We are taking seriously our call to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. One thing we are considering is finding more ways to reach out to our neighbors, especially those who live a few steps away from our building. To that end we are asking you to take an online survey called Readiness 360.
Jesus challenged his listeners with this parable: “What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.” Matthew 8:3b-8
If we are going to make disciples, we need good “soil.” The Readiness 360 assesses how deep and fertile our soil is in four areas:
- Our spiritual intensity: Are we on fire in our love for God?
- Dynamic relationships: Do we have strong interpersonal relationships and friendships in our church, especially with the folks who are different than the majority of our members?
- Missional alignment: Do our priorities and activities align with our mission statement?
- Cultural openness: How willing are we to reach out and have relationships with people who are not like us?
Blessings,
Your Vital Church Initiative Team