Finding Our Purpose, Defining Our Mission

Why Does Our Church Exist?

As a church leader looking to renew your congregation's vision and instigate new growth and effectiveness, it's crucial to revisit two foundational questions:

1. Why does our church exist?

2. What are we called to do to fulfill that purpose?

In other words, what is our God-given purpose and how does that translate into the practical mission we must carry out? Answering these questions with clarity and conviction provides a guiding "True North" for your leadership and gives your congregation a rallying cry to ignite their passions and participate in being the church God has designed you to be.

Defining Your God-Given Purpose

Your church's purpose is not something you get to define from scratch. Jesus Christ founded the global Church and gets to decide its overarching purpose. As Paul declares in Romans 15:5-6, the purpose boils down to this:

"To glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

When we glorify God, we direct all attention and honor to Him. We love Him with everything we've got, fulfilling the Great Commandment.

So while you don't invent your church's ultimate purpose, you do need to prayerfully discern how your specific congregation is uniquely called to glorify God within your community.

What passions, resources and gifts has the Lord supplied? What needs and opportunities exist around you? As you explore these questions, you can define a purpose statement that captures your special role in glorifying God's name.

This discovery process also builds ownership. The purpose you land on may already exist in your documents, but as the leader you must be able to champion it wholeheartedly before you can inspire others to rally around it. If your current statement doesn't ignite your passion or align with your community, it may require prayerful reworking.

The key is landing on a purpose that provides a biblical foundation for all you do while resonating with who God has specifically equipped your church to be.

Alignment Energizes Action

With clarity of purpose, your diverse strategies, programs and activities all become part of advancing the same overall vision. This alignment provides momentum, multiplication and staying power.

Without alignment behind a central purpose and mission, lack of cohesion drags a church down. Mission creep sets in where random programs reflect personal interests rather than core objectives. Activity without purpose leads to burnout.

Times of revitalization provide a pivotal opportunity for realignment. As you seek to renew your church's vision, I urge you to start with clarifying your fundamental purpose. Define the very reason God planted your church and what He is calling you to do to fulfill your potential. The clarity, conviction and passion you bring to answering these questions will steer your congregation toward renewed vision and growth.