Vision/Mission Statement

Difference between the Vision and Mission

A mission statement focuses on the present and defines an organization's purpose, while a vision statement looks to the future and defines aspirations.

A mission statement describes what an organization does, who it serves, and how it will achieve its objectives. A vision statement describes the churches desired future state, what it wants to become, and how it will achieve its goals.

A mission statement is a general statement of how a vision will be achieved. For example, a kitchen appliance company's vision might be to make cooking easier for people, and its mission might be to build safe and affordable products to help people cook faster.

A mission statement's purpose is to have specific, realistic goals that everyone can understand. It's aimed at both employees and customers. An example of a mission statement is General Motors' "Deliver world-class customer experiences".

A vision statement's purpose is to have ambitious goals that might be impossible but are worth striving for. It's aimed at motivating employees and relevant stakeholders to see the value in their efforts. An example of a vision statement is Samsung's "To inspire the world with our innovative technologies, products, and designs that enrich people's lives and contribute to social prosperity by creating a new future".

A churches vision and mission statements can provide a framework for decision-making and ensure that everyone in the organization is working towards the same objectives.

A church vision statement is a clear and concise declaration of what a church wants to achieve in the future, and how it plans to do so within a specific time frame. It should be grounded in the church's history, local, regional, and global context, and the kingdom of God.

A vision statement should clearly express a church's:

Purpose: What the ministry does, or aims to provide, and for whomValues: What makes the church uniqueGoals: What the world will look like when the church has reached its destination

A vision statement is different from a mission statement, which defines a church's purpose and calling. A vision statement is the "what" a church hopes to do in the future, while a mission statement is the "why".

A vision statement can help create a sense of direction, unity, purpose, and passion in a ministry. Some examples of church vision statements include:

Vision Statement

"To cultivate a Christ-centered community devoted to the teachings of the apostles, fostering fellowship, shared worship, and mutual support.”

We aspire to live in unity, practicing radical generosity and hospitality, glorifying God in our daily lives, and witnessing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Our commitment is to grow together in faith, share our resources to meet each other's needs, and welcome new believers into the family of God, experiencing His continuous work among us."

One-sentence Vision Statement

Our vision is to be a thriving community of believers, living in unity, devoted to God's word, fellowship, and prayer, and demonstrating Christ's love through radical generosity and daily acts of worship, drawing others to salvation."

Mission Statement

A church mission statement is a short statement that explains the church's purpose and reason for existence. It's a vital part of establishing the church's identity and guides its tasks, roles, and priorities. A good mission statement is clear, concise, and memorable. It should communicate the church's direction and purpose to its staff and members, and support the church's vision.

Here are some tips for writing a church mission statement: Reflect on your church's goals Identify your core valuesAsk why your church existsAnswer the questions: why, who, and howUse words that your people useUse visual languageWait to decideFind practical and measurable goals “A church mission statement defines the church's identity and, most healthily, will set your church apart from other local churches and even national ministries. Clarity will help you find your congregation's unique role in the broader body of Christ.”

"Our mission is to be a devoted community of believers, committed to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.”

“We seek to live in awe of God’s work among us, share our lives and resources generously, and worship together with glad and sincere hearts. By embodying Christ's love and unity, we aim to grow in faith, support each other, and reach out to the world, inviting others to experience salvation and the transformative power of Jesus Christ."

Mission Statement in one sentence

"Our mission is to cultivate a devoted and unified community, committed to biblical teaching, fellowship, worship, and generosity, while sharing the love of Christ and witnessing His transformative power in our lives."

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

New International Version They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. New Living Translation All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. English Standard Version And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Berean Study Bible They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. New American Standard Bible They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. NASB 1995 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. NASB 1977 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Amplified Bible They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers. Christian Standard Bible They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Holman Christian Standard Bible And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. Contemporary English Version They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together. Good News Translation They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers. GOD'S WORD® Translation The disciples were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. International Standard Version The believers continued to devote themselves to what the apostles were teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to times of prayer. NET Bible They were devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Modern Translations

Geneva Bible of 1587 And they continued in the Apostles doctrine, and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and prayers. Bishops' Bible of 1568 And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and felowship, and in breakyng of bread, and in prayers. Coverdale Bible of 1535 They contynued in the Apostles doctryne, and in the felashippe, and in breakynge of bred, and in prayer. Tyndale Bible of 1526 And they continued in the Apostles doctrine and felloushippe and in breakinge of breed and in prayer.

Classic Translations King James Bible And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. New King James Version And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. King James 2000 Bible And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. New Heart English Bible They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. World English Bible They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. American King James Version And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. American Standard Version And they continued stedfastly in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. A Faithful Version And they steadfastly continued in the teachings of the apostles and in fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers. Darby Bible Translation And they persevered in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers. English Revised Version And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. Webster's Bible Translation And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Early Modern

Anderson New Testament And they attended constantly to the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of bread, and the prayers. Godbey New Testament and they were persevering in the teaching of the apostles and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Haweis New Testament And they persevered stedfastly in the doctrine of the apostles, and in communion, and in breaking bread, and in prayers. Mace New Testament they continued stedfastly in the apostolical doctrine of a community, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Weymouth New Testament and they were constant in listening to the teaching of the Apostles and in their attendance at the Communion, that is, the Breaking of the Bread, and at prayer. Worrell New Testament and they were constantly attending the teaching of the apostles and the fellowship, and the breaking of bread, and the prayers. Worsley New Testament And they continued stedfast in the apostles doctrine, and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Literal Translations Literal Standard Version and they were continuing steadfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers. Berean Literal Bible Now they were steadfastly continuing in the teaching of the apostles, and in the fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers. Young's Literal Translation and they were continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers. Smith's Literal Translation And they were persevering in the teaching of the sent, and in mutual participation, and breaking of bread, and prayers. Literal Emphasis Translation And they were steadfastly continuing in the teaching of the apostles, and in fellowship, the breaking of the bread, and the prayers.

Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims Bible And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Catholic Public Domain Version Now they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communion of the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers.

Translations from Aramaic Aramaic Bible in Plain English And they were continuing in the teaching of the Apostles, and they became partakers in prayer and in breaking of the Eucharist. Lamsa Bible And they continued steadfastly in the teaching, of the apostles and they took part in prayer and in the breaking of bread.NT Translations

Berean Study Bible They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Young's Literal Translation and they were continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers. Holman Christian Standard Bible And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. New American Standard Bible They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. King James Bible And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine

Scripture related to the Churches Mission

Mt 16:18–19 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed…

Mt 28:19–20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jn 4:21–25 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true…

Ac 1:1–8 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after…

Ro 10:14–17 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who…

Ga 2:1–10 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order…

The Purpose of The Church

THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

What does Christ expect of the church? While there may be many ways such a question could be answered, here are a few suggestions:

1. The local church should always show its love for the Lord (Rev 2:4).

2. The church should minister to its own members so that they incite one another to love and good works (Heb 10:24).

3. The church is the agency for carrying out the Great Commission. While witnessing and teaching obviously can and should be done by individuals, these are also functions of the local church. The gospel should be preached in the services of the church so that when unbelievers come in they can hear it (1 Co 14:24), and all the epistles bear testimony to the teaching ministry of the local congregation.

4. The church is to care for its own who are in need, such as widows and orphans and the poor (Ja 1:27; 1 Ti 5:1–16; 2 Co 8–9).

5. The church is to do good in this world (Gal 6:10).

6. But basically the purpose of the church is to produce mature, stable, holy Christians. Doing this will sometimes involve discipline in the realm of morals (1 Co 5) and maintenance of purity in doctrine (2 Ti 2:16–18).