Ten Year Target
Sermon Recap
In our fall preaching series, we’ve been having an extended conversation about the focus of Refuge Church as we move into our next season of life and ministry together. We’ve discussed our vision statement (“To see the goodness of God’s kingdom fully realized in the Refuge family and in our city”) and our mission statement (“Being transformed through life with Jesus”).
We believe this transformation happens as we learn from Jesus, practice his way and are healed by God’s love and power. All this, in community and by the power of the Holy Spirit for the good of others and the glory of God.
In light of all this, we’ve named 4 core commitments (“strategic anchors”) that will guide us. These 4 things are prayer, worship, community, and discipleship pathways.
This past Sunday, David laid out our 10-year target. Our hope is that a 10-year target will be helpful in shaping our planning, keeping it “on the ground” and clarifying a picture of the goodness of God’s kingdom being experienced in real, lived experience. This isn’t an “achieve or else” set of goals, but a way of faithfully playing, imagining “what if” _____ happened in the next 10 years.
By 2035, we want to have given ourselves (in patience, humility, and excellence; first as disciples, second as leaders; with radical generosity and sacrifice while also embracing limitation; only as a move of the Spirit of God) to see:
1. 100 disciples sent out by Refuge (at least 50% age 18-30 when starting), having gone through a 4-year Discipleship Pathway where they are:
Rooted in Community
Given knowledge of the Bible and Spiritual Practice
Equipped to create, live by, and evolve over time a personal Rule of Life
Supported in discernment and development into their God-inspired Vocation
2. A cohesive Kids & Youth Discipleship Pathway (0–18) with weekly programming, events, and retreats that intentionally guide children and students through milestones and key transitions (5th–6th, 8th–9th, 12th–adulthood) toward resilient, joyful discipleship where over 10% (or current national average) actively follow Jesus into adulthood.
3. 100 people Baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and into the family of Christ
4. At least 100% of average Sunday attendance in Small Groups growing in spiritual friendship and practice and 60% Fully Engaged Members active in six core practices (Personal Discipleship, Sundays, Small Groups, Serving, Giving, Voting).
5. Prayer Rhythms Developed in at least 10 Spaces, where we embody that dependence on and connection to God is what guides, fuels, and sustains everything we do. These 10 Spaces include personal, family, staff, board, small groups, Sunday gatherings, pre-Sunday prayer, kids & youth, annual week of prayer, and regular worship & prayer nights.
6. 10 Justice & Mission Partnerships, roughly 70/30 local/global, where we practice service through Small Groups and direct support and are formed through global stories and immersion experiences into people of Justice and Shalom.
7. At least 10% of every dollar given through Refuge to Justice & Mission—locally and globally, for relief and development, for the impact of the Common Good and the spreading of the Gospel.
8. A Facility for the Following 10 Years that embodies our vision, creates space for us to grow into our mission, and inspires the gathered church family to inhabit their own neighborhoods with greater rootedness, hospitality, and Kingdom imagination.
9. Financial Stewardship, operating each year on 90% of the previous year’s actual income, creating margin for sustainability and Spirit-led investment and generosity.
10. 100% (or over 500, 52/year) Worship Gatherings that glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and that Call, Form, and Send disciples of Jesus.
This seems like a lot, right? And it would be, if we were left to our own grit and effort to make this happen. But like the early believers seen in Acts 2 (see especially vs 37-47), we see ourselves living in response to what God has done in Christ and through the Spirit. We are not like Sisyphus, feeling the futile effort of pushing a rock up a mountain. We are a people living in response to the momentous work of Jesus, trusting in the guidance and power of His Spirit to carry us forward.
Entering Conversation
1. In this vision series, we’ve been working to discern the commitments we want to make (both as a church and as individual disciples of Jesus) in order to help us move toward our longings. Can you name some of the longings you have for Refuge or yourself, things that might be realistic to see in 10 years? Feel free to answer from a place of playful “what if” or a deeper desire like “if only” or “I hope.”
2. Look back over the list of our ten 10-year goals. Do you see any place where your longings might resonate with them? If so, how?
3. Spend the balance of your time praying together. Pray over the longings that have been named, inviting God to guide you and grow you toward them.
Practice for the Week
Continue praying over the question of identifying the “next right thing” for you, even asking God how you might participate in the 10-year targets, maybe thru being baptized, becoming a member, giving, serving, etc.