WHAT DOES "FEEDING GOD'S CHILDREN" LOOK LIKE?
We are called to feed God's children in three distinct ways. First, we are called to serve the physical and tangible needs of our members, guests, and surrounding community whether it be with food, financial assistance, or help in a crisis. There is joy in the act of loving others.
We are also called to nurture the relational needs of our community by being a caring family that makes strong connections and by being a welcoming church family. Many in our larger community live isolated and alone, without the deep friendships that a healthy church family provides.
Finally, we exist to meet spiritual needs with prayer and life-changing worship in both traditional and contemporary styles, while still being one congregation. We are large enough to be diverse in our worship, and connected enough that we still feel like one community of Christ followers.
We are also called to nurture the relational needs of our community by being a caring family that makes strong connections and by being a welcoming church family. Many in our larger community live isolated and alone, without the deep friendships that a healthy church family provides.
Finally, we exist to meet spiritual needs with prayer and life-changing worship in both traditional and contemporary styles, while still being one congregation. We are large enough to be diverse in our worship, and connected enough that we still feel like one community of Christ followers.
WHAT DOES "FORMING JESUS' FOLLOWERS" LOOK LIKE?
Spiritual growth happens as we form Jesus' followers into his image. This happens in three clear ways. One is through baptism into the body of Christ, and into the life of the church, the community of faith. Whether as a child or at an age of understanding, we are incorporated into the family of God.
Another is through confession of our faith, and surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Sometimes this happens before baptism, and sometimes it is an act of ratifying what was begun in our baptism as infants. This is a moment of celebration, our spiritual birthday! The spiritual journey also involves recognizing a call to ministry and a life of service. Over our lifetime, that ministry will change and grow, always drawing us to the last stage of spiritual growth...
We are all destined for transformation into the likeness of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, as the ultimate expression of a life committed to following Jesus.
Another is through confession of our faith, and surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Sometimes this happens before baptism, and sometimes it is an act of ratifying what was begun in our baptism as infants. This is a moment of celebration, our spiritual birthday! The spiritual journey also involves recognizing a call to ministry and a life of service. Over our lifetime, that ministry will change and grow, always drawing us to the last stage of spiritual growth...
We are all destined for transformation into the likeness of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, as the ultimate expression of a life committed to following Jesus.
WHAT DOES "FURTHERING CHRIST'S KINGDOM"LOOK LIKE?
We further Christ's Kingdom by being generous with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Blessed to be a blessing, we will "pay it forward." These are the five commitments we made when we joined St. Mark's. They define our life in the church family.
We further Christ's Kingdom as we strive for excellence in everything we do--worship, music, programs, education, communications, administration, stewardship, staff and lay leadership development, and maintenance of our campus.
We further Christ's Kingdom as we set about increasing the "footprint" of Jesus Christ, and the influence of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in our community and our world. We seek to become a mission outpost, using our campus as a gathering place for outreach to the Baytown area and for activities furthering God's work, with an emphasis on building relationships with children, youth, and families in our community.
We further Christ's Kingdom as we strive for excellence in everything we do--worship, music, programs, education, communications, administration, stewardship, staff and lay leadership development, and maintenance of our campus.
We further Christ's Kingdom as we set about increasing the "footprint" of Jesus Christ, and the influence of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in our community and our world. We seek to become a mission outpost, using our campus as a gathering place for outreach to the Baytown area and for activities furthering God's work, with an emphasis on building relationships with children, youth, and families in our community.
