Reading Community Church Vision and Strategy 2011

Our Vision Strap lineVision A culture of renewal (Mark 12:29-31) Loving Jesus - growing in intimacy (Mark 12:29-31) Eradicating Barriers – loving others, a church without walls A relational culture (Mark 12:29-31) A culture of celebration (Luke 15:31-32) Spreading His Kingdom - in communities near and far A Missional culture (mark 16:15-16) Sending Jesus people - at home and abroad – An Antiochal church A serving culture (John 13:5-9) culture of generosity (Luke 6:38) Empowering our community - providing leadership and voice Delivering change in our town - in partnership with others A culture of learning (2 Tim 3:16)

Our Strategy Strap linesWhat we would like to do this yearHow we intend to accomplish this A culture of renewal (Mark 12:29-31) Encourage all members to be in groups & equip all members to live in personal renewal Intentionally pursue renewal in all its forms A relational culture (Mark 12:29-31) Leaders and members demonstrating a relational and loving culture. Change church structures to enable deeper relationships. A culture of celebration (Luke 15:31-32) Encourage and gather testimonies of transformation, miracles and courage making these available through media. Build team to develop media and facilitate the proclamation of the gospel in a contemporary way. A Missional culture (mark 16:15-16) Build 5 Congregations to a membership of 500 people. Continue to support Israel project and grow one other project by 2013 Work towards supporting at least one leader in each congregation to build the congregational teams by 2013 Develop new creative ways of doing mission A serving culture (John 13:5-9) culture of generosity (Luke 6:38) Develop a culture of servant hood in all spheres of life for all members Acquire / Redevelop properties to meet the vision Raise up a social action team Raise funding / business plan for acquisitions / re-development of RCC property in line with goals. A culture of learning (2 Tim 3:16) Further develop the three training schools that are now established Further developing the infrastructure

Culture of Renewal What is a culture of Renewal? Mark 12V30 (The Greatest Commandment) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength John 4 V10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

Listening to God Have you herd the words God has been giving us? The Galleon, adjusting the sails lightly from a place of prayer (Sue Winyard) The River (Tim Sipson) flowing out to the Villages Restoration (Judith Williams) Life Giving water flowing from the sanctuary

Restoration I believe God is saying that the church as a whole and individuals are like the Dead Sea – they were once connected to ‘living’ water but this connection dried up and they have become separated. At first life still flourished but as the ‘heat’ of life burned down on them the freshness evaporated and left strong salty water that could no longer sustain life. God wants these individuals and the church to be re–connected. He wants to pour out His Holy Spirit in floods, sweeping people off their feet so that they have to swim. He wants to restore life into the stagnant waters so that they will once again bear abundant fruit, both within and beside. There will be new growth that will bear fruit in all seasons and their will be leaves for healing. This life giving water can only flow from the sanctuary and people must seek the presence of God, desire the change and come in expectation of the majesty of God. (He doesn’t want us to wait)

Renewal starts with you and me What's Holding you back? I’m not good enough! "There is no one righteous, not even one” Romans 3 V10 But This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3 V22-24

Renewal starts with you and me I’m scared of letting God into every area of my life. Jeremiah 29V11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 30V3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

Renewal starts with you and me What might he ask me to do? John 14V12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father