“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)
Where are we going?
“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’” (John 14:5)
There is a way, a path to becoming all that Christ longs for the Church to be. To find the way, we must know the destination and what it looks like. Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6), and by the Holy Spirit He is revealing the destination and the path for us.
The Foundation
Jesus Christ is the only foundation: “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-11)
Our Vision
Our vision – the “big picture” destination – is to build the Church to last for all generations until Christ returns: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5)
Our Mission
Our mission – the task to be accomplished – is to make disciples of all nations. For St. Stephen’s CEC, this means specifically England, Scotland, all of Ireland, and Wales: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Our Strategy
Our strategy – the actions we will take in order to accomplish the task – is to build disciples who will be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)