Plotting a course for the future, building a vessel to take us there!“A ship in the harbour is safe… but that is not what ships are built for.”

Back in 2004 we spent some time as a congregation considering the present and future ‘shape and direc-tion’ we should pursue as TCF. In mid 2005 Leadership prepared and presented, and the congregationalmeeting overwhelmingly supported and adopted this “Shape and Direction” for TCF. In 2006 we re-visitedit and marked the milestones we had set, and passed: Making the Pastor role full-time, adding a paid chil-dren’s position, updating the identity (logo) and style of church activities, adding regular comunity activitiesand outreach events.

Now, in 2009, three years on, let’s take another look and get our bearings.

Background and approach.

“A Church Committed to Meeting the Needs of Our Generation”

During a series of messages in 2004, Pastor Chris stated that he wanted to ‘put legs’ under the vision state-ment TCF has had since its inception. To do that we needed to work backwards, looking at who ‘OURGENERATION’ are, considering what ‘NEEDS OF’ our generation we should try to meet. Then asking our-selves who and what is being ‘COMMITTED’. With those things considered, it was then time to see whatshape and direction the ‘CHURCH’ should take. All this while remembering that we are just ‘A’ part of thewider church in Torquay and the Surfcoast, being aware of who we share the call to this region with.

Shape &D i re c t i o n

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Conclusions reached.Our Generation

A short definition would be families with children at schoolor younger. Three quarters of the population fit this descrip-tion, whether that be in two parent or single parent families.

In one sense it is true that everyone who is part of our community is ‘our generation’, and of course our‘mission’ encompasses taking the Gospel to ‘all’ the world. However, there are changes we can make, ormore specifically additional things we can do, to make TCF a place where those who comprise the bulk of‘our generation’ can more easily come and be reached with the love of Christ.

Meeting the Needs

A living relationship with God and with other people.

The ‘felt’ needs of many revolve around materially providing for their families in terms of housing, education,and entertainment. Personally they have needs in developing skills in the relationships that matter to them,with their spouse and their families. Beyond these felt needs (of which they are aware to varying degrees)are underlying needs to understand who they are and why they exist. The key to this is found through theultimate need outlined above.

Jesus encourages us to find our purpose through his command to “Love the Lord your God with all yourheart, soul mind and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself”. These cannot be separated, and ourlove for God is to be partnered with our love for our neighbours (our generation!) in the hope it will alsobring them to an awareness of God’s love for them.

Committed

Our Selves, Our Time, Our Finances

TCF has almost doubled in size (counting those who call it their church home and attend with some reg-ularity) since this paper was last issued in 2006. Nearly 200 people are active in the life of the church, andSunday attendance has grown 25% in just 12 months. Opportunities to serve have multiplied and peopleare engaged in a variety of service, and outreach activities.

A target of approx $140,000 was set as the budget for 2010. While our present budget is a good descrip-tion of our current position, as it stands it does not in the opinion of leadership reflect what we should orcould be spending on ministry projects.

A

‘A’ is a small word but a critical one. God looks beyond our walls to see us as part of ‘the Church in Torquay’.If we are able to work to bless and increase other congregations with as much interest as we do our ownwe will work more to the pattern God has, rather than build empires of our own devising.

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Church

To close we at last come to the question of what shape and direction we as a ‘church’ should assume.

Ultimately, the shape we should assume is the shape of a body, the body of Christ with Him as the head.More specifically, TCF should begin to look something like a starfish or octopus, reaching into many areasthrough the ‘members’ of our congregation.

TCF should become a place that facilitates spending time in relationship with those not yet committed toChrist. Part of that facilitating will be to NOT run too many programmes to which everyone is expected tocome, but part of it will be running programmes to which you will feel comfortable inviting friends, and partof it will be to provide ‘pre-evangelism’ opportunities by hosting events that serve to break down people’sreluctance to ever enter a church facility.

Things we were doing that have continued.

The various small groups that currently meet continue within the envisioned ‘shape’ of TCF.

Use a ‘style’ for worship services that engages ‘our generation’

Our present style of service with casual dress, music, speech and visuals is one that most of the un-churched of ‘our generation’ will best cope with. That is not to say it is much less threatening or aliento their minds than a ‘four hymn sandwich’. If we think about it, many of the things we do in a churchservice are far removed from everyday experience. Thus it is important we regularly explain what weare doing and why.

Provide for primary school age children as part of our Sunday worship.

Meet and work with other local congregations.

Aside from the spiritual dynamic that this introduces, it is great to present a unified ‘church’ to thosewe live amongst.

Support Foreign Missions.

Things we planned that have been implemented fully or partially.

We said “To help us be intentional in our mission to school age kids and their parents it is impor-tant that TCF develop a Children’s pastor position. It is leadership’s intention that a part-time (1 dayper week) Children’s pastor be introduced. This person would serve as a catalyst to gather, envisionand energise a team interested in the kids of our town. We see this team extending beyond mem-bers of our own congregation.”

We have added a day a week paid position (currently Ed Roberston) working to support the prima -ry aged childrens work.. Also we pay an honoraroum to Kayne Harwood to support Junior High Min -istry. The fruit, in temrs of involvemtn and attendance of these positions is evident, and the flowthrough to entire families being engaged in the life of the church is also obvious.

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We said “Encourage participation in local evangelism and mission projects”

In addition to the monthly dinners held, as just one example - the annual “Mother’s Day Breakfast”has sold out two years running, and provides a great avenue to share our faith with those aroundus. Combined Carols events, support of SUFMMissions and various courses (Alpha, Finance etc)have been included in our program.

We said “Encourage various electronic methods for giving so that even when members are nothere, their financial support still is flowing for the work of the Kingdom of God”

More than half our giving is now by direct electronic means.

We desired to provide child care/activites during our Sunday services for all ages.

With the addition of the ‘Tadpoles’ pre school program in 2007, the Junior High school in 2008 andCreche in 2009 we now cover all ages from newborns to High School with activities and care dur -ing Sunday services.

Growth & the Future

We have seen the Shape and Direction of TCF solidify in the past 5 years. 2004 saw a church of around50 to 80 with part-time ministry, struggling under mortgage repayments and with irregular children’s min-istry. By 2006 our Shape & Direction saw the consolidation of assets to make the church mortgage free, thepastoral position was funded full-time, and a children’s worker enlivened children’s ministry. By 2009 manyof the goals, notably the mission to all ages was in place. Fellowship dinners, ladies nights, annual outreachand other events had settled into a regular routine. Our future vision needs to draw out our resources.

Financial Resources

Rather than our available resources driving our vision, weneed to allow our vision to call upon our resources.

We make use of the giving we receive in various ways. 10% is allocated to missions work, primarily over-seas mission, the rest maintains our facility and provides for local ministry and missions work. Income fromtithes and offerings covers all ministry expenses at present.

We seek to be wise in the use of the resources available to us, but our vision should draw on - and chal-lenge us to grow our resources. We should not let our resources limit our vision. A phrase I heard recentlysums it up very well - we should be less concerned about what we have to live on, and more active aboutwhat we have to live for!

Some may consider our church to be in a good financial position being now ‘debt free’. This is far from thetruth - financially we may no longer have a mortgage or loan with the BUV - but Romans 13:8 challengesus to remember the debt that we do owe - one still outstanding to love one another, and to seek the lost.

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, forhe who loves his fellow-man has fulfiled the law.” Romans 13:8, NIV.

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Physical Resources

Congregational growth has meant we need to consider our physical resources. Our auditorium is oftenmore than ‘comfortably full’, having reached its capacity on a number of Sunday mornings. We have beguntheprocess of evaluting alternative building sites, and planning for the growth of our region.

Our town is expected to grow greatly over the next decade, with many hundreds of new housing blocksreleased yearly. Also the Armstrong Creek ‘new town’ is expected to reach 40-60,000 population, and is onlyminutes drive from our present location.

Already, we have significant numbers choosing to travel from the fringes of Geelong to be part of our con-gregation. This is due to the make up of our congregation covering a complete age range from uni stu-dents, young marrieds, parents of school age kids, and retirees. Also our casual and contemporary style ofservices.

Human Resources

Adding to our physical resources is, however only one part of the equation. It is important to also increaseour human resources. Both by staffing, and more importantly by releasing and mobilising the humanresources already evident within the congregation members.

Conclusion

As we grow, it is important that we look to ways of increasing pastoral care and mutuality within our body.Small groups, support groups, ministry teams need to be established and equipped.

We have the great ability to increase people’s quality of life and fulfilment by offering worthwhile, and sig-nificant opportunities for involvement and activity. Using their gifts and calling, and in places developing andnurturing new talents and interests.

Having constructed a vessel, and having set out of the harbour into the adventure that is Christian mission,our next major steps involve developing our crew, and experiencing God in the areas of work prepared forus.

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