VMV Overview: Introduction

Chinese Evangelical Free Church, Los Angeles

Multiplying Spiritually Healthy Homes……
Pastor Sam Lo, Richard Lew, Alan Tang
VMV stands for Values, Mission, and Vision. The Evangelical Free Church of America,EFCA, our denomination, has established an effective approach to multiply healthy churches through discovering a church’s values, mission and vision. CEFC adopted this approach to renew our church in August 2004.
Values are the basic attitudes, choices, and assumptions embraced in the heart and soul of a congregation that tell us who we are and why we do what we do. Values motivate members to engage in the church’s Mission, a directive based on the Great Commission of what we should be doing in our church. This mission is realized in a shared Vision, a clear, compelling picture of the future that shows us what kind of church we would like to be.
As we survey forty years of CEFC’s history and consider future opportunities, we’re blessed and thankful to God for His mercy and faithfulness. We began as an immigrant family church embracing our own culture and language. Now we have grown to have three languages and three generations of members, from babies to seniors. CEFC has been and will remain committed to a full range of children, youth and senior ministries. We are mindful of our Chinese heritage as a gift from God which enables us to effectively evangelize people akin to us. Yet, though we call ourselves a Chinese church, we desire to serve all since our call to reach our neighbors and world is strong.
Our founding members, now in their sixties and seventies, should take the lead in focusing on the next generations, building them up along the five themes of a Purpose Driven Life that we embraced during the 40 Days of Purpose: Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and Evangelism.
Christ’s love is the lifeline that interconnects our diverse, three-language ministry (Eph. 2:14) so that we can live together in unity (Ps. 133:1). God’s household is our model (Eph 2:19- 22). His Grace energizes and empowers us to serve Him together as one body, a family of families. Therefore, we are enabled and charged to multiply spiritually healthy homes for all in our local Chinese community.

With this family focus, we will minister together with a more integrated approach to the whole family and regularly evaluate our ministry to see if we are consistently living out our shared values, mission and vision. We hope that aligning our ministries in a unified purpose will streamline and integrate our ministry and better allow the pastors to spiritually nurture, guide, and equip members for God’s glory. Likewise, CEFC’s Board will refocus both their efforts and structure to better fulfill the vision. In addition, much effort, understanding and commitment is needed from every member and more forums are planned to facilitate communication. We propose to you, firstly to understand the spiritual significance of our values, mission, and vision and live them out consistently; and secondly to vote with understanding and commitment in the November general meeting whether or not to authorize the one year churchwide VMV process as detailed below:

“Why do we do what we do?” – We Value…
…The Word of God transforming our character
…Families growing and experiencing God in worship together
…Relationships growing in love to better represent the Body of Christ
…God’s gifts being fully used to build up His Church
…Believers aiming to share the Gospel in every way locally and abroad

“What are we supposed to be doing?” – Our Mission is…
…Multiplying spiritually healthy homes among Chinese and non-Chinese people, locally and abroad

“What kind of church would we like to be?” – Our Vision

Families of different Chinese cultures and generations in our community know about, recommend to their friends, participate actively in and become committed followers of Christ at CEFC because:

  1. Children in the community experience God’s love, learn the Bible and grow to love and respect God and others;
  2. Youth in the community grow emotionally and spiritually through Biblical teaching, prayer, fellowship and discipleship into Christian leaders that champion the Gospel;
  3. Seniors with their life experience are models to the young of an active and growing faith in their “second half” of life; their tenacity in growing older deepens our understanding of deliverance in salvation;
  4. The next generation is nurtured to discover, grow and fully exercise their giftedness; they are given both the support and space to develop and find an identity of its own even to the extent having satellite ministries and planting churches;
  5. Singles experience the community of a Christian family that shapes their character with the Word of God and equips them to better represent Christ in their families;
  6.  Marriages grow in strength and intimacy because they grow together in intimacy with Christ;
  7.  Parents in the community develop in raising their children and model a lifestyle of worship through prayerful support, Biblical guidance, and Christian fellowship;
  8. The deepest hurts and needs of individuals and families are met with Christian care that is sensitive to a Chinese context;
  9. The Holy Spirit’s transforming presence in our lives empowers us to touch with the Gospel and grow in Christ-like love for our non-believing family members, friends, coworkers and neighbors;
  10. CEFC continues to grow as a multiplying church, touching and transforming the lives of families in our community, nurturing Christian leaders, and sending them out locally and abroad to champion the Gospel among all people.

Each person’s duties in the one-year VMV process are:  

  • Evaluate one’s life and/or ministry in terms of their own core values and gifts as well as the church’s values and mission in worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism in the context of a family ministry 
  • Communicate with each other and the church of discoveries and insights of the above. 
  • Encourage each other in living them our values consistently

The church’s duties in the coming year are: 

  • Put specific focus on missional ministry, serving families and the surrounding communities through ministries in different languages, age groups, careers, culture, etc. 
  • Assist individuals and ministry teams as well as potential ones to identify their values, mission and vision, relate them to the church’s mission, and support and equip them in living it out. 
  • Communicating our values, mission and vision clearly as vital to our church health, because unity is accepting diversities in understanding and compassion.

The components in the VMV process are:

  1. The Proposed Governance Chart and the Interim Constitution – A structure to clarify leadership roles and how they interrelate to empower a team approach to family ministry
  2. The Ministry Handbook – A ministry guide to enable members to initiate meaningful ministries based on their giftedness, and for leaders to reaffirm and refocus existing ministries so that all the efforts of our church body aim and grow together toward a common purpose.
  3. The VMV Evaluation Chart – Spiritual health is built up over time by periodic reflection on our values, mission and vision and whether individually and corporately we are consistently living out our convictions.
As this is a journey we’re embarking on, course adjustments will be made as necessary throughout the year. The Church leadership shall consider establishing a group to evaluate and document the progress, effectiveness, successes and difficulties in the VMV process for an annual report. Every summer retreat might be a good time for reflecting on our year’s ministry, evaluating our progress in our mission, and focusing on the upcoming year. The respective Board committees and pastoral team are responsible to make sure that any repeatable successful experiences are applied to the Constitution or bylaws as appropriate and that barriers are identified and overcome. (See Dr. Hamel’s editorial in “Overcoming Barriers” EFCA Today, Summer 2006).
The ultimate result is that our vision of a growing, healthy church for families be fulfilled, following our constitution and by-laws and testifying that God is with us all and always.

 

 

價值使命異象總觀﹕導言

羅省華人播道會

讓福音興起眾多中外基督化健康的家庭
盧乃明牧師, 劉海泉傳道, 鄧植鑾傳道
VMV意即價值 (VALUES), 使命 (MISSION), 及異象 (VISION). 美國播道總會建立了一個有效的方法, 幫助教會貫徹始終地尋索並活出會眾認定的價值，使命，和異象, 使教會不斷健康增長。羅省華人播道會在2004年8月循著這個方向來更新我們的教會.
價值是會友心靈擁有的基要態度，選擇和假設, 表徵我們的身分和作事的原則. 價值激發我們去實行出教會遵隨主的大使命. 從而實現了我們共享的異象 - 就是大家清楚又迫切達成的教會的景象.
當我們回顧教會四十年的歷史, 且體會現今和將來的機會, 蒙福中我們感謝神的憐憫和信實.開始時是由移民家庭組成, 我們有自己的文化和語言. 目前我們增長到了一個用三種語言, 從嬰兒到年長, 有三代會員的教會. 我們一向重視兒童- 青年 - 年長 連線的事工. 以後亦努力不懈. 我們珍惜中華文化, 認為這是神給我們的禮物, 可以助長我們更有效的傳福音給同根人士. 我們雖是華人教會, 但我們竭力關心所有遠近的人群.
我們的創會會員不少已是六、七旬的長者, 他們願意帶領教會集焦在下一代, 著意在他們崇拜, 門徒訓練, 團契, 及傳福音, 各項事工中提拔人才.
基督的愛是我們的生命線, 貫通我們多元性事工與生活，以致我們能活在一起, 享受合而為一的神家, 即我們家庭的典範 (以弗所書 2:14；詩篇 133:1; 以弗所書 2:19-22). 神的恩典, 權能推動我們共同事奉, 承擔責任在本地的華人社區而至海外，滿有基督屬靈健康的家庭.
以這個焦點 - 以整個家庭的事奉單元, 來結合共識, 以眾家一體同心的教會, 連貫地活出共享的價值, 使命, 和異象. 以經常評估和校正, 統一事工方向. 以整合簡化事工, 可讓教牧同工有更多精力於栽培, 引導和裝備會員去榮神益人. 教會的執事會亦將按照所定的使命與異象, 作出工作任務的調整, 和結構的修改. 進一步來說, 藉每一個會員的更多的努力, 理解和委身是必要的. 在未來數月教會會安排更多大家溝通及商討的機會.
我們建議, 首先你要了解整體的價值, 使命, 和異象在屬靈上的意義. 也願意貫徹地將它們活出來. 其次就是以瞭解和投入的心態, 在十一月的會員大會中來決定是否教會在明年先實行一年VMV更新計劃. 這計劃的重點如下.
價值使命異象總觀﹕價值, 使命, 和異象的說明

“為什麼我們如此生活 ?” -- 我們珍惜價值……

…以神的話語更新轉化我們的品格
…以整個家庭崇拜不斷經歷神成長
…以愛中關係增長見證基督的身體
…徹底地應用神的恩賜以建立教會
…信徒在當地或在國外隨時傳福音

“我們必須如何地生活?” -- 我們的使命是…

… 讓福音興起眾多中外基督化健康的家庭

“我們愛慕作個怎樣的教會?” --我們的異象是……

所有在我們社區的華人家庭, 不管文化和年紀或其他的異同, 能明白福音, 也活躍的推薦給親友, 又委身跟隨耶穌基督. 因為:

  1. 孩子們在我們的社區中, 能夠經歷體驗神的愛, 研習聖經, 也在長進中榮神益人.
  2. 青年人領先高舉福音, 得以透過聖經的教導, 祈禱, 團契, 和門徒訓練, 在感性靈性上的成長, 勝任成為帶領者.
  3. 年長的以他們老練的生命經歷成為年輕人的模範角色. 在 金色年華仍滿有活力的學習和長進. 他們老而堅的精神, 足以深化我們對福音釋放大能的認識.
  4. 下一代得到充足的栽培去發掘，增長和完全的應用他們的恩賜. 讓他們有足夠的空間和支持, 甚至發展出在教會之外, 有自己特色的事工, 例如植堂工作.
  5. 單身者在我們的社區, 能經歷到基督家庭的溫暖, 藉神的話語, 陶養成有基督樣式的性格, 在家中見証基督.
  6. 已婚者在共享基督和彼此密切的關係中, 不斷的在愛中成長.
  7. 父母們在崇拜, 祈禱, 讀經, 和團契生活中長進,以身教作榜樣養兒育女.
  8. 個人和家庭在傷疼中, 能得到主裡彼此照料.
  9. 藉聖靈的更新, 使我們生命得力去傳揚福音, 以基督的愛來接觸未信的家人, 朋友, 及同事或鄰居.
  10. 教會不斷的成長, 接觸和更新轉變社區中家庭的靈命. 培養基督教領袖和差派信徒, 在當地或去國外, 向多人傳揚福音.
價值使命異象總觀﹕邁向屬靈健康的家庭

在來年更新過程中每一個會員的責任是:

  • 省察自己及關心的事工, 從崇拜, 團契, 門訓, 事工, 傳福音的五個角度, 以家庭一份子的身份, 衡量自己的和教會的價值取向和使命（差傳事工）.
  • 參與個人彼此及教會層面的討論和交通, 分享以上得到的體會和洞察力.
  • 互相鼓勵去貫徹地活出各人和集體擁有的價值和使命.

教會的責任是:

  • 在不同的語言, 年齡, 職業, 文化等等各樣事工, 把焦點對準具體的家庭和鄰近社區的差傳工作.
  • 幫助個人和各事工團隊(包括將要組成的), 去鑒別他們的價值,使命, 和異象. 以教會的取向的價值,使命, 和異象, 支持和裝備他們活出來.
  • 確信價值, 使命, 和異象的清楚傳達對教會的健康非常重要, 因為合一乃是以瞭解與衷誠去接納差異.

組成價值使命異象更新過程的文件是:

  • 教會管理模式圖(建議)和臨時憲章 - 這結構將會澄清領袖角色, 家庭事工, 責任及相互之關連.
  • 事奉團隊手冊 - 使會員能夠按照他們的恩賜, 開創有意義的事工. 現存事工/小組可與帶領的同工, 以教會既定目標, 同證其繼續的意義或商討適當改革.
  • 價值使命異象VMV評估圖 - 周期性的反思在個人或團體的價值, 使命, 和異象. 又比較/ 評估與實際生活差距, 能助長屬靈的健康隨日而增.
價值使命異象VMV是個旅程, 需要不斷的調整. 在此期間教會考慮成立專案小組, 按照需要評估, 調整, 和記錄進度. 有成效及困難的過程可登記在年度報告. 每一個夏天退休會是最合適的時候去反思一年的事工.
個別執事委員會和教牧同工, 負責鑒定可重復的成功經歷, 應用他們在憲章或規章的重訂.
障礙也要鑒別和記錄, 以作日後借鏡(參閱Dr. Bill Hamel“克服障礙”社論, editorial in “Overcoming Barriers”, EFCA TODAY, Summer 2006).
最終的目的是我們的異象, 可藉著遵守憲章及規則, 有條理的成為一個服侍家庭的健康教會. 證實神是常常與我們同在.
讓福音興起眾多中外基督化健康的家庭
價值使命異象