Any church should be able to clearly articulate their purpose (where they are going) and their strategy (how they will get there). Without such, a congregation will wander aimlessly and achieve little. Mississippi Avenue Baptist Church has a purpose. Simply stated, our purpose is to . . .

 

We really are serious about helping people to come into a relationship with God through His son Jesus (salvation), and in helping them to then become like Him (discipleship).

Our strategy is basic, yet effective:

 

Relationships: Everything starts here. Everyone who enters a relationship with God most often starts with a relationship with someone already in a relationship with God. A faithful disciple of Jesus Christ will model the life of Christ in such a way that those around them will desire to become a disciple as well. Out of such trust, people will also put their faith in Christ as well. Ultimately, that means that we must be a relational people and a relational church.

 

Worship: When someone comes into a relationship with God (salvation), their first desire will be to worship the God who has so radically changed their life. While worship certainly can and should occur privately, it doesn’t take long before a new disciple will desire to worship God with other believers. MABC makes worship foundational to every service.

 

Discipleship: One does not have to worship long before a deep and abiding desire builds for spiritual growth. Disciples are those who are seeking to become like Jesus. MABC has set her course to provide multiple opportunities to learn, grow and express our faith.

 

Ministry: Ministry is both receptive and expressive. It begins when someone cares enough about another that they reach out to care for their needs. Anyone who has ever been on the receptive end of ministry can share how much of a blessing it was. The natural fruit of a growing disciple in relationship with others will be an expression of ministry. In fact, such a disciple will model the truth of Acts 20:35, “it is more blessed to give than to receive”.

 

Evangelism: Evangelism is nothing more than ministry to someone without Christ. We meet people every day with a multitude of physical needs. If we were to satisfy every one of those needs, they would still remain hopeless and helpless without God. A true disciple will have a heart for those who are “lost” and will seek to share the love and gospel of Christ with them.

 

Missions: Those who have the ability to perceive the incredible separation between a world and God will do everything in their power to share the “good news” of salvation with as many as possible. Missions is the heart and effort to carry the gospel to everyone in the world.

 

This model can be visualized as follows:

 

It is our belief that everyone we might ever meet will find themselves somewhere in this circle and in one of these boxes. Perhaps you are just now beginning your spiritual journey and are discovering what a relationship with God might be like. Perhaps you have taken that step and are now looking for a place to worship and grow as a disciple. It could be that you are a maturing believer, searching for a place to serve in ministry. Our goal is to discover where you are . . . and to help you take the next step. Success at MABC is moving individuals from where they are to where God would have them to be.

One more thought, we have a foundational belief that none of the above is possible without an absolute dependence upon the Word of God and Prayer. They are at the center of the wheel, and are crucial to every aspect of our ministry. They provide direction, accountability and power to do the work of the kingdom.

 

At MABC, our purpose is simple, our strategy is intentional, and together they keep us focused upon why we exist as a church.