vision, mission, and the price of eggs on mars

This past Sunday, Pastor Paul laid out the vision of the Galion Free Methodist Church as has been prayed for, discussed, and laid out over a period of months by the GFMC staff (by the way, the staff is...Sheryl Allen, Ginny Barr, Jerry Gillespie, Neal & Jeanie Rinehart, Laurie Slone and Paul Walter). Here it is again: Becoming followers of Jesus who get it: it's about him, not me; it's about them not me; it's about us, not me. I've always wanted to do a FAQ list, so here's my chance to do so with the GFMC vision!!! What is a vision statement, anyway? I'm glad you asked! It's simply a view into the future of where we need to be. In order to fully follow Jesus, we have to get over ourselves and get into Jesus, others, and the body of Christ (collectively). What's the difference between a vision statement and a mission statement? A vision statement is all about a look into the future, a place to go, a goal. A mission statement is how you plan to get there. So does that mean our mission statement is changing too? Yes, and it will vary from ministry to ministry; each ministry will work in its own way towards helping GFMC reach its vision. What about our current mission statement? It has served GFMC beautifully for over a decade! And now it's time to celebrate it and move on to what's next! Will a new vision actually even change anything? Yes. Ministries and events (current and new) will be evaluated in light of it. Does the new vision have anything to do with the price of eggs on mars? Probably not, but if Jesus ever decides that it does, then I guess it does! Does a new vision mean anything for each person individually? We sure hope so! It's the very essence of the Biblical story! Jesus gave up himself for the sake of others and was raised from the dead as a confirmation that he 'got it.' His mission is now his followers' mission. It's the ultimate way to live; everything else is artificial! When life is lived for self, it's a fake! But when life is lived for Jesus, others, and the body of Christ, it becomes a beautiful masterpiece. I've tried to answer some possible questions about GFMC's vision, but if you have more, just ask! As always, I'd be happy to discuss them with you.