Called Forward in Christ—Discussion 2 (July 24)

TABLE 1

  • Question 1: What kind of church is God calling us to become? What does that look like?
    • More evangelical (root of word). Sharing good news of what LCH is about. Advertising strengths.
    • Strengthen church community through small group activities.
    • Utilize social media more to advertise events.
    • Share what LCH does for children—Sunday School, social ministry, music program.
  • Question 2: What is our greatest hope for our church locally and nationwide?
    • What does that look like?
    • Explore and engage social media in sharing this message. Example—military families.
    • Utilize personal testimony to strengthen “word of mouth”.
    • New visitors—information and given with leis.
    • Congregational wide opportunities for spiritual growth (smaller groups)

TABLE 2

  • Question 1: What kind of church is God calling us to become? What does that look like?
    • Called to go out and serve the community with spirituality.
    • Community is broader than ½ mile radius.
    • Our church is a gem. Bring attention to LCH.
      • visually? Invisible?
      • the Bach church
      • the gay church
      • the music church
    • God is calling LCH to be a HUB, a center for spirituality to radiate out.
    • Instead of being internally focused – outreach efforts in the community.
    • Thoughtful, Christ’s voice in the community.
    • Better communicate:
      • One Pot, One Hope
      • IHS
      • Habitat for Humanity
      • Godly Play
      • Meals on Wheels started here
    • Grow the kingdom? Church membership.
  • Question 2: What is our greatest hope for our church locally and nationwide?
    • Neighborhood Board participation
    • information
    • liaison—offer help within community
    • Neighborhood security watch group.
    • “Heart of the Helper”—we are Christ’s hands: prayerful, personal

TABLE 3

  • Question 1: What kind of church is God calling us to become? What does that look like?
    • A church of action, not just words.
    • Not just meeting and discussing what needs to be done, but actually implementing those thoughts/ideas.
    • More youth ministry.
    • More use of youth funds.
    • A youth council.
    • Outreach and inreach:
      • people within community who need our aloha
      • looking out for folks in congregation, i.e. visitation, helping Pastor Jeff to do that (springboard to outreach)
      • looking at weekly attendance and noticing those who are not present; then making sure they are okay
      • some notification in the bulletin about parishioners who are sick
    • Resume the “cookie” ministry where folks would visit visitors or members who have not been at church for a few weeks.
      • Someone would make cookies and others would take the cookies,
      • This would require pastoral direction as to who would like a visit. This is also to help the Pastor with his “inreach” within the congregation.)
  • Question 2: What is our greatest hope for our church locally and nationwide?
    • An event which invites the community to our campus. Perhaps an open house with food on the lawn, bouncer house and a main event.
    • Most people in the community don’t know we even exist.
    • Literature which lets people know what we do at LCH.

TABLE 4

  • Question 1: What kind of church is God calling us to become? What does that look like?
    • Church of hope—spreading hope
    • A community participating church
      • outreach
      • looking for ongoing opportunities

TABLE 5

  • Question 1: What kind of church is God calling us to become? What does that look like?
    • Lots of young adults to carry on—to do what we do now. Is this exclusionary?
    • A place to come to/come back to. A place to explore spirituality and love.
    • Place no longer means physical location—social media group.
    • Some churches appeal to fear.
  • Question 2: What is our greatest hope for our church locally and nationwide?
    • Turning concerts into spirituality recruitment.
    • UH international host families support
    • Twitter—Instagram—Snapchat—Gymnasium.

TABLE 6

  • Question 1: What kind of church is God calling us to become? What does that look like?
    • Reflective of the community we live in.
    • Continue on the path.
    • Reaching out spiritually to a younger generation through their media
  • Question 2: What is our greatest hope for our church locally and nationwide?
    • Social media.
    • Model hope for those in need.
    • 3. Take what we know to be our strengths and find things to do with them.

Return to the “Called Forward in Christ” page     Discussion 1 (July 3) notes page     Discussion 3 (August 7) notes