A Vision for the Future...
- To function as God designed and intended the kingdom to be: growing, alive, assimilating, and developing disciples through our obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20):
- Expectations for congregational growth (a target of 5,000 in attendance by 2017)
Short term (in order to achieve maximum growth at our current Buttermilk Pike location):
- an aggressive parking plan (parking attendants, shuttles, additional offsite options)
- additional weekend services (service times, restructuring of ABF classes for expansion of youth/children's areas and programs)
- Expectations for facility expansion
- a capital campaign for land purchase in 2008, the site TBD by both cost and potential new growth areas
- occupying a new building by 2012 - allowing time for financial growth and a design/construction phase that demonstrates our focus on evangelism through our new facilities/location
- To expand our community influence:
- Become a community gathering place with a new campus
- Offering youth leagues (indoor/outdoor), adult leagues, concerts, seminars (leadership, family, seniors, etc.), room space for both church and community needs
- Touching all aspects of life through the expansion of our youth programs, as well as counseling services, health programs and elderly care
- Impacting the community by becoming the conscience of the community
- Taking a public stance on spiritual and pressing moral issues (abortion, gambling, pornography and other moral/social issues)
- Purchasing an inner-city location to deepen a focus on benevolence and outreach as service continues to be emphasized (2010)
- To expand discipleship and structure:
- Developing a culture of spiritual growth for all members through an increased involvement in study, service and small groups (with 50% participation by 2010)
- Encouraging our anticipation and firm desire fro each member to participate in one hour of worship, one hour of bible study, and one hour of service each week
- By participation in Sunday morning worship and programming
- By increasing the number of, and thus participation in, small groups
- Expanding Wednesday programming and the GC19 outreach programs to the community to shift Lakeside's reputation from a wealthy church to a serving church
- To expand in world evangelism through missions:
- To develop into an encouraging sending church - being a mission launching station through greater opportunities to touch the world through ministry and resources
- To target one new mission launch every five years beginning in 2010
- To continue to support and sponsor long-term missionaries, actively recruiting from this body.
- To continue to expand the short-term mission trips for all ages
- To discover that a 5,000 attending congregation by 2017 will see the financial resources for missions growing exponentially