Next Steps

Last night we had a service called "next steps." It was one of the most important services we've ever had in youth ministry because I unveiled the vision God has given us. This Sunday I will again communicate it for those who missed last night, but I also want to lay it out on the blog.

Why does TVM exist? To connect people to life! That is our purpose and mission. What is our vision for accomplishing this. Well read on...

In Joshua chapter 1, 3 and 6 God is speaking to Joshua about the promise land. In chapter one he tells Joshua to be in the word, follow it, be strong and courageous and He will make his way successful. In chapter three he tells the people to purify themselves because God is about to do wondrous acts among them. Then in chapter six God tells Joshua that he's given them the city Jericho and all they have to do to take the city is obey and praise.

Over the last seven months God has been speaking to me about these three scriptures. Every time I go to him about vision He says the same thing over and over. "I have given you this city." Over and over I have heard Him say that He has given us this city. In other words, nothing can stand in our way from taking this city for Him. Nothing can stand in the way of our friends and peers who are hurting and lost, from being healed and saved by Him. He has given us this city and now it's up to us to obey and praise like He's given it to us, pray like He's given it to us, Give, serve, and act like He's given it to us.

The vision of TVM is very simple. We are taking our city for Jesus Christ. This is the vision. Now just as the Israelites had to take "steps" (theirs were literal) we also must obey the steps and in doing so, step by step, we will take our city. Here are the first few steps we will take. You ready because God has a place for you in each of these and it will take all of us in order to take our city. Oh and if you're from another city, don't worry, after we take Monroe and there is an army of us living for Christ, we will take your city too! Here are the steps...

1. The Word - the foundation of our ministry is the Word. It is built upon the Word and it is the Word that we stand upon. Joshua 1:8 says Study this Book of Instruction (The Bible) continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. ONLY THEN WILL YOU PROSPER AND SUCCEED IN ALL YOU DO. You reading your bible will be the very thing that brings us success. Every person has got to be in the Word everyday, it is then we will prosper and succeed. To help in that we have a bible reading plan available here and for pick up on Sunday.
2. Prayer - The word is the foundation, prayer is the power. The word gives us a foundation to stand upon, prayer gives us the grace and the power to accomplish the vision. With the bible reading plan is a daily prayer nugget. We've got to be in prayer everyday for our friends, our lives, our families, and the vision. We will also be doing monthly prayer and worship times to be announced soon!
3. Wednesday Nights/iNights - We need a service we can invite our friends to and that is Wednesday nights. Beginning October 1st we will be doing weekly Wednesday night services with worship and preaching. Also once a month on the last Wednesday beginning in November we will have iNight services. iNight stands for invite night. These will be great services to invite your friends too. We need every person to be at Wednesday nights and to be inviting their friends with no faith to come. Here are some upcoming series we will be doing:October - "What the... Hell?" - A series on hell, the devil, eternity, repentance and salvation. November - "Text" - A series where we answer questions about anything that you text in.
4. Reach Teams - I cannot stress how important it is for you to have a leader that is discipling you, praying for you, encouraging you, holding you accountable and correcting you. You will not thrive in Christian life unless you have this and this will happen in Reach Teams. Some are weekly, some every other week, but EVERYBODY needs a Reach Team that they go to. Sign ups on Sunday! Do it!
5. 100/100 - 100/100! This step is 100 weekly in services and 100 in Reach Teams. Right now we average between 60 and 70 weekly in services and we want to see that grow to 100/100. Here is your part in this. If everyone of us will go after 1 person. Just 1, pray for them and invite them every week. Get that person to church, see that they find salvation and get them to their Reach Team we can take this step before the end of the year. I want you to go after 1! Get them to church, pray for their salvation and get them to your Reach Team. Now here's the deal. Your one person cannot be someone from another church. I'm not interested in young people from other churches. They have a church and a pastor and they need to help their church grow. We want people who have no faith to encounter Jesus and become full of faith. Go after 1! Who is your 1 going to be?

These are the 1st five steps in front of us. Now it's our turn to obey and to praise. Get in your word, pray, be at Wednesday nights, go to a Reach Team and get 1. Together we can take our city. Together we can see friends and peers we never thought would know Christ, bow their knee and live the life you know! We are taking this city the question is will you be one of those who takes it with us?

Be there Sunday for more and be ready because God is going to use you!