Mission & Vision

A Church Birth Project of Grace Christian Fellowship

Grace Church is a community of changed people who are committed to serving and renewing the greater Dunedin area through a movement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Gospel: The Gospel is the good news that through Jesus Christ the power of God's kingdom has entered history to bring redemption and renew the whole world. When we believe and rely on Jesus' death and resurrection for our relationship to God, that kingdom power comes upon us and begins to work through us. Through the Gospel, Jesus gives us a radically new identity, freeing us from both self-righteousness and self-condemnation. He forgives our wrongdoings, heals our brokenness, redirects us from our hurtful and self-centered patterns, and He liberates us to accept people we once excluded. Community: The Gospel creates a new community which not only nurtures individuals but serves as a sign of God's coming kingdom. Here we see all kinds of people loving, serving, and discipling one another through the transforming and healing power of the Gospel. This experience and activity of community is pursued (together) in our Community Groups and Sunday Gatherings. Changed People: The community the Gospel creates is a community of changed people changed from the inside out. In particular, the Gospel makes us into missional and discipling-oriented people. Serving: Though we gladly invite every person to faith in the Gospel of Jesus, we are committed to sacrificially serving our neighbors whether they believe as we do or not. We do this by using our gifts and resources for the needs of others. In particular, we work for justice, especially for the poor and disadvantaged. Renewing: We believe the Gospel is to have a profound, healthy, and renewing impact on all areas of society marriage, family, the arts, business, government, media, academia, etc. Therefore we are highly committed in seeing the truth of Gospel shape the spheres of family, vocation, and culture. Gospel Movement: The health and reach of Grace Church is not enough. We are therefore committed to planting (and helping others plant) new Gospel-oriented churches and working towards a renewal of Gospel vitality by discipling and rising up of future ministry leaders.

Grace Church Information Meeting

10.11.2011

Why Plant Churches ? The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for #1.)the numerical growth of the Body of Christ in any city, and #2.) the continual corporate renewal and revival of the existing churches in a city. Nothing else--not crusades, outreach programs, para-church ministries, growing mega-churches, congregational consulting, nor church renewal processes--will have the consistent impact of dynamic, extensive church planting. ~ Tim Keller, Why Plant Churches? "Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven. ~ Peter Wagner, Strategies for Growth www.gracechurchofdunedin.com/resources/why-plant-churches Grace Churchs Leadership: Jesus is the head of the body, the church (Col. 1:8; 1 Pet. 5:3), so we literally consider Jesus Christ to be the Senior Elder and the Head of Grace Church. We follow his example and organize our human leadership by focusing on three key areas of leadership that Grace Church Elders: Jesus fulfills perfectly: Heath Lead Pastor Prophet The people must be taught the Bible. James Executive Pastor Priest The people must be loved. Steve Community Group Pastor King The people must be led. The men who lead the church must lead like Jesusnot to replace him, but to follow him and serve his people according to their need, as described in the Bible. Though we are imperfect and incomplete, by Gods grace we can still reflect the One who teaches, loves, and leads the way to glory. So, Grace Church is lead by a plurality of Elders. We believe that Pastor, Elder, and Overseer are all synonymous terms in the Bible. Elders are those men who are called and biblically evaluated (e.g., 1 Timothy 3) to lead Grace Church. Elders devote themselves to the ministry of the Word, prayer, ministry leadership, and spiritual care. Elders have the responsibility of imparting and implementing the vision of the church. Elders also assume the responsibility of overseeing all aspects of the church including the Grace Community Groups, the various ministry areas, the operation of our Sunday morning Gatherings, other meetings, and the business affairs of the church. Community Groups: We will be meeting throughout the greater Dunedin area in Community Groups which meet inside homes and places for public gatherings in order to help, encourage, and strengthen one another in the faith, and practice being sent people together. Community Groups are the primary way we connect with others and live our lives on mission. These smaller groups of people (5-20) provide an opportunity to know others and be known within the Grace Church community. Each Community Group meets regularly to eat, learn, pray and be together on mission, living out the Gospel in real and tangible expressions. Being a community-driven people means walking through life together, helping one another become fully-devoted followers of Jesus. It is our desire that everyone, who calls Grace Church their home, would agree to live by our Community Commitments and be an active member in one of our Community Groups. Our Community Groups will begin in January, 2012. For more info see Steve Lee.

GC Timeline: November Meet with the Grace Church "Core Team" weekly December December outreach Sat. Dec. 10th

January: Start Community Groups February: Sunday morning Gatherings begin on Feb. 5th @ 10am

GC Needs (this is no t an exha us tiv e l ist): Fat stacks of cash! Community Group leaders and hosts As a "set up & take down church" we will need innovative thinking to help plan our use of space, children's classes and nursery, storage, set-up and take-down procedures. Easy to store and transport nursery equipment Basic supplies for childrens ministry curriculum, classroom material, markers, crayons, etc A trailer for storage Two projectors and screens Microphones and cables (5); 1 Cordless microphone Tables light weight and durable (for classroom registration and church information) Communion supplies (i.e., trays) Computer for Sunday Gatherings (for A/V purposes)

Goals for Grace Ch urch: Look for storefront/office in downtown Dunedin to be used as church office, gatherings, outreaches, etc... Discover ways to serve and renew the greater Dunedin area. Raise up new Community Group leaders and develop more Community Groups. Raise up new ministry leaders and plant a church.