First Notes: Introducing the 15% Mission
Dear First Baptist Family,
Yesterday during my "Vision Sunday" sermon, I talked about the parable of the sower (see Matthew 13) and the importance of us planting seeds for the future. The farmer is described as sowing the seed (representing the Word of God) broadly, and when it falls on the good soil, it produces a crop - 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.
The question is, "Could we be a hundredfold church?" Could God use us to be a part of a movement of the kingdom of God in Knoxville?
I have faith that God not only can, but will.
We currently have 300 people in worship on any given Sunday. The vision is not that we would grow "one hundredfold" (in membership) from that, but that over 20 years, God would help us have a spiritual impact on 30,000 people in any given week throughout the city of Knoxville. That would be 15% of the population - hence, the "15% Mission." It's a vision for reaching our greatest potential.
Why 15%? First, that percentage represents a hundredfold where we currently are (although our TV audience is already around 3000 individuals in homes, nursing homes, etc., where we already have an impact).
Second, many social scientists think 15% (or a number close to that) is a "tipping point" - a point at which the whole culture is impacted by the movement, not just the 15%. So the spiritual impact (the fruits of the Spirit, people coming to Christ, discipleship, the poor being assisted, and so on) would be felt all through our region.
I believe this vision is bold but not reckless. It's totally doable, based on the tools at our disposal currently and what God will provide in the future. Without God it would be impossible, but with God, all things are possible.
Here are three ways we need your help.
First. please pray. We need God's wisdom to discern what the next steps are in leaning into the 15% mission. We know it won't be accomplished all at once, but over many years. God can do what we can't do, and God sees a lot further than we can see. We need God's help to know what needs to be done and how to faithfully begin.
During the days after Labor Day, I am calling our church to engage in six days of dedicated prayer and fasting. On those days, you'll be sent by email and on social media ways to pray, but also invite you to consider how you might fast from something for those six days. Maybe for you it's alcohol all six days, or maybe it's a day without lunch. Maybe you'll be led to give up some kind of food or refrain from TV shows or social media. The idea of fasting is to intensify your dependence on the Lord.
Second, share. You all should've received a survey as you consider the future of our church. (If you didn't receive it, click here.) We need your help in listening to the Spirit of God through each of our lives. We hope to have these surveys completed in the next two weeks.
Third, dream. There are so many ways that we could extend our impact in the city of Knoxville. Think about the percentage "15%." What could our church do to improve the lives of people by 15%? Maybe we could dream of mobilizing people to reduce the poverty rate by 15% in our city over the next 20 years. We could think about how to bless 15% of the graduate students at UT. Or some other number. The point is, the Spirit is infinitely creative. Let's dream together.
I would love to hear from each of you regarding what God can do through us in the next 20 years. The vision isn’t set in stone, but I believe it gives us a compelling compass to guide our direction.
If I haven't told you recently, I want you to know that I love you and I love serving with you! We have a great church with a great future. Let's believe in God for great things.
Pastor Brent McDougal
Yesterday during my "Vision Sunday" sermon, I talked about the parable of the sower (see Matthew 13) and the importance of us planting seeds for the future. The farmer is described as sowing the seed (representing the Word of God) broadly, and when it falls on the good soil, it produces a crop - 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.
The question is, "Could we be a hundredfold church?" Could God use us to be a part of a movement of the kingdom of God in Knoxville?
I have faith that God not only can, but will.
We currently have 300 people in worship on any given Sunday. The vision is not that we would grow "one hundredfold" (in membership) from that, but that over 20 years, God would help us have a spiritual impact on 30,000 people in any given week throughout the city of Knoxville. That would be 15% of the population - hence, the "15% Mission." It's a vision for reaching our greatest potential.
Why 15%? First, that percentage represents a hundredfold where we currently are (although our TV audience is already around 3000 individuals in homes, nursing homes, etc., where we already have an impact).
Second, many social scientists think 15% (or a number close to that) is a "tipping point" - a point at which the whole culture is impacted by the movement, not just the 15%. So the spiritual impact (the fruits of the Spirit, people coming to Christ, discipleship, the poor being assisted, and so on) would be felt all through our region.
I believe this vision is bold but not reckless. It's totally doable, based on the tools at our disposal currently and what God will provide in the future. Without God it would be impossible, but with God, all things are possible.
Here are three ways we need your help.
First. please pray. We need God's wisdom to discern what the next steps are in leaning into the 15% mission. We know it won't be accomplished all at once, but over many years. God can do what we can't do, and God sees a lot further than we can see. We need God's help to know what needs to be done and how to faithfully begin.
During the days after Labor Day, I am calling our church to engage in six days of dedicated prayer and fasting. On those days, you'll be sent by email and on social media ways to pray, but also invite you to consider how you might fast from something for those six days. Maybe for you it's alcohol all six days, or maybe it's a day without lunch. Maybe you'll be led to give up some kind of food or refrain from TV shows or social media. The idea of fasting is to intensify your dependence on the Lord.
Second, share. You all should've received a survey as you consider the future of our church. (If you didn't receive it, click here.) We need your help in listening to the Spirit of God through each of our lives. We hope to have these surveys completed in the next two weeks.
Third, dream. There are so many ways that we could extend our impact in the city of Knoxville. Think about the percentage "15%." What could our church do to improve the lives of people by 15%? Maybe we could dream of mobilizing people to reduce the poverty rate by 15% in our city over the next 20 years. We could think about how to bless 15% of the graduate students at UT. Or some other number. The point is, the Spirit is infinitely creative. Let's dream together.
I would love to hear from each of you regarding what God can do through us in the next 20 years. The vision isn’t set in stone, but I believe it gives us a compelling compass to guide our direction.
If I haven't told you recently, I want you to know that I love you and I love serving with you! We have a great church with a great future. Let's believe in God for great things.
Pastor Brent McDougal
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