Our district Growing Pastor’s’ events have become highlights of the year for Joan and me.  Sunday night was no exception.  The presence of the Holy Spirit pulled our hearts together as we were challenged by the messages of Jeff Shipman (www.columbiacrossroads.org) and Jason Malone (www.summitupstate.org). They were right. I awakened Monday morning with the realization that our district circle of accountability is the state of SC and for the first time since moving here, I actually researched the population numbers. As of July 2006, there were 4.3 million people who live in our state. That realization changes everything.

The prayer of my wife at our table as we closed was especially moving, and as I have reflected on it this week, I accept it as my own as well. She prayed, “Lord, for the first time in my life, I find myself wishing we could start all over again in ministry.” We can’t do that, but we can start from where we are. And if you think we have been pushing the “on mission” agenda, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

Jeff shared with us the vision and values of Columbia Crossroads:

Our Vision 

We want to join the Spirit of God in making a significant impact for and with Jesus in Columbia and beyond.  By 2010, our vision is:

1.  Qualitative: 

To see 100% of our body

· embracing a deeper intimacy with Christ

· experiencing Christ-like relationships

· engaging their Spirit-giftedness

· extending their grace story  

2.  Quantitative:

To partner in reaching every man, woman, and child in

· Our two mile Circle of Accountability (40,000 people) by repeatedly extending the opportunity to accept or reject the reconciliation of Jesus Christ and be incorporated into a local body of believers.

· Columbia (700,000 people) by networking with existing churches, helping plant 25 new churches, and establishing two satellite congregations. [ Mission Columbia ]

· The United States (300 million people) by networking with other churches/denominations, launching 4 coaching centers, and directly resourcing the 5 largest metro areas in our region. [ Infinity Alliance ]

· The world (6.6 billion people) by sending out missionaries to various regions and to joint venture with the Ukrainian church to plant 28,000 churches in the country and send out 10,000 Ukrainian missionaries to the Russian-speaking world.

Our Values

In dependence on the Holy Spirit, we commit to building a body that values 

• Intimacy with God as our first priority.
• The “One Church” in Columbia as a practical reality.
• The diversity of gifts in both leadership and the body.
• Multiplying disciples, growth groups, and churches.

This is a missional church and it is easy to see why we are partnering with them to reach our circle of accountability.

Jason Malone moved us with the story of their new congregation in Greenville and how God is directing them to have a Kingdom impact in their area of accountability. I appreciate the generous spirit of these brothers as they share with us and others of like-spirit in helping us have an impact on the lostness of our state.

 

I am reminded of one of the saddest statements I have ever heard in ministry. Since my return to SC, a family member of one of the fine pastors that I knew and respected as I grew up here made the following statement after serving one of our churches for eight years: “I feel that all I have accomplished is to keep one family happy.” The really sad thing is that, in reality, that could be said by too many others. Our lives are too short and the need is too great to allow that kind of mentality to shape our ministry!