Philosophy of Ministry
We the members of Good Shepherd Church are a privileged community of people who, by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, may call ourselves sons and daughters of God the Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
We, the members of Good Shepherd Church are a responsible people.
However, we the members of Good Shepherd Church are also a realistic people. Hence we pledge ourselves, as those redeemed by the blood of Christ, to walk in a way worthy of our high calling in Jesus Christ and to fight a God-pleasing battle against the powers of evil and darkness in and around us. We seek to do this by:
1. Praising our God through a diversity of edifying worship and expressive music. (Worship)
2. Praying that we might honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ at all times and in all ways and serve as instruments to resolve the problems we lay at His feet. (Prayer)
3. Providing opportunities for people of all ages to grow in the knowledge of the written Word, and urging them to participate in what is offered, that they might believe and follow the Living Word as informed, committed disciples. (Education)
4. Proclaiming the message of the Kingdom of God to the world, inviting into that Kingdom through the forgiveness of sins, assimilating and nurturing those people whom the Holy Spirit gathers into His and our Church family, at home and abroad. (Evangelism, Missions)
5. Managing and sharing the material resources that God makes available to us in a manner that reflects the attitude of Christ towards His Father and the Created order. We shall not ask, "How much of what is mine will I give to God? But, How much of that which is God's will I keep for my own needs? (Stewardship of Material Goods)
6. Helping couples understand and practice the promises they made to each other in their marriage vows, and equipping them to fulfill their God-given responsibility to teach the Christian faith to their children and to train them to walk in the ways of Christ. (Marriage and Family Life)
7. Promoting the development of edifying relationships and meaningful ministries through small groups. (Nurture and Support Groups)
8.
Rejoicing with those who rejoice, sharing the suffering,
encouraging those
enduring trials, supplying the needs of those around the world who are
burdened by any need of body, soul, or spirit.
(Caring Discipleship)
9. Equipping all members of Good Shepherd Church to imitate as responsible stewards of God's creation and concerned servants of God in all they -- in the congregation, in their homes, in their daily word, and in the community, nation, and the world. (The Priesthood of All Believers in the Totality of Life)
We pledge that we shall always remember that God alone determines the success of our efforts in terms of the changes He sees in our lives and by the changes He empowers us to affect in the lives of others, both within and beyond our congregation. To God alone be the glory!