Chapter One
Mission,
Values, and
Vision
Mission Statement
and Ministry Philosophy
for Small Groups
A mission statement and ministry philosophy are key to the success of your
ministry because they function as navigational tools necessary to chart an accurate
course toward a worthy destination. The statement used to launch small group
ministry of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, serves
as an example. Below, and on the following pages, you'll find our view of small
groups outlined and explained. As you read it, consider how you might shape
and articulate your church's vision and values.
The overriding mission at Willow Creek is to "turn irreligious people into fully
devoted followers of Christ." In order to accomplish that mission, a variety of
ministries exist at Willow Creek. From the weekend service to the midweek New
Community believer's service to the various subministries throughout Willow
Creek, we are committed to moving people toward Christlikeness. Since small
groups have become our way of doing ministry, it is essential that we understand
the role they play in carrying out our overall mission.
Below, you will notice the mission statement for the purpose of small groups at
Willow Creek and how small groups are used to accomplish our overriding
mission. The questions "Why do small groups exist?" and "For what purpose do
small groups exist?" are answered in the mission statement. Following the mission
statement you will find a philosophy of ministry structured around five key values
we believe will shape the way Willow Creek does ministry for the coming
years. These five statements are beliefs or values, based on Scripture, that undergird
our ministry philosophy.
5 Core Values
* Mandate: Spiritual Transformation
Jesus Christ, as Head of the church, intends His followers
to become like Him
". I have set you an
example that you should
do as I have done for
you." John 13:15
Other Scriptures:
John 14:15
Romans 6:12-13, 17-19; 8:29
Philippians 1:6
Colossians 1:28; 2:6-7
1 John 2:6
It is God's plan that those who call on His name should be like Him in attitude and
behavior. The church exists not just to collect followers, but to transform them.
Church life is the sum of all the activities that promote Christ's work of transformation.
Programs and subministries in a church should be designed to serve His
goal of changing lives, and should be surrendered as obsolete when they fail to
achieve this end.
We describe the life change the church exists to produce with "The Five G's":Grace (to personally appropriate and extend the saving work of Christ), Growth
(pursuing Christlikeness), Group (connecting with others in significant relationships),
Gifts (serving Christ's body according to spiritual giftedness and passion),
and Good stewardship (honoring God with our resources through what we give
to the church and what we keep).
The Five G's
Grace Growth Group Gifts Good Stewardship
* Method: Small Group Community
A small group provides the optimal environment
for the life change Jesus Christ intends for every believer
"He appointed twelve-designating
them apostles-that they might
be with him." Mark 3:14
Other Scriptures: Exodus 18:17-27
Acts 2:46
Significant relationships (including one-to-one) occur best in the context of a
small group. Connecting people in a small group is not an optional subministry
of the church-it is essential for growth. Without this connection, people can, at
best, attend meetings, but they aren't truly participating in church.
A small group of believers who love one another with God's love will experience
the life Christ promised at the deepest level possible. This love radically transforms
them and demonstrates His power. A group that by design does not contribute to
this goal of spiritual maturity may well be a collection of Christians, but it is not
a successful small group.
A variety of small groups are necessary to meet the individual needs of believers,
as well as the diverse needs of the body as a whole. People can grow in Christlikeness,
care for each other, and make a contribution in any group, whether it
be a disciplemaking group, task group, nurture group, Christian twelve-step
group, counseling group, or any other type. However, ministries in a local
church that don't have small groups built into their structure generally can't
produce optimal life change for people looking to that ministry for growth and
service opportunities.
* Mobilize: Strategic Leaders
The most strategic person in the life-change process
of the church is the small group leader
"It was he who gave some
to be apostles, some to
be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to
be pastors and teachers,
to prepare God's people
[average believers] for
works of service." Ephesians 4:11-12
Other Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 16:15-16
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
Hebrews 13:7, 17
The priority of church leadership is to help small group leaders succeed through
support and training. To that end, the best resources of the church should be
employed to make sure the small group leader has everything necessary for
effectiveness.
Small group leaders cannot flourish in a vacuum. Leaders need to band together
periodically with other leaders for encouragement and accountability (huddling).
Additionally, church staff and other leaders must provide training in skills necessary
for group life (skill training) and reminders of the purpose and goals that
drive the ministry (vision casting). Basic skills necessary for effective leadership
of a small group are the same whether one is leading a task group of volunteers, a
youth team, or a couples small group.
Leaders need oversight from coaches who can offer them encouragement and
accountability. Coaches should not violate an appropriate span of care (1 coach
for every 4-5 leaders). This holds true throughout the entire church-everyone
must be cared for by someone.
The ultimate goal of a leader is life change: to help group members grow in
Christlike character through learning, loving one another, and contributing of
themselves and their resources. Yet leaders must also help their groups grow in
size and eventually birth new groups. (We acknowledge that some groups are
closed to address specific issues or cover a specific curriculum.) The leader takes
responsibility for this growth by recruiting an apprentice, attending training,
and by planning for the eventual birthing process.
* Multiply: Span of Care
Groups must expand and multiply so that eventually
every believer can be connected to others
"And the things you have
heard me say . entrust
to reliable men who will
also be qualified to teach
others." 2 Timothy 2:2
Other Scriptures: Matthew 9:36-38; 29:19-20
Acts 1:8
A small group does not ultimately exist for itself. Christlike people resist the
urge to be selfish-they desire to include other unconnected people in such a way
that they too may experience group life. Small groups therefore must have a viable
strategy for growth and reproduction so that someday everyone who gathers
as a part of the local church is included in some kind of identifiable relational
connection.
Apprenticeship fosters new leaders and must be an integral part of group life so
that emerging leaders continually gain on-the-job experience and can be ready to
lead groups of their own as soon as they are ready.
When a group gets too large, its leader cannot provide the care necessary for life
transformation of each individual. Though groups must grow, the appropriate span
of care of approximately one leader for every ten people needs to be maintained.
The next step for groups that grow above ten members is to birth new groups.
Success in leadership of a small group is ultimately seen in the viability of daughter
groups. The goal is not just to start a new group, but to birth a group that is healthy
and creates life change. The new group can only be considered viable if it eventually
births a new group itself. In this model, a senior leader is someone who's
birthed additional groups, which in turn have birthed new groups-in other words,
a leader with small group "grandchildren."
* Means: Seek and Celebrate
Effective ministry happens in an atmosphere
of prayer and celebration
"And the disciples were
filled with joy and with
the Holy Spirit." Acts 13:52
Other Scriptures: Nehemiah 8:9-12
Acts 2:46-47; 8:4-8
Luke 10:17, 21
God is sovereign, and He sovereignly declares that we should pray. Great ministry
follows great praying-believers who talk to their heavenly Father receive because
they ask; when they knock, He opens. Leaders are to pray as Jesus prayed: publicly
as well as privately, authentically as well as powerfully, specifically as well as
continually. Those who seek God's blessing on their work must seek His presence
in their work through prayer.
Observe, share, value, and celebrate God's activity. A climate of fun and festivity
should permeate gatherings related to ministries.
Leadership successes should be a source of public as well as private rejoicing.
Small group gatherings do not take the place of many people coming together for
public exaltation of God, catalytic teaching of scripture, and telling stories about
what He is doing among the members of the church in small groups. What happens
at the small group level should transform the large gathering, and vice versa.
Developing Fully
Devoted Followers
The ultimate purpose of small groups is to move people toward a greater relationship
with Christ and to transform them into His image. But often the question is
asked, "What does it mean to be like Jesus?" Below, you will see how we define a
follower of Christ in terms of the local church. As you read, think first about your
own development. Then, decide how you will develop as Christ followers in your
church.
* What Is a Disciple?
In the simplest form, a disciple is an apprentice to Jesus
"A student is not above
his teacher, nor a servant
above his master. It is
enough for the student to
be like his teacher, and the
servant like his master." Matthew 10:24-25
At Willow Creek we define discipleship as "living as Christ would if He were in my
place." Discipleship-in these broad terms-implies a life of transformation and
dependence on the Holy Spirit.
* How Does a Disciple Function
in the Local Church?
With the definition of a disciple in hand, let's describe the activity of one in and
through the local church. As one functions as a Christ-follower in church, one
becomes a "participating member" of that local body. A participating member at
Willow Creek (that is, a Christ follower or disciple) is described as one who is
maturing in grace, growth, group, gifts, and good stewardship. Our elders have
shaped them this way: grace, growth, group, gifts, and good stewardship.
Grace
The individual appropriation
of the saving work
of Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9
Christ followers understand and have individually received Christ's saving grace.
They have abandoned all attempts to earn God's favor through accomplishments
of their own and find security only through Christ's sacrificial death on their behalf.
In obedience to Christ's command, they have undergone water baptism as believers,
giving outward witness to the inner cleansing and renewal experienced in Him.
Christ followers also desire to extend the grace they've received to others through
personal evangelism and participation in the collective ministry of the church in
their community, their country, and around the world.
Growth
The ongoing evidence of a
changing life in pursuit of
Christlikeness. 2 Peter 3:18
Christ followers know that the grace of God that saved them is only the beginning
of His work in them. They gratefully respond by actively pursuing a lifelong
process of spiritual growth in Christ and by seeking to become conformed to His
image. To this end, they consistently nurture their spiritual development through
prayer, worship, and Bible study.
They regard the Bible as the final authority in all areas that it teaches about and
desire to be wholly obedient to it. Christ followers honestly confront areas of
personal sin and engage the Holy Spirit's power in seeking to turn from sin.
Group
Connections with others
in significant relationships. Acts 2:46
A Christ follower honors God's call to participate in community in order to grow in
Christlikeness, express and receive love, and carry out the ministry of the church.
For this reason, they give priority to attending the corporate gatherings of the
church for the purpose of worship, teaching, and participation in the sacrament
of communion, and are connected relationally to a small group for the purpose
of mutual encouragement, support, and accountability.
Christ followers also
• pursue Christ-honoring relationships at home, within the church, and in
the marketplace, and are committed to pursuing the biblical pattern of
reconciliation when conflict arises;
• support the leadership of the church and are biblically submissive to it;
• affirm and uphold the fundamental truths of Scripture (as summarized in
our Statement of Faith) and refrain from promoting other doctrines in ways
that cause dissension.
Gifts
Serving Christ's body
according to spiritual giftedness
and passion. Romans 12:6-8
Christ followers recognize that the church is composed of interdependent members,
each uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of building up the body
and furthering the ministry of the church. They therefore seek to discover, develop,
and deploy those God-given gifts and to seek a place of service within the church
with the support and affirmation of the body.
Good stewardship
Honoring God financially
through what we give
to the church and what
we keep. Philippians 4:11-19
Christ followers realize they have been bought with the price of Christ's blood,
and that everything they are and have belongs to Him.
In light of this, they desire to be responsible caretakers of the material resources
with which God has entrusted them. They recognize the tithe (ten percent of
one's earnings) as the historical standard of giving in Scripture.
Continues.
