Last night was Vision Night at BridgePoint Bible Church. After singing “Amazing Grace” a cappella and hearing a stirring introduction from our Community Life Pastor, I was up. About 250 people were there to seek God’s leading for the future of our church.

Earlier in the day, at lunch, I had put my head in my hands and told Cindi, “I’m so exhausted. And I have no idea how we’re going to accomplish this huge vision.” In classic Cindi fashion, she smiled and said, “That’s good, because the Bible is filled with stories just like that.”

It’s not that we lack excitement; we’re very excited. And it’s not that we have no strategies; there are lots of things we’re planning. But no Christian vision worth pursuing starts with human energy or human strategy, because our strategies and our energy too easily function as ceilings or walls or promoters of pragmatic wisdom and ministerial pride.

But when we start with God’s audacious vision for his church, we realize immediately that we’re outmatched. We’re called to something far more glorious than we could accomplish or even imagine. So we must begin with weakness, with prayer, with unsubtle admissions that only “if the Lord wills” can we bear much fruit (John 15:5; James 4:15).

Here, then, are ten stars forming the constellational vision for the next chapter of BridgePoint Bible Church. This constellation is not a doctrinal statement, or a church constitution, or a step-by-step ministry plan. It’s an impossible vision of the church we pray we become, built on the faithful legacy of all who’ve gone before us, and fully dependent on the grace and strength of Christ. I offer it here in felt weakness and eager anticipation, believing that the gospel is still the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).

BridgePoint Vision

1. We baptize a growing number of new believers each year because every member shares the gospel clearly and winsomely with the non-believers in his or her life.

2. Every member participates in transformational community and practices intentional discipleship by investing truth, love, and wisdom in other believers.

3. Every member receives basic training in peacemaking, evangelism, discipleship, and counseling.

4. Every member’s primary gifts are identified, and every member is actively committed to serving in the church.

5. BridgePoint groups are praying together daily, seeking spiritual transformation and gospel influence through regular fasting and corporate prayer.

6. BridgePoint is a leading source for accurate, clear, verse-by-verse expository preaching because we believe and teach the whole counsel of God.

7. BridgePoint is an international community with no dominant racial or socioeconomic majority because we welcome, pursue, and model all forms of biblical diversity.

8. BridgePoint International is recognized in our community as an explicitly Christian center providing ESL training, serving refugees, adopting international families, and facilitating intercultural gatherings as a gospel platform.

9. BridgePoint serves the broader church by publicly addressing theological, ethical, cultural, and global issues with biblical discernment.

10. BridgePoint sends and supports missionaries focused on evangelism, discipleship, church planting, theological education, and leadership development.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.