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I have been in vocational Christian ministry for 28 years. I have seen people come and go from church for a variety of reasons. One reason that I have heard several times is that the person did not feel connected to the church. Feeling connected to a church is a two-way street. There is plenty of responsibility on the church, but every person needs to put for the effort to try and connect as well. When Jesus called his disciples, He called them to follow Him and told them He would make them “fishers of men.” The second phase of our mission statement is about connection.

 

We exist to make disciples by gathering people to worship God, connecting people to a Christ-centered community, growing people to reach their world in the power of the Holy Spirit, and multiplying disciples to expand God’s Kingdom.

 

Connecting people first starts with connecting them to Jesus Christ. If we do not help connect people to Jesus Christ, we are just a group of people meeting. Connection to Christ is making sure that a person who has a relationship with Jesus Christ is ready to grow in that relationship. Connection to Christ is the key, followed by connection to a community they can belong to. This is where people can experience God in flesh and a group of people where they belong. My pastor used to say that there are two things that you cannot do alone. You cannot be married alone, and you cannot be a Christian alone. Encouraging people to make the human connection needs to be a priority for every church. The connection to a purpose or ministry is also critical for a person to feel connected to church. Serving is where a person truly says, “I am more than just an attender…I want to serve.” Serving is the opportunity for someone to use their spiritual gifts for the edification of the Body of Christ.

            Shady Oaks exists to make disciples by connecting people to a Christ-centered community. We want to connect people to our church by connecting them to Christ, a community, and a cause or ministry they can serve in. Our connect goal is move people from attending (gathering) to becoming connected members of our church. Jesus Christ gave us the example, and we should do everything we can to follow His example.