The Dakota Vision

April 30, 2006

Dakota Community Church

100% Sunday - The Dakota Vision

This message is about the mission and vision of Dakota Community Church and the immediate requirements for fulfilling it.

I want to begin by differentiating between mission and vision so we are all on the same page.

The mission is that general purpose which is shared by all congregations of believers.

The vision is the distinct manner that God has given to us as a group for the carrying out of that mission.

Mission: (What we aim to achieve)

The mission of Dakota Community Church is to reach the lost, to equip the believer, and to release the called, by establishing Churches that effectively add value to the community, thereby inspiring people to re-examine the Christian faith.

Habakkuk 2:2-3

Then the LORD replied:

"Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

2 Kings 19:29

This will be the sign for you, O Hezekiah:

"This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Vision:

The vision for carrying out the stated mission has five key components.

1. Grace, freedom, laughter.

(Central to reaching, equipping, and releasing) - Formerly worded as preach faith and grace.

This is our philosophy of ministry. It is what we preach, it is who we are, and it is what we aspire to.

I am a faith guy. I am a believer, a positive thinker, an encourager. I want you to succeed and I am thrilled to be cheering you on from the sidelines of your life.

A foundation of faith must be built upon with grace. Remember:

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

John 6:37

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

2. Innovative thinking.

(Central to reaching, equipping, and releasing) – Formerly worded as to be non-religious.

We want to be a Church that tears down the walls of tradition that separate the Church from the community.

Matthew 15:3

Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

We want our building to serve us and the community, not the other way around.

How do Church traditions separate us from the community?

- Codes of dress.

- Styles of music.

- Attitudes toward youth

- Child behavior issues

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings.

Traditions, in Jesus day and in ours, always put the institution higher in importance than the individual. That is what we want to challenge with innovative thinking.

Jesus is returning for people, only people! When we run people off for the sake of preserving, buildings, sacred pulpits, pews, stained glass windows, rules or anything else we are in the wrong. He died for every person.

3. Strong youth focus.

(Reaching and equipping)

All the research shows that approximately 2 out of every 3 solid Christians make the decision for Christ between the ages of 13-19. We want to strategically minister to that group.

We want to staff a full time youth pastor as soon as possible.

We want a youth budget that allows for equipment, convention price breaks and sponsorship, retreats, and mission trips.

We want to use young people in the Church for ministry.

Proverbs 20:29

The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.