Q:  What is the mission of Community Bible Church?

John:  To produce followers of Jesus Christ who are committed to growing in intimacy with God, connected in community with believers, and called to influence our culture.

Q:  How did you come up with this statement?

John:  Coming up with a mission statement has driven me crazy because I question whether we even have the right to write our own statement because it's God's church.  But I realize that different church bodies have different strengths and passions or burdens, and that I could put the passion of CBC into a statement that would still reflect God's passion for His church.  So, I took the Great Commission and the Great Commandment and derived the missions statement from them.  We are to share and live out the gospel and we are to love God first with all our heart.  Then we are to love people.  Galatians 6:10 says "...as we have oppportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (ESV)  We have a unique calling to love God's family; we're a kingdom of priests.  We're to also love the world--all people that are created in God's image.

Q:  What is the purpose of a mission statement?

John:  It helps us to evaluate our ministries, our outreaches, everything we do.  We must ask "Is this thing/activity, etc. helping us grow into His image?  Is how we spend our money accomplishing our mission?  What about our buildings?

Q:  What excites you about this mission statement?

John:  It's Biblical.  It's God's vision.  I believe I can stand before God and know that He's okay with this goal.

Q:  If someone reads the mission statement, what do you want that person to come away with?

John:  I want that person to know that we at CBC are serious about loving God, the family of God, and the world--that we live out our faith.

Q:  What is the next step for people at CBC regarding the mission statement?

John:  We need to ask what our gifts and passions are and then ask how those gifts and passions can be used to minister.  We have a GED program because some here are passionate about it and folks need it.  We have a gardening seminar as an outreach.  Each one of us needs to ask "How can I lead the body in reaching out to the community?"  A mission statement by itself is not going to change lives, but it's going to keep us on target and focused on the important act of drawing ourselves and others to God.  It's truly up to each one of us to guard our lives, to grow, to reach out.  If no one wants to do anything, it's not going to get done.  So, I urge each of you, of us, to study the vision, buy into it, and give energy to it.