Strategy
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The S.H.I.V.E.L.Y. Strategy 7 Principles That Make Our Church Unique
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S - Services without Barriers.
We design church services that an unchurched person can enjoy. To do that we try to take away the barriers that get in the way of their feeling comfortable in church. So we are sensitive in the way we greet people. We don’t embarrass them. We never make visitors stand up and tell us their name. We are sensitive in the way we take an offering. We are sensitive in the terminology we use.
H – Healthy Small Groups.
Shively Baptist Church is built on a network of small groups. We want you to grow in your faith by being a part of a large group in worship and a small group in fellowship. We have dozens of small groups that meet on different days and different nights and different places. Some groups meet at the church during the traditional Sunday school hour on Sunday mornings, while others meet on a Tuesday night in a member’s home.
I – Intentionally Driven by Purpose.
Our Purpose Statement is Loving People, Sharing Jesus. That reflects a five-fold understanding of the purpose of the church: Worship, Ministry, Evangelism, Fellowship, and Discipleship. This purpose is based on two Scriptural principles:
Loving People - Living the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-39):
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Empowered by Worship – “Loving the Lord with all your heart”
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Expressed in Ministry – “Loving your neighbor as yourself”
Sharing Jesus – Fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20):
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Evangelism – “Go in to all the world and make disciples”
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Fellowship – “Baptizing them”
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Discipleship – “Teaching them”
Being driven by purpose means that we seek to reach out to the community, bring them into the crowd in worship, add them to the congregation in salvation and church membership, grow them to maturity as committed believers, develop them in ministry as part of the core, and send them out on mission. The circle illustrates the process.
V – Vision of Our Target.
Shively is trying to reach people who don’t know the Lord. We’re not trying to reach Christians who have been Christians for 30, 40, 50 years.
E - Every Member a Minister.
Not that every member is a pastor, but every member has a ministry. Ministry is serving others. You have abilities to serve God and
L - Life Development Process.
The Life Development Process is a structured CLASS environment that will help you grow to spiritual maturity, help you develop your spiritual talents and abilities and help you become a success in life. The goal of this church is not to build big buildings. The goal of this church is to make you successful in your Christian life so that one day when you stand before God He’ll say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Our goal is to help you become all God wants you to be. We have a process called the Life Development Process.
Y – Yes to People.
We don’t expect people to be perfect in this church. This is a church for people who don’t have it all together. This is a church for people who want to grow. We don’t expect unbelievers to act like believers until they are. We offer acceptance of people without being judgmental of them. There’s a difference between acceptance and approval. We can accept a person without approving of their lifestyle. Jesus did. Jesus accepted the woman who was caught in the act of adultery without approving of that. It was obviously wrong. But He accepted and loved her without approving of what she was doing. We can accept people who don’t have it all together without necessarily approving of all the sins they have.