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Ten Verbs Describe a New Vision for Goal Setting
One of the most challenging responsibilities of the Mutual Ministry Team is setting goals for the congregation for the upcoming year. Each year, we identify shortcomings within Good Sam that we feel need attention and set them as goals to improve. Sometimes the goals are general, for example, “being more welcoming to visitors.” Other times, they are more specific, like “addressing the ministry needs of young single 20-something members or the youth.” Upon agreement, we send this list of goals to Council for approval and publication to the congregation. When we assess the past year, sometimes we achieve the goals we outline, and some years we do not.
What if, in 2017, Mutual Ministry did not forward a list of goals to Council? What if instead we sent a list of ten words—ten verbs to Council? Our goal would be to encourage the congregation to try and “live” those verbs daily with our fellow members, visitors to Good Sam, and our neighbors outside of Good Sam. We in Mutual Ministry believe that, if we as a congregation practice and apply these ten words, any goals we could have presented would be met, and even exceeded. So, this is what we’ve done—established these key verbs
RECOGNIZE, ACKNOWLEDGE, AFFIRM, ENCOURAGE, PRAY (FOR),
CONNECT, CARE, CALL FORWARD (INVITE), EMPOWER, and NURTURE.
As we move forward–adding more depth to these terms over time–we believe these words can and will become “alive” in our lives.
So, we asked you, “How can you employ these verbs in your faith life and put them into action?”
Your Mutual Ministry Team
2017 Goals for the Congregation
This year is all about taking action in our Faith journeys. Our 2017 goals are about journeying with our neighbors. They are about adding chapters in ‘The Story’ of Good Samaritan Lutheran Church, the Story of what Jesus is doing in our lives. Jesus calls us to go out to the four corners of the world and share the Good News. Luther calls us to live the Gospel and be justified by Grace. What if we focus on these calls through our daily actions by living intentionally through the following action verbs?
- Recognize one another – people so want to be seen and heard
- Acknowledge that God is working through you and others for His purpose
- Affirm one another
- Encourage one another
- Pray (for) one another
- Connect with your neighbors, colleagues, strangers, friends
- Care for one another
- Call Forward (invite) people to church, to events, to community ,
- Empower people to live out their spiritual gifts and their most authentic selves
- Nurture one another as we grow in our faith
At the end of the day, reflect on each of these and ask yourself,
Have I recognized those around me today? Have I acknowledged how God is working through me and others?
Have I affirmed someone today? How have I encouraged people today? Have I prayed for…?
Have I cared for anyone today?” Have I called forward or invited someone into the community of Christ today?
How have I empowered someone today? How have I nurtured someone today?
Start with just one of these and strive to add in another until you naturally live out these verbs on a daily basis. Notice what happens in your life and the lives of others and tell your stories as they unfold to your brother and sisters in Christ, especially those at Good Sam. Let’s write the next chapter of our Story together!
Your Mutual Ministry Team