How I Envision a Thriving, Biblically Organized and Functioning Local Assembly

 

I believe it is man’s principal privilege and duty to bring glory to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in all of his speech and action (1 Corinthians 10:31). To accomplish this, I seek to engage myself and our Lord’s church fully in the ministry of worship, evangelism and edification, which I believe to be interrelated in this principle. These three are my philosophy of ministry and the setting of my vision.

 

By God’s grace, I envision a body of believers who come together in worship, in selfless adoration and praise before our Savior. I envision the sacrifice of praise in meaningful song and speech; the life changing Word of God delivered with conviction and clarity to all who attend; families and individuals listening and speaking with God in prayer eagerly experiencing the joy of our Lord as we exalt Him together and present ourselves to Him (Romans 12:1).

 

By God’s grace, I envision a body of believers co-laboring together to bring the glorious Gospel of our Lord to those in our community and world through the ministry of evangelism. I envision believers who willfully and purposefully pursue those who are lost by going out into our community, by giving of ourselves and our children to the call of our Lord and His great commission producing missionaries from within and supporting those without of like belief. I see a body of spiritual fathers reproducing and leading others to Christ. I envision men and women, young and old, who will commit the things they have heard to the faithful and who will teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).

 

By God’s grace, I envision the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). I envision a vital fellowship of relevant teaching preparing men and women for daily life and the life to come. I see this for our children, our youth and all those beyond. I envision men and women serving our Lord and each other out of love as unto the Lord. I see men discipling men in God’s Word. I see the older women teaching younger women the principles and oracles of God (Titus 2:3-5). I envision the spiritually newborn in the constant state of growth, maturing in their faith and supported in fellowship. I see all who enter our presence receiving the nourishment, training and love our Lord displayed and freely gave. I see the next generation of the spiritually born maturing in their faith and serving our Lord in the ministries and offices we now hold with the blessing of our Lord and us.

​

As a result of these things, I envision our Lord being glorified in our community, among our people, in the world and in the generations that follow. I envision a stronger, growing church body with greater resources both spiritually and physically. I envision church planting as we send our best to launch each endeavor (Acts 13:1-5). I see the full use of our facilities as we give of our best in service. I envision a people who give of themselves, motivated by faith (Hebrews 11), to a God who gave of Himself. This is my vision, to see our Lord glorified among a people who are purchased with His blood, an example to all of those in their presence (Acts 20:28; 1 Thessalonians 1:7).

​

Pastor Ron