"God Changed Lives!"

 

Our Purposes:

  1. Connecting
    We dream of a new season of gospel ministry in which thousands of people from our region are won to a new and life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ and to membership at St. Stephen's. As we embrace a new season of evangelism and an expanding network of small groups, we dream of our church growing to 1,800 or more in weekend attendance and of a season of planting new churches committed to the Great Commission and the Great Commandments.
  2. Growing
    We dream of a church passionate about becoming like Jesus, and living in the fullness of His Spirit, where 80% of us embrace the Maturity Covenant (daily quiet time, weekly small group, sacrificial generosity and obedience to God) as the foundation of a fully devoted relationship with Christ.
  3. Serving
    We dream of a church where the members are the ministers. We look to the day when 70% of us are active in Christian ministry that fits our God-given "S.H.A.P.E." and touches other people with the transforming grace of Jesus Christ. We dream of scores of new ministry teams launched and led my our members and of a new season of vitality and support for the 85 teams already hard at work. We dream of creating a leadership culture at St. Stephen's that develops, releases and supports new leaders at every level of church life.
  4. Reaching
    We dream of a church with God's heart for the world, where 60% of us are engaged in reaching out to those who don't yet know Jesus as Savior. We dream of a congregation ready to share the message of the Gospel at home and abroad, in words and deeds. We hope for hundreds of people engaged in monthly ministry in our city, added hundreds of people going every year to the nations of the world, and dozens of people going forth into full time Christian service. We dream of a church that is ready for Gospel ministry to our own culture and beyond in the 21st century, one that is fully equipped to take the unchanging message of Jesus Christ to a rapidly changing world.
  5. Worshiping
    We dream of multiple worship services each weekend, from Saturday evening through Sunday evening. We dream of a church that is able to worship with things old and new, that is flexible, creative and imaginative while remaining steady and strong and faithful to Christ and his truth. We want our services to offer heartfelt worship to God, practical biblical teaching and preaching, frequent testimonies, and a range of music and liturgy from traditional to blended to contemporary, all offered to the glory of God and the blessing of his people.
 

Our Strategies:

  • "Purpose Driven" Congregational Life
    Where a step by step process of embracing the five biblical purposes for our lives (Connecting, Growing, Serving, Reaching and Worshiping) form the central structure of our church and the touchstone of every ministry.
  • A Church of Small Groups
    Where everyone is in a circle of care and a circle of growth that reinforces and develops our purposes and our goal.
 

Our Habits:

  • Daily Prayer and Bible Study,
    and weekly worship
  • Small Group participation
  • Protect our church unity and
    godly resolution of conflicts
  • Honor and respect for leaders
  • Dependent and specific prayer for
    personal needs and Christ's mission
  • Generous and sacrificial giving
    with the tithe as the standard
  • Obedience, coming from faith,
    to the Lord Jesus Christ
  • Discovering and stepping into our God
    given S.H.A.P.E. for ministry
  • Serving where we are needed
  • Relational, targeted evangelism
  • Transformation of our culture
    with biblical values
  • Innovative and creative "experiments"
    in ministry
 

Our Attitudes:

  • All for Jesus, our savior and leader
  • People Matter to God,
    from conception to natural death
  • Healthy Relationships,
    the heart of our religion
  • Eyes on the Goal,
    which is "God-changed lives"
  • Trusting the Bible, our guide for life
  • The Sanctity of Marriage and Family,
    where God gives life, shapes our character
    and grows his love
  • Christ's Church, where He dwells, heals, equips and moves out in mission to his world
  • Giving Your Life, for God, for His purposes in this world, and for people; this leads to real joy
  • A "God Climate", where hope, encouragement, reverence, authenticity, integrity, humility and faith abound