GC Priorities

Local church consists of and is called to many things and areas. In some ways, all things and all areas. And yet it is certainly the case that no church can prioritise everything. If we try and make everything a priority, it inevitably leads to nothing actually being a priority.

It would be fair to say that over the past decade in Grace Church, our priorities have been determined by the nature of being a multi-site church. This has been good and right and allowed us to spread widely and go deeper in multiple communities.

But there has inevitably been a limit on how deep we have been able to go, in terms of emphasis or priority, and that has especially been the case in Chichester. It has been good and right that the Chichester site has prioritised serving others but perhaps has come at the cost of going deep in Chichester. We feel that the right approach for the season ahead is to introduce some priorities for Grace Church in Chichester.

These are to declare and demonstrate the gospel:

Over the road.

Over the seas.

To the next generation.

To those in need.

Principles

The heart behind these new priorities is to engage everyone who is a member of Grace Church in Chichester to get hands on with the mission. We don’t want to be a ‘cruise ship church’ that entertains people. That is all too easy. We want to be a ‘lifeboat church’ where there is a job to do and everyone on board has a part to play. These priorities are not about adding to the list of things for the ‘leaders’ to get on with, but about creating opportunities so that the whole church can be involved and take ownership.

In time, we want these priorities to run through everything we do, including our budgeting, online presence, how and what we pray for, ministries, leadership etc. And for the priorities to be well known across the church and practically visible to those looking in.

Each priority will need some development as we progress, and therefore subject to change, but we launch each one with a broad vision along with some measurable goals to achieve in the months and years ahead.

Over the road:

VISION: We want to take the gospel over the road to those in our communities. Our neighbours, friends, colleagues.
GOALS:
- Equip all members to be released to share the gospel.
- Send Havant site well so that it becomes a church in its own right and at the right time.
- To ensure that in all our ‘social action’ and community events and ministries, we are regularly communicating the good news about Jesus (so we give them the Bread of Life as well as bread).

Over the seas:

VISION: We believe God is calling us to be like an international airport where we are sending and supporting people to take the gospel overseas to other nations.
GOALS:
- Send a group on a short-term overseas mission (possibly including or exclusively for youth).
- Increase the profile of our overseas involvement within Grace Church.
- Send at least one missionary overseas medium to long term.
- Bring shape and connection to all our overseas involvement including connections with overseas charities we work with and support, people we have sent or have connections with, and overseas churches we have connections with.

To the next generation:

VISION: We want to help the next generation live according to gospel principles and for this to be something that is owned by everyone in the church.
GOALS:
- Increase the level of investment into the next generation from everyone else in the church.
- Bring unity and flow to all our discipleship of everyone from birth up to students.
- Establish a clear mentoring and discipleship program for teenagers.

To those in need:

VISION: We feel a burden to make observable progress in how much we are doing to love and care for the poor in our communities.
GOALS:
- Establish at least two new ministries out of Grace Church that serve the poor.
- Bring shape and connection to all our ‘social action’ ministries.
- To ensure that in all of our ‘outreach’, we are also doing what we can to help those in need (so we give them bread as well as the Bread of Life).

It was excellent to pray into these at our week of prayer last week. This all starts and ends with prayer and calling on God to take our offering and multiply it for his glory. Our hope is that as we continue to go for these priorities together, God will stir all of our hearts and our faith into humble and courageous action for his kingdom and glory.