Vision Fund

In the City, For the City

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you..." Jeremiah 29:7

A Vision to penetrate the city of Jacksonville with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through church planting.

 

VISION FUND: Phase 2, The Challenge Continues!

History: toward the end of 2009, Christ Church launched a 3 year Vision Fund, a capital campaign to enable Christ Church to become “one church of many congregations” in order to reach our city for Jesus Christ.

That campaign, begun in the middle of what many are calling the “worst economy” in our times, was remarkably blessed by our God. Pledges totaled nearly $375,000, and we are grateful for each.

Three factors, however, are noteworthy. First, only 80%* of the amount pledged has been given. Secondly, a relatively small percentage of the congregation actually participated in the Vision Fund (39 households). Thirdly, nearly 100 people have been added to our church (now in 2 congregations) since the Vision Fund concluded.

 

Phase 2: These factors lead us to initiate “Phase 2” of the campaign. During this phase, it is our hope to

  1. Inspire those who pledged before with the continuing (and growing) importance of the vision
  2. Challenge long time members who did not make pledges during phase 1 to prayerfully consider participation at this time.
  3. Introduce newer members to the vision, and invite their participation. (See video above; we would be delighted to answer further questions personally.)

All along, our hope was to raise $500,000. Because we believe our God has limitless resources, we remain confident that He will provide all we need. Because we believe our God expects us to act in faith, we remain committed to strict fiscal stewardship of all that is entrusted to us.

 

On-Line Giving: As Phase 2 commences, we’re pleased to announce the upcoming availability of “online giving” to make your gift to this Fund (and to the broader and regular needs of Christ Church) more convenient. Online giving should be available on our website by the end of this year.

 

Below are some charts that show the progress of our campaign. Whatever you give, or have given, please join us in prayer that God will bless our efforts to reach our city for the Gospel!

pledgegraphphase2

 

*For those who have already made a pledge, if you would like to receive an update on your giving status, please contact Ken Magee at KMagee@Sauer-Inc.com.

 

 

Here is some original information from when we first introduced the Vision Fund:

Sanctuary Remodel:

  • Original master plan called for 3 buildings
  • Dedication to church planting:
    • redifines the need (not just one large church in Mandarin)
    • requires updated current worship center as home base for multiple congregations meeting in rented-facilities around the city.

 

church-rendering

Church Planting:

  • The WHY question: Why should Christ Church plant churches?
    • Isn't this the job of the Presbytery?
    • Why don't we just "grow" Christ Church bigger?
    • Aren't there enough churches now?

 

The Why:

  1. Christ Church was started with a commitment to being missional.  Planting churches now is a return to the original vision.
  2. Biblically, planting new churches is a key evangelism strategy (Acts 14:21-23)
  3. New churches reach lost people better than established churches. (Statistically, churches 10-145 years old [CC is 25] gain 80-90% of new members from transfer; the average new church gains most of its new members (60-80%) from the ranks of people who are not attending any worshipping body.)
  4. New churches reach new people groups (people who don't look like us) better.
  5. New churches best reach the rising generation. (Young non-churched people find it difficult to navigate established programs/structures.)
  6. New churches best train up new leaders.  (Existing churches have a strong core of leaders that is difficult for new folks to break into.)
  7. New churches are wise financially: desipite initial cost, they are typically self-sufficient within 2-3 years, and soon contribute Kingdom resources to the overall budget.
  8. New churches are always in growth and vision mode, multiplication thinkers not addition thinkers, and never in maintenance mode.
  9. New churches bless and renew existing churches.  "While new churches often attract some families away from older congregations, the new churches help the overall Body of Christ by:
    1. showcasing new ministry forms and ideas that would never have been adopted in older churches,
    2. creating an 'it can be done' mindset in older churches, and
    3. providing many new converts in the city that find their way to older churches." (Tim Keller)

 

What Will the Church Planting Model Look Like?

church-plant-graphic

"One Church, Many Congregations"
C=Centralized Administration
C1, C2, etc=Congregations

 

Why This Model?:

  1. It honors the mother-church: new churches are strategically important (above), but so are mother churches.  Critical as a missional launch pad, they provide financial, personnel, and accountability resources not even Presbyteries can.
  2. PCA GA (General Assembly) and Presbytery urge an "each church plant a church" model; the multi-site model is often recommended.
  3. "One Church, Many Congregations" allows for unity of values and a wise use of resources, while allowing for local flexibility to reach this diverse city.

 

What Will be Centralized? (for all congregations of the one church):

  • Training in core values (unified view of the gospel)
  • Vision casting (unified strategy)
  • Governance (one session/diaconate to assure accountability
  • Training (Bible/theology/world view, leadership development)
  • Resourcing Ministries (youth, children, men/women, mercy, communication)
  • All-church celebrations and worship


What Will be Decentralized? (unique to each congregation):

  • Sunday Worship
  • Shepherding by locally deployed elders
  • Mercy by locally deployed deacons
  • Relational fellowship (small groups)
  • Some discipleship (SS and other)

 

How will Elders and Deacons will be Deployed?:

  • Each Elder/Deacon will be assigned shepherding/mercy duties in one congregation
  • Plenary Session/Deacons will meet quarterly for overall governance, training, prayer
  • Local Session/Deacons will neet monthly for local shepherding and mercy issues

 

How will Pastors be Deployed?:

  • One staff with several pastors
  • John will remain as principle preacher/teacher at Congregation #1 (Mandarin)
  • Keith will provide primary preaching and leadership at Congregation #2
  • When he "leaves", another will assume his role as Asst Pastor for several years of mentoring in preparation to plant Congregation #3
  • Staff will work together, each serving locally and contributing to the health of the whole; periodically rotating pulpits