Advance: Strategic Plan
ADVANCE: A THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN
FAITH EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
INTRODUCTION:
Why a Strategic Plan?
A strategic plan is a set of guidelines, acknowledged values, and stated goals which give overall structure to fulfilling our Vision Statement. Good stewardship requires that Faith Church leadership create a plan, to share with the congregation, for our church which considers the best use of our resources including the gifts/talents of our people, our finances and our facilities (Proverbs 16:1-3). Jesus made it abundantly clear, in commissioning His disciples, that He possessed all authority in heaven and on earth. As His appointed messengers, He told them to “go” to all nations and to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20). In attempted obedience to our Lord’s command and with much prayer, the pastors and elders have developed a plan for Faith Church. We want to grow the church of Jesus Christ as He commissioned us (Faith Church) to do. We Christians have been given the gift of eternal life, and we want to announce the good news to as many as possible--both locally and abroad--so that many may believe. “Growth” is not just growing the kingdom in numbers, but in maturity and spiritual depth. This plan is designed to preach the good news to as many as possible in the place where God has planted Faith Church and to disciple believers unto maturity in faith.
STRATEGIC PLAN
Structure
The plan is designed around four categories. They are:
1. PURPOSE: A clearly identified core reason for our existence, taking into account our Lord’s “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20) and our doctrinal beliefs.
2. GOALS: Determined objectives that are intended to fulfill our core purpose. The objectives reflect “Go therefore”-outreach/missions and “make disciples”-Christian maturity goals.
3. PLANS: Concrete steps that must be taken in order to achieve our goals.
4. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: The manpower, machines, and money required in order to implement our plans.
OUR STRATEGIC PLANS ARE TO FULFILL OUR STATED GOALS
WHICH ARE DERIVED FROM OUR CORE PURPOSE
PART ONE: PURPOSE—THE PURPOSE STATEMENT OF FAITH CHURCH WAS ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2009.
The purpose of Faith Church is to:
Magnify and glorify God the Father through our worship and praise
Manifest the love of Jesus Christ through our ministry, service and witness
Multiply and make disciples of all nations by the power of the Holy Spirit.
PART TWO: GOALS—DETERMINED OBJECTIVES THAT ARE INTENDED TO FULFILL OUR CORE PURPOSES.
“GO THEREFORE”
Sunday morning worship –
1. A service which combines excellence in music and praise with the Word preached- all supported by quality technology. The results- tangible congregational momentum for outreach, increase in our love for one another, and pleasing to God.
2. In addition we are praying for a steady growth of the congregation from our current average attendance of 450 to:
500 in 2012
550 in 2013
600 in 2014
Outreach- Multiplying in converts and disciples is the lifeblood of the local church. Faith Church leadership has spent the last three years sophisticating a strong foundation in ministry philosophy and preparing ourselves and the church for an aggressive multiplication stage.
Our goals are:
1. By 2012, formally begin our Spring Hill Church Plant campaign. We will follow the Five Step Church Planting Manual (see separate document).
2. It is our goal that within three years the church plant would have: an attendance of sixty upwards, two staff members, and be eighty percent self-sustaining.
3. Members and attendees will be asked to consider being a part of this local “missional” outreach.
4. Youth Missions: We are praying that God may send as many as:
2012 Summer 2012 60 youth on three mission outreaches.
2013 Summer 2013 65 youth on three mission outreaches.
5. Adult Missions: Increase participation so we could reasonably offer:
2012 2 “Level One,” 1 “Level Two,” and 1 “Level Three” adult mission trips.
2013 2 “Level One,” 2 “Level Two,” and 1 “Level Three” adult mission trips.
6. Global Missions:
i. Increase our overseas missionary annual support by 5-10%.
ii. Establish budgeted support for Spring Hill Church Plant from 2012 through 2016.
iii. Send one missionary unit (a single person, couple, or family) from Faith Church to an unreached people group within the next five years.
7. Send and assist one seminary student from our congregation within five years.
MAKE DISCIPLES
Catechesis (doctrinal training and instruction)- “Catechism” is the entire process of making disciples in a learning environment from the very young, forward. At Faith Church, we concentrate on the Bible, its doctrines, and Reformed theology. With repeated exposure to sound teaching, the mind is transformed and thus is more apt to apply Christian principles and ethics to the whole of life (Romans 12:1; 2 Timothy 3:16).
1. Develop and implement a coordinated Christian education plan that services all age groups by the Fall semester of 2012.
2. Within the adult Sunday School environment, afford the opportunity for small group fellowship.
3. Increase involvement of children’s and adult Sunday School.
4. Encourage parent training to facilitate The Children’s Catechism resource in the home.
5. Continue Pastor’s Wednesday evening Bible study.
Congregational Fellowship- While the church’s mission is to “go” and “to make disciples,” the Apostles gave attention to fellowship and caring for one another. It behooves Faith Church to enthusiastically welcome new people and to faithfully support one another in our daily walk (Acts 2:42; Acts 6; Ephesians 4; and John 15:20).
1. Enhance our welcoming/greeting/fellowship at Sunday AM worship.
2. By February 2012, implement a church-wide communication tool which allows Faith Church to contact everyone with routine correspondence and pertinent, time-sensitive information.
3. Community group outreach
Semi- annual training for leaders and potential leaders.
2012- Initiate three new groups.
2013- Start three new groups.
4. Congregational Care: Develop and implement a Care Ministry Tree designed to coordinate and address the pastoral, physical, financial and emotional challenges within the congregation.
Leadership Development- The Apostle Paul told his protégé Timothy to find faithful men who will be able teach others also (II Timothy 2:2). The adequacy of our congregation is fundamentally dependent upon the able leadership of teaching and ruling elders and deacons. Also of importance, are women leaders who train other women for important roles within the life of our church.
1. Initiate a class for potential leadership by 2nd quarter 2013.
2. Continue “teaching and training” curriculum for elders and deacons.
3. Women of Faith implement leadership mentoring program in 2012.
4. Pastor Matt- enroll in a doctorate program by 2014
PART THREE: PLANS—CONCRETE STEPS THAT MUST BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS LISTED
ABOVE.
“GO THEREFORE”
Sunday morning worship:
1. “Word of mouth”-- With excellence in our service, implemented by the Pastor, new people will hear about Faith Church and attend.
2. Continue with “Invite” Sundays; led by the Pastor.
3. Contact new residents and those in expanding developments in Hernando County; led by Women of Faith starting in Fall 2011 and continuing through 2012.
4. Investigate and determine an outreach campaign for 2013; facilitated by the Session.
5. Review and enhance child care and Children’ Church; Pastor and Catechesis Committee.
Outreach
Spring Hill Church Plant
1. Identify and engage a Lead Planter by January 2012; interviewed and hired by the Session.
2. Identify and engage a core/covenant group for the Spring Hill Church Plant by the 1st quarter of 2012; enlisted by the Session and the lead church planter.
3. Follow the Five Step Church Planting Manual through 2016.
Missions
1. Youth Missions goals facilitated by the Youth Director, building upon our current structure of missions
training, Scripture memory, and the Evangelism Explosion methodology.
2. Adult Missions goals facilitated by the Adult Missions Committee, building upon our current structure of missions training, Scripture memory, apologetics, and the Evangelism Explosion methodology.
3. Church missions giving increase facilitated by the Session, focusing on the development of personal
relationships with current on-field missionaries and real-time information.
4. Annual “missions emphasis week” starting 1st Quarter 2012 designed to build congregational contact with our missionaries and to enlist members for full-time ministry service through missions and/or seminary.
MAKE DISCIPLES
Catechesis
1. Session will organize and appoint a Catechesis Committee charged with the responsibility of facilitating catechesis at all levels in our church; Fall 2011.
2. Recruit and train the necessary teachers for all age group levels by Fall 2012; Catechesis Committee.
3. Promote Sunday School for all age groups through the Sunday service, printed materials and calling campaigns; Catechesis Committee.
4. Training opportunities for parents to conduct home children’s catechism.
5. Session will appoint a study group to assess the facility requirements needed for education (i.e. classroom space) by identifying our long term facility use needs. Completed by 2nd quarter 2013.
Congregational Fellowship
1. Starting in Fall 2011 Women of Faith “greeters” will be stationed in the sanctuary to welcome new people and to provide introductions and resources.
2. Starting in Spring of 2012, initiate a pre and/or post Sunday AM “Fellowship” tent serving drinks and snacks. Pastors and Session will assess the results and determine future “fellowship” activities. Facilitated by Men of Faith.
3. Congregational communication tool developed by church staff and members.
4. Ongoing Women of Faith and Men of Faith activities provide fellowship and personal growth opportunities, and service to community.
5. Community Groups oversight, growth and training facilitated by Pastor Dave Franklin.
6. Congregational Care Ministry Tree- Organized and directed by Pastor Dave Franklin, in conjunction with the Deacons, in order to streamline the care needs of the sick, hospitalized, and home-bound.
Leadership Development
1. Pastor Matt and Pastor Dave, with the assistance of the Ruling Elders, will recruit and train future elders and deacons who meet or who will likely meet the Biblical requirements for those respective offices. Start by 1st quarter 2012 and follow with a second group in 3rd quarter 2012.
2. Pastor Matt to continue formal annual training for Elders and Deacons.
3. Pastor Matt to continue Elder retreats for the purpose of planning and training.
4. Leadership Development mentoring for women facilitated by Women of Faith Leadership Council.
5. Doctoral program for Pastor Matt; facilitated by Pastor Matt and the Session.
PART FOUR: RECOMMENDED RESOURCES—THE TOOLS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE PLANS LISTED ABOVE.
Our greatest resource is Jesus Christ, the One who commissioned us and the Holy Spirit whom He promised to us for power from on high. Our greatest tool is His infallible Word, the Bible. Any effective organizational strategic plan has to take into account an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. That analysis has been performed by our current elders. Faith Church is blessed with resources; a partial list would include dedicated pastoral and church staff, enthusiastic men’s and women’s ministries, capable members with volunteer spirits and wonderful facilities.
After review of our resources we are recommending the graduated addition of the following:
Manpower: In the near future we will likely need the following staff and volunteer services:
1) A Lead Planter for the Spring Hill Church Plant by 2012
2) Volunteer Church Planting secretary
3) Additional trained volunteers for our “technology ministry” team
4) Additional musicians and instrumentalists for our worship services
5) Additional housekeeping services as facilities receive increased use
6) Continual development of Adult Mission Team Leaders (Levels 1, 2, and 3)
7) Skilled graphic designers for publications and website(s)
8) Trained Bible teachers for every level (elementary – adult education)
Machines
1) Implement Capital Maintenance and Improvement Plan over a three-year period (see separate Capital Improvement Plan document).
2) Install an entire new sound system in the sanctuary.
3) Classrooms for multi- purpose educational use.
Money
Budget goal-
2012- $800,000 (to be finally determined after budget forecasting process)
2013- $850,000
2014- $900,000
Capital Campaign- Spring 2012
$78,000 –One-time capital campaign
While the Session would like to fulfill our human capital and facilities goals, we recognize that we will be guided by our budget which will be established from the results of our Fall Stewardship Campaign.
Comments: The budget goal is determined from our budgetary baseline over the last three years. We have met our obligations but now we are closer to some major facility repair and replacement costs. Insurance costs have skyrocketed and we have limited increases for our church staff in the last three years due to obvious budgetary constraints. Therefore, the reasonable stewardship of our facilities and staff easily dictates a 15% increase in our budget for 2012. Much of the Strategic Plan is attainable without major budget adjustments. However, when it comes to our Sunday morning services, which are a central part of the plan, we believe it is very important to move toward a complete replacement of our sound system after years of service; our current “patchwork” of components is no longer a viable option.
To fulfill our strategic plan and give responsible attention to our resources the Session will:
1. Present a three-year Strategic Plan to the congregation in September 2011.
2. Present the Spring Hill Church Plant “Five Step Church Planting Manual” to the congregation in September 2011.
3. Initiate the Stewardship Campaign in October 2011
4. Plan to initiate a Capital Campaign.
5. Present the 2012 Church Budget at the Annual Congregational Meeting in December 2011; established by the Session and guided by the results of the Stewardship Campaign.