2020 VISION and BEYOND

2020 Vision & Beyond with Mission Strategies

The Vision of Our Church - Our Vision is to bring Orthodoxy to (name your City) and (name your city) to Orthodoxy.

The Mission of Our Church - Our Mission is to renew our church and revive our neighbors to the Glory of Jesus Christ.

The Plan - From now through September 1 (New Years Day) 2015, is to organize ourselves, receive training, and clarify the Vision of our Church so that from 9/1/2015 through 9/1/2020 we carry out the "Mission", with "2020 Vision", for the glory of God, the edification of the Church, and the evangelization of the lost.

The Core Values of Our Church:
+ To Glorify the Holy Trinity, To Edify the Church, To Magnify God's Love for the Lost
+ To Always Walk in Love with One Another
+To Have the Heart of the Savior for All People
+To Walk in Agreement, To have the Same Mind
+ To be a Hospital for the Spiritually Sick and Brokenhearted

The Strategic Plans of Our Church (The Roadmap)

1. Tend the Sheep - Spiritual Renewal
A. Visit and/or contact every person on membership rolls, every person associated with our church, every person referred to us by our members (Have members create a list of at least 10 people to visit or contact).
B. Generate a Master Contact List and Specialized Contact Lists.
C. Create Plans for "Reaching Out" to all active members, regular attendees, and the half-way committed, the Easter/Christmas visitors, all lapsed members, the lost sheep, and friends of members.
D. Create a 5 Point Questionnaire, Opinion Poll, Census to use as a guide when contacting people. Sample Opinion Poll: 1) What do you think is the greatest need of our church? 2) Why do you think people are not attending church? 3) What kind of things are you looking for in a church? 4) What could I/we do for you? What advice can you give to a minister who really wants to help people? 5) What are your concerns?
* Remember that the purpose of these questions are to solicit the person's feelings and thoughts about church and their spiritual needs.
E. Raise up "Visitation Teams" to contact all the people on the various contact lists.

2. Lead the Sheep - Liturgical and Sacramental Renewal
A. Create an Orthodox Mindset throughout the parish. Educate the people on the uniqueness of Orthodox Worship and Praxis.
B. Provide a Scriptural Study of the Divine Liturgy. Make use of "The Bible and the Liturgy" by Fr Constantine Nasr.
C. 2 Minute Liturgy Spotlights - The priest can provide continuous, bite-sized, nuggets of liturgical understanding at strategic moments; as a prelude to the sermon, between Matins and Liturgy, during announcements, or a mini-sermon at Vespers.
D. Renewal of "Icon Veneration". Additional Icon Stands if needed. Give thought to location of Icon stands with "space management" in mind. Start with Parish Council members, teaching them how to reverently venerate the Icons throughout the church when they arrive for Matins/Liturgy. Require them to "set the example" as leaders of the parish by insisting that they venerate fully.
E. Create a "Church Handbook" on church behavior, encouraging that everything be done decently and in order (1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 14:30).
F. Imagine a truly "Orthodox Worship Space" as opposed to a hybrid Orthodox/Protestant worship space that many churches have now. Pews are Protestant, and communicate a sense of spectatorship, of theatre, rather than an atmosphere of participatory activity accomplished by the people, the royal priesthood. Seating can be provided within the nave in creative ways; lining the walls with existing pews, monastery chairs, benches and cubes. Check out this article which includes many links on this topic: www.belief.net/columnists/roddreher/2010/02/pews-vs-standing-an-orthodox-controversy.html
G. Envision an "Orthodox Cemetery". Educate the people on the significance and uniqueness of the "Orthodox Funeral". Make use of Dn. J. Mark and Elizabeth Barna's  book "A Christian Ending - Rediscovering Ancient Christian Burial Customs for the Modern World". Dn. Mark's Podcast: www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/christianending

3. Feed the Sheep - Catechetical Renewal
A. Establish a culture of catechism in your church.
B. Plan an 8-week Advent Catechism Series www.saintandrew.net/catechism.html for ideas.
C. Plan an 8-week Lenten Catechism Series
D. Provide regular Bible Studies - Verse-by-verse through an Epistle, like Philippians, or teach through a section of the Gospel such as Matthew 5-7, The Sermon on the Mount.
E. Provide Spiritual and Theological Studies going through books such as "Thirty Steps to Heaven" by Fr. Vassilios Papavassiliou, or "The Philokalia - An Introduction to Orthodox Spirituality" by Fr. Anthony Conairis. (Preferably Orthodox Christian Sources Only Please).
F. Establish a Re-Catechism Program - Encourage every adult member to be re-catechized.
G. Host Orthodox Speakers (Bishops, Monastics, Authors) www.orthodoxspeakers.com *Humbly request that when your Bishop visits your Church that he teach a seminar on the Scriptures or some aspect of Holy Tradition (2 Timothy 2:15).
H. Introduce the Antiochian Village Library to your members - Free Library cards - An amazing resource.
I. Strengthen our church schools - Provide training for teachers - Establish Adult Church School.

4. Strengthen Our Youth Ministry
A. Visit and/or contact all Youth associated with your church, member's children and relatives. Create a Master Mailing List - email addresses a priority.
B. Create a unique Name for your parish youth ministry.
C. Establish regular meetings for the youth - one for Bible Study, one for community service.
D. Have the Youth create a Social Media Outreach via a "unique website", Facebook, or both.
E. Direct Youth into Community Service Projects www.focusnorthamerica.org/yes/

5. Evangelism - "Do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:5) - "Be Fishers of Men" (Mark 1:17)
A. Accept your responsibility to take the Gospel to the people of "Your City" and the "surrounding countryside". "Spread the Word", by Fr. Michael Keiser www.antiochian.org/missions
B. Create in your church a heart for the lost by mentioning often their plight without Christ.
C. Create Local Literature - Have some members write their personal stories of conversion, and of what Christ and His church means to them. This could start with the priest himself writing his personal testimony. These testimonies can be printed in pamphlet form to be distributed.
D. Utilize existing Pamphlets from www.store.ancientfaith.com/brochures/ explaining Church History, Intro to the Orthodox Church, etc.
E. Create a variety "Church Business Cards" that communicate various aspects of your church's ministry that members can distribute. www.vistaprint.com Under the name of your church use the by-lines, "Come and See", Discover the Ancient Faith", "The Original Evangelicals", or "The Full Gospel Church".
F. Engage all forms of Social Media - Websites, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Free Radio Ads, News Releases, Blogs ( www.theorthodoxway.blogspot.com www.mikesbiblenotes.blogspot.com ).
G. Create a separate website from your "Church Community" website that is specifically designed for evangelism.
H. Placement of Orthodox Books in all area libraries stamped with your church info.
I. Establish an OCF chapter on every college campus within your church's reach. www.ocf.net Invite Art Students to an "Icon Tour", Music Students to a "Divine Liturgy", Food Science Students to a food festival, Psychology Students to a lecture/discussion on Orthodox Psychotherapy.
J. Invent a "Mobile Bookstore" to attend Public Events, Fairs, Festivals, seasonal kiosks at the local mall.
K. Develop a small "Traveling Choir" to share Orthodox hymnography with local school music departments, at public events, or as ministry in nursing homes, prisons, wherever God leads.
L. Billboards on highways near your church.
M. Consider the possibility of linking arms with your fellow Orthodox churches in your region to establish an "Agia Sophia Coffee Shop and Bookstore" in the city best suited for this outreach. Check out the websites of the two Agai Sophia Coffee Shops, one in Colorado Springs CO, the other in Harrisburg PA. www.agiasophiacoffeeshop.com and www.agiasophiaharrisburg.com

6. Serving Our Neighbors - Outreach
A. Create a local FOCUS www.focusnorthamerica.org
B. Reach out to the poor and needy (Matthew 25:31-46) - Food ministry that provides actual nutritious food - Unique Food Pantry with real nutrition in mind - Meals on Wheels from your church - Locate 10 families to begin to help in a long-term way. Members may adopt-a-family - Plant Organic Community Gardens to feed the needy, and to teach canning as well as build up the food pantry.
C. Reach out to the widows, the fatherless, and the single parents in your community (1 Timothy 5:1-16; James 1:27; Titus 2:1-8).
D. For the "widows" provide visitation, shopping trips, transportation to appointments, transportation to church services, meal prep, house cleaning, yard work.
E. For the "fatherless" create an Orthodox big brothers/big sisters outreach providing mentoring, tutoring, recreation opportunities, and worship experiences.
F. For "single parents" provide counseling on parenting skills, nutritional education ( www.ancientfaith.com/foodfaithfasting ), cooking lessons, babysitting, prayer support.
G. For the "Weak and Feebleminded" (1 Thessalonians 5:14) provide ministry to the physically handicapped and the mentally infirm.
H. For the "Broken and Bound" provide group encounters for those with addictions, dealing with grief, going through divorce, or food and health issues - Create an Orthodox Group Therapy ministry, St George Life Recovery Ministries - Slaying the Dragons in Your Life.
I. Door-to-Door Ministry with a "5 Point Opinion Poll" to help the people in your community discern their need for God and His Church. Train teams to go out two-by-two.
J. Create a Ride-to-Church Ministry - Volunteers willing to pick up people for church.
K. Pro Life Ministry www.oclife.org www.prolifegbg.blogspot.com
L. Prison Ministry
M. Peace Ministry www.incommunion.org
N. Persecution Watch Ministry - Updates on Syria, Egypt, Ukraine, Palestine, etc. www.persecution.org and www.opendoors.org
O. Missionary Outreach www.ocmc.org Have a World Map in your social hall.
P. Support a Mission Church nearest you and one far off that touches your heart.

7. Serving One Another - Inreach
A. Women's Ministry - Long-term Projects, Annual Projects, Community Outreach
B. Men's Ministry - Long-term Projects, Annual Projects,
C. Ushers and Greeters - Create a handbook for ushers and greeters.
D. Altar Servers - Youth and Adult Teams
E. Coffee Hour - Rethink this wonderful time of fellowship. How can we inspire 100% participation?
F. The Clean Green Team - Volunteer Green Cleaning Team - The Green Patriarch will be pleased!!!
G. The Outdoor Team - Volunteer Outdoor Maintenance.
H. Faith, Food, and Fasting Ministry www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/faithfoodfasting
I. Church Bookstore filled with current Orthodox titles. Make it public during open office hours.
J. Church Library in an accessible location.

8. Establish Strong Spiritual Leadership
A. A Parish Council with an Orthodox Mindset I Article by Bishop John www.antiochian.org/do-we-need-rethink-parish-council Resource www.antiochian.org/parishcouncilguidebook
B. Create a separate financial committee of 3 people who can handle these responsibilities so that the Parish Council can focus on the "work of the ministry"(Ephesians 4:11-16).
C. Identify potential candidates to become Deacons, Sub-Deacons, Tonsured Readers, Lay Leaders.
D. Raise up Prayer/Healing Teams to visit and minister spiritual and physical healing to those listed in the church bulletin. Jesus Healing Ministry (Matthew 8:1-17; Acts 10:38), The Healing Ministry of the 12 (Matthew 10:1-15; Mark 6:7-13), The Healing Ministry of the 70 (Luke 10:1-17), The Healing Ministry of the Church (Mark 16:15-20). Book by Paul Meyendorff, "The Anointing of the Sick", www.svspress.com                                                                                   Podcast by Paul Meyendorff www.ancientfaith.com/specials/antiochian_archdiocese_2014_clergy Click on "Liturgical Theology and Healing".

9. Financial Responsibility of  God's People
A. Utilize the Archdiocese Tithing Program www.antiochian.org/givingcampaign
B. Study article written by Fr. Thomas Zell, "The Trail of the Tithe". www.antiochian.org/node/16719
C. Educate church members on the biblical and traditional Orthodox view of how believers are to support the church with their finances according to their ability (2 Corinthians 8 & 9; Philippians 4:15-19; Luke 12:13-21) Provide members with literature, podcast links, and online resources that will help inform the members about Christ-honoring stewardship.
D. If your church has a mortgage, Develop a plan to free the church of this burden, if possible, by 9/1/2015, so that the church will be free to focus on ministry the next 5 years. Request everyone to give a sacrificial gift towards eradicating the mortgage. Sample Plan: Ask 3 people to give $25,000, ask 10 people to give a gift of $10,000, Ask 15 people to give $5,000, ask all remaining members to give a $1,000 gift or the best gift they are able to. The Total is $300,000.

10. The Necessity of Faith
A. Begin with the revelation that "with God all things are possible" and "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Luke 1:26; Mark 9:23). God wants to act in your church, and your synergy of faith is key. (Hebrews 4:1,2)
B. Next begin looking at the things which are not seen, rather than the things you do see (2 Corinthians 4:13-18). Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). "For we walk by faith, and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).
C. Now start taking action, taking steps toward the fulfillment of your church's vision. (James 2:14-20). "For without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).