For Such a Time As This: A Vision of Faith

Our vision is to grow a community to reach a community;

a community founded on Gods Truth,

a community that worships together,  

a community who welcomes all who seek God.

Where is God taking this church? We believe that God has a unique plan for our church to carry out the great commission in the Flathead valley. The words that follow are a vision statement, an expression of where we are headed.

A Vision of Opportunity

Our vision is for the people around us. Jesus told His disciples, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (John 4:35). He also speaks to us. We live in an area that is growing through immigration of people who are dissatisfied with their lives. Most of them come after having established themselves elsewhere. They could choose to live anywhere, but they come here drawn by the scenic beauty, small town atmosphere and that hard to define, but oh so important, quality of life. Those who come here want to stay. People feel strongly about our community. Our vision is to grow a community to reach a community.

Our church has been uniquely fashioned and formed by God for such a time as this. Our location puts us within a few miles of the majority of growth that will take place in the Flathead Valley in the next three years. In 1990, in response to God's vision we enlarged our facility. In 1999, after much prayer and seeking God's direction, we purchased adjoining property; a step of faith that says God has a plan for us. As a result, we have the facilities and land to expand and meet the needs of this influx of people. Our vision is to reach those who come to our valley seeking a better life.

Our background and character have equipped us for such a time as this. Our church has changed and grown over the years. Many branches of the Christian faith enrich us. Our Lutheran roots give us an appreciation of tradition and a rich heritage to draw from. Our evangelical beliefs give us a solid core of Biblical truth, the bedrock of what we value. The charismatic influence in our congregation has breathed new life into our worship and given us an appreciation of and hunger for more of the Spirit. Despite these different forces at work in our congregation, we have not become divided, but adapted and incorporated elements from each. We are now in a unique position to use these rich gifts to grow a community to reach a community

This rich and varied background has prepared us for such a time as this. We are living in a place inhabited by people from across the country who have a wide range of beliefs and values. Like us, many of them have influences from a variety of spiritual sources. Our history gives us the tools to communicate and witness in ways unique to our congregation. God has placed us here to grow a community to reach a community, to become a church that is knit together in love, but whose heart beats for the lost.

A Vision For Truth

Our vision is to communicate faithfully the timeless truths of God's Word. Our world makes it increasingly difficult for Christians to stay faithful to Biblical teaching. When our ancestors in the faith were in a similar situation, they responded by answering the questions people raised in an effective and timely manner. We see our church responding to the challenges of our time with God's timeless truth in an effective form.

Our vision is to be a church that listens to and answers the questions the world poses for us. Our vision is to see young people trained and equipped to answer the questions they will face in college and on the job. Instead of losing them when their faith is questioned, we want them to face and conquer the challenges to their faith.

Our vision is to train and equip parents to prepare their children in the new yet old answers of truth.  Our vision is for every member of Faith Church to  "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15). God has given us the mission of reaching the people of the Flathead valley with the Truth in effective and winsome ways.

A Vision For Discipleship

We see our church as a place where God can safely bring new believers to be nurtured and grown. At Faith our vision is to call people to genuinely follow Jesus. The people of the Flathead Valley do not lack an interest in spiritual things. Almost everyone believes in god in some form or other, but many lack a way of life that reflects spiritual belief. Only faith in Jesus Christ and the resulting presence and power of the Holy Spirit can truly change a life. Our vision is to be a church that clearly shows people what they must do to follow Jesus. We will show people the way.

In the past we have made the mistake of trying to make disciples by recommending books or programs. We see now that discipleship is not about a certain book, but about life choices. We look to our spiritual ancestors for inspiration. They lived in dark and dangerous times. They overcame hardship and hate through a genuine faith and spiritual disciplines that led to a life that consistently followed Christ.  

At Faith our vision is for a community that gracefully applies spiritual discipline. We see five spiritual disciplines that will prepare our community to live a powerful Christian life.

The first is time alone with God. Each of us must seek God in our quiet places. We live in one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Many therapeutic institutions choose to locate here because of the healing power they find in nature. What they do not always recognize is that this healing power is the presence of God seen in creation. We have this great asset and our vision is to see God's person, presence and power revealed through His creation and His Word.

The second discipline is a spiritual partner to whom we can become honest and accountable to. Everyone needs a friend or friends to act as mentor and confessor.

The third discipline is small group fellowship. These small groups or cells offer the time and place where Christians can help one another apply God's teaching to their lives.

The fourth discipline is participation in the common life. This includes corporate worship services, but also the activities and ministries that the church sponsors.

The last of the five disciplines is witness to those who are not yet followers of Jesus Christ. We cannot grow in faith unless we share our faith. Our greatest asset in sharing the faith is our community. The life of the community shared together becomes the most effective tool our church has to convince people to become disciples. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35)

The vision of our church is to make clear that being a Christian is not just what we believe in our head, but how we live our life. We want every person who steps through our door to see the spiritual direction our church is taking. We see our church as a connection to the person of Jesus Christ and the path of discipleship for everyone who comes in contact with us. Our vision is for the power of the Christian community to be clarified and the path of discipleship illuminated for everyone.

A Vision For Community

Our vision is to grow a community to reach a community. Reaching the Flathead valley will require a team approach to ministry. We see our church as one that will emphasize hospitality. Our vision is for a church that says "welcome come and join us and follow Christ." Our building should be a place where unbelievers feel comfortable. We see a place that is clean, comfortable, and welcoming. We see a dedicated space in our church where people can go simply to be together. This place will become the source and inspiration of a new/old way of evangelism that invites the lost to discover Jesus through welcoming hospitality.

Our fellowship is enjoyable and sweet, but our vision is to make our community opening and welcoming to the lost. We must care for one another and at the same time create a culture that is concerned with reaching beyond our fellowship. Hospitality to strangers was a hallmark of the early church. We see ourselves becoming a community that is devoted to hospitality to those seeking God and grow a community to reach a community

A Vision For Worship

Our vision is to see people transformed by the presence of Jesus Christ. We desire to use our unique background to bring together elements of old and new and creatively lead our congregation into worship. We see worship as a learning experience where we mine the rich depths of the ancient and contemporary. Word and Sacrament, technology and nature all have their place. Our vision is to build a worship center that allows for the best of the old and new, a place where the different streams of our history can flow together to inspire and empower.

Our vision goes beyond public worship. We see our congregation being dedicated to a creative prayer life that brings worship into the most common places of life.  We believe in the future that we should dedicate space in our facility for a prayer center. This space will be a source and center for prayer, but also a symbol and inspiration for our church to seek God through prayer in every part of life.

For Such A Time As This

God has placed our church in a unique time and place and equipped us to carry out a significant mission in the Flathead Valley. Now we see dimly what God will do, but as the people, who make up this Faith community, catch the vision God has given us, what is now seen dimly will grow closer and clearer until it becomes reality.  

God is calling us to grow a community to reach a community. Our city, our nation is not impressed with words alone. Words confirmed by a life that serves Christ are a testimony that will catch the ear even of a deaf and jaded people. The power of Christians who together follow Jesus will bring the presence of Jesus to our community, and Jesus promised us that if He is lifted up He will draw all people to Him.  God has raised us up for such a time as this. He is calling us to grow a community to reach a community. He has placed before us an open door and invited us to step through and see His vision for us become reality.