At The Journey, we focus on relationships, not religion. We want people to take first steps and next steps to look beyond themselves. Our bottom line is for people to connect with 3 Key Relationships: with God, with people far from God, and with other journeyers to help each other in life. We want that vision to determine all that we do as a church. We don't want to just do some good things. We don't want to just start some various events or programs. We do want to help people take steps in those relationships.
Have you ever gone into a restaurant and they have a huge menu and you have no idea what to order? They might have everything from italian to mexican to asian. That usually makes me feel overwhelmed with what seems like a whole lot of nothing. I typically enjoy the speciality places. They do a few things and they do them well. They are known for those things.
We want to be a church that does relationships well. A church that is focused and does things with quality, not quantity, so we are more effective. So we have our vision that drives us. We don't want to do things just because that is the way they've always been done or just start a program just because it sounds good. Instead of just thinking about meeting a need or starting various programs, we think through what steps are needed to help people experience relationships, not religion. What steps do you need to have a personal relationship with God? What steps do you need to take to look beyond yourself? As we think through those steps that help people walk through the three key relationships, we also want to narrow the focus. We want to make the steps clear & easy. If there are too many steps on the menu, the most effective steps can be lost. We often get asked to start certain programs. A lot of times we say no or maybe later. It's not because we are against these things; it's just that we are thinking through steps and narrowing the focus. Lots of activity doesn't equal taking next steps in relationships. We don't want people who are busy in good activities, but don't have time to personally connect with God, or looking beyond themselves, or invest in relationships with people who don't know God. We constantly evaluate our steps and how we can make it easier for people to connect in relationships.
For more thoughts on narrowing the focus & thinking steps, check out practicalspeaking.org. A lot of these thoughts are developed from the leadership of Andy Stanley and his team. If you want a copy of 7 Practices of Ministry, ask one of staff to hook you up and take your next step as a leader.
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