2020 Vision: Mission Plan

In our service today we worshipped, listened to God, dreamed and discussed as we sought to discern what God is calling us to do to build his kingdom in Moodiesburn. We discovered that God calls us to 'love God and love our neighbour' and sought to put flesh on those bones, giving shape to our mission plan. When we put together a mission plan, and specifically fleshed out what it means to love our neighbours we feel a tension, that Christians often feel, between social action and evangelism. This tension has been debated in the history of the church.  Some people feel that the church must be involved in social care.  Others argue that we have a unique calling, to tell people about Jesus.  Most see the need for both - we love people in word and deed - yet we struggle to know what our priority and focus should be.  Our resources are limited, so what should be the first thing we do? As we seek to answer this, it is good to remember that we are simply called to love people.    As we do so, we treat people as people - not as a soul to be saved, or a problem to be fixed, or a need to be addressed.  We treat each person as an individual, with their various gifts and needs, relationships and circumstances.  We love them as a person, and help them at the point of their need.  We never forget that each person needs to know Jesus and find life in his name.  Neither do we ignore the problems and pain they face each day. We seek to love in word and deed.  We don't see one as better than the other.  One as more important that other.  Rather we recognise as we love people, we are fulfilling the calling Jesus has placed on all his followers to 'love God and love neighbour as yourself.'