings
These core beliefs were reviewed and how they fit with the mission statement, and whether they should be used. Much discussion was held on what the next steps should be, how do we accomplish them, etc.
Question - How much are we willing to give in money, time, etc.?
We need to be 100% committed to whatever is decided. Everyone was asked to pray this week for discernment of our next steps.
After looking at past church records, it was determined that we only have a mission statement and there is no vision statement. The mission statement is to “To Know Christ and Make Him Known” In 2016 there was 5 core beliefs that St. Paul Church had. These are the Core beliefs developed in 2016
1. Everyone has gifts for ministry
2. God calls everyone to service and ministry
3. The ministries of the church should foster spiritual growth and discipleship
4. The church’s mission is outward focused
5. The work of the church is to encourage people in their callings
These core beliefs were reviewed and how they fit with the mission statement, and whether they should be used. Much discussion was held on what the next steps should be, how do we accomplish them, etc.
Question - How much are we willing to give in money, time, etc.?
We need to be 100% committed to whatever is decided. Everyone was asked to pray this week for discernment of our next steps.