staying focused

STAYING FOCUSEDFirst Baptist Orange Park

September 16, 2007

VISIONVision brings your world into focus.

Vision brings order to chaos. A clear vision enables you to see everything differently.

- Andy Stanley

LIFE IS A JOURNEYEvery journey has a destination. We’re Every journey has a destination. We’re

not just along for the ride. We are on a not just along for the ride. We are on a mission. Our vision keeps us focused mission. Our vision keeps us focused on the mission and allows us to adjust on the mission and allows us to adjust as needed to make sure we reach our as needed to make sure we reach our destination.destination.

Remember the PurposeFirst Baptist Church is REAL!We exist to. . .• Reach our world for Christ• Enable people to grow, and be• Active in ministry, and to • Love God and others.

VISION BUILDS1. A vision begins as a concern.2. A vision does not necessarily require

immediate action.3. Pray for opportunities and plan as if you

expect God to answer your prayers.4. God is using your circumstances to

position and prepare you to accomplish His vision for your life.

5. What God originates, He orchestrates.

VISION BUILDS6. Walk before you talk; investigate before you

initiate.7. Communicate your vision as a solution to a

problem that must be addressed immediately.8. Cast your vision to the appropriate people at

the appropriate time.9. Don’t expect others to take greater risks or

make greater sacrifices that you have.10. Don’t confuse your plans with God’s vision.

VISION BUILDS11. Visions are refined – they don’t change; plans

are revised – they rarely stay the same.12. Respond to criticism with prayer,

remembrance, and if necessary a revision of the plan.

13. Visions thrive in an environment of unity; they die in an environment of division.

14. Abandon the vision before you abandon your moral authority.

15. Don’t get distracted.

VISION BUILDS16.There is divine potential in all you

envision to do.17.The end of a God-ordained vision is God.18.Maintaining a vision requires adherence

to a set of core beliefs and behaviors.19.Visions require constant attention.20.Maintaining a vision requires bold

leadership.

THE OPPORTUNITYGod has given our church a great

opportunity. Of all the churches in our city, I believe God has selected ours to move forward in very unique ways to reach and grow people as fully devoted followers of Christ.

GOD ORCHESTRATING THE PLAN

• “40 Days of Purpose” helps us solidify our purpose on the Great Commission & Great Commandment as well as show us the validity of home Bible studies.

• Upward Sports moves us into the community like never before.

• School adoption of Grove Park Elem.• Partnership with YMCA.• Leadership attends “The Present Future” conference.• Ed Stetzer speaks at FBCOP on becoming missional.• Fall Festival moves off campus to Grove Park Elem.• Participation in OP Town Fall Festival becomes

missional.


• Satellite Campus Ministry - church agrees early in 2006 to pursue this.

• Josh Dryer, Community Missions Pastor, called to coordinate and lead this effort.

• Bellair Campus opens Easter weekend 2006 at Orange Park Junior High with Josh Dryer preaching and Brian Beach leading worship.


• Slight growth occurs, but more importantly, ministry occurs in Orange Park Junior High and surrounding area: Super Bowl Outreach, Upward Flag Football, Upward Basketball, F3 Student Outreaches, School Faculty Ministry, etc.

• Saturday service moves to Sunday morning with intent of reaching more people.


• Josh Dryer was asked to coach basketball at Junior High.

• Community Bible studies and small groups develop: Starbucks on Blanding, Starbucks at Fleming Island, Beef O’Brady’s, Orion Fitness Center, home groups, etc.

• Core Group relations strengthen as team serves and worships together.

CHALLENGES• Worship Leader moves back to Texas.• New Worship Leader brought in and

stays a month.• No Worship Leader since Spring 2007.• Sunday worship time at Orange Park

Junior High not seeing significant, continued growth outside core group.


• Shared with the church in Spring 2007 to be praying and seeking a location near Fleming Island or other area where growth is happening to place another satellite campus.

• Josh Dryer meets with me (David) and shares his belief that if we truly want to be one church at multiple campuses that I need to be preaching the same messages at all campuses.


• Receive phone call from church member with connections at Swimming Pen Creek Elementary School. The church meeting there is pulling out.

• Josh meets with Assistant Principal and signs us up for using Swimming Pen Creek Elementary for a satellite campus.

CHANGE NEEDED1. Agreed that first step on this journey

needs to be to move our Bellair Campus from OPJH to Swimming Pen Creek.

• Growth potential• Those attending Bellair, for the most part, do

not live in the community. Those who do will be consulted.

• Equipment, resources and work plan already in place.

CHANGE NEEDED2. The next step was to determine how the

same messages will be preached at both locations.

Options: • One of our Associate Pastors preach at

satellite location.• DVD shown of previous week’s sermon from

Main Campus.• Pastor David preach at both locations.

CHANGE NEEDED3. Next, we must determine how I can be at

two locations on Sunday morning, in that Sunday is going to be the best time to offer for a new campus.

HERE’S WHERE IT AFFECTS EVERYONE

ANSWER• New Sunday schedule. . .

8:00am – Worship at the Main Campus9:00am – Worship at the South Campus

10:30am – Worship at the Main Campus

QUESTION“Why put a church at Swimming Pen Creek

Elementary School? Aren’t there enough churches in

that area?”

First BaptistMain

Campus

South Campus

SPC Elementary

South Campus

SPC Elementary

Numerous churches on

Fleming IslandFewer

churches west of

Swimming Pen

ANSWERWhat God originate, He

orchestrates.

He opened the door at Swimming Pen Creek and we

believe He is giving us an opportunity to trust Him.

QUESTION“Why have an 8:00am service

at the Main Campus?”

ANSWERWe believe there are some

who would rather attend worship service before

Sunday School. Also, this allows those who work on

Sunday or have other scheduled events to attend

worship service.

QUESTION“Will all three services be

identical?”

ANSWERYes and No.

Yes – the sermons will be identical at each service.

No – the music will differ.

ANSWER8:00am – Less music because

the service will be shorter. Singing will be led by the Worship Pastor and Praise Team with instruments, but not a full orchestra. There will be no choir at 8:00am.

ANSWER9:00am – The South Campus

will be a casual setting with more upbeat or modern music. This will be led by a band and worship leader. There will be no choir at the South Campus.

ANSWER10:30am – This service will be

like what we currently offer on Sunday mornings: Worship Pastor, orchestra, full choir, praise team, soloists, groups, etc.

QUESTION“How are you (David) going to

get to each service, safely and on time?”

ANSWEROne of our ushers will be

designated to drive me to the South Campus and back each

Sunday. The 9am and 10:30am services will begin

before I arrive.

QUESTION“What about Josh? Is he going

to preach anymore?”

ANSWERYou need to remember that it

was Josh who said “David, you need to preach at both

places,” so we are not pushing him out. In fact, his

role will increase.

ANSWERJosh will be coordinating all that occurs

at the South Campus.

Josh will also have opportunities to preach on Sunday mornings in the

future.

He will also be our Teaching Pastor at the Main Campus for our Sunday

evening Bible study.

QUESTION“What about Bellair? Are we

just leaving them?”

ANSWERAbsolutely not. The only thing

we are stopping at Bellair is the weekly worship service on

Sunday mornings. Our partnership with the school

and special events and Upward sports will continue.

QUESTION“What happens to the Sunday School at the Main Campus?”

ANSWERWe are going to offer Sunday Morning Bible Study (Sunday School) at 9:00am for all ages at the Main Campus. There will no longer be a 10:30am

Sunday Bible Study.

QUESTION“I thought we didn’t have room

to do all our Sunday Morning Bible Study at one hour?”

ANSWERWe didn’t used to, but the Spanish

church has moved their Bible Study time to another day during the week (before we knew about this new schedule). Now, there’s

room, but the reality is that some of you will be meeting in

different classrooms.

QUESTION“What type of Bible Study will

be offered at the South Campus?”

ANSWERWe plan to have a full preschool and children’s

program for Sunday mornings. For adults, we plan to offer home groups and other options for small

groups.

QUESTION“What campus is going to get

the most emphasis?”

ANSWERSimple – BOTH.

Here’s the reality: We cannot allow the ministries at the

Main Campus to suffer at all. We cannot afford to do

anything but our best at both locations.

QUESTION“I normally attend Worship and

then serve in our Preschool. Now, I don’t want to do that,

because I want to be in worship. How can I do this?”

ANSWERWe need our dedicated preschool

leaders for Bible Study at 9am.Parents must step up and serve in

ETC in their child’s class. If all parents did this, it would only be

once every two months or so that you’d miss worship.

QUESTION“Who’s going to lead worship

at the South Campus?”

ANSWERI believe we must hire a man

called in this area. I’ve already talked to our

Personnel Committee about this. We’re praying for

options.

ANSWERI believe so strongly in this that I will

not be taking any raise this year, neither will Stanley, to allow our

budget to remain the same and allow us to hire this man. I believe this

person will also serve our College & Single Adults. Therefore, he will be

the Worship Associate/College & Singles Pastor. Of course, the church

has to agree to this.

QUESTION“When will we begin the South

Campus?”

ANSWERThe plan is to have the first

public service on Easter 2008.

QUESTION“Why wait so long?”

ANSWERWe are not going to “rush the

fields” and wish we had planned better. This allows us time to pray and prepare ourselves as well as promote

to the community.

Aug. 2007 Sept 2007 Oct 2007 Nov 2007 Dec 2007 Jan 2008 Feb 2008 Mar 2008

Mar 2, 9 & 16

Bellair Campus attenders meet at South Campus to work out technical details before Easter.

Sep 16

New Year Summit where new schedule is introduced church-wide.

Present to SS teachers, key committees and deacons new schedule throughout month.

Aug 26

First look at what new schedule will do as we meet together at 10:30am for musical with no SS at 10:30am.

Mar 23 – EASTER

New service at South Campus begins at 9am.

Nov 4

SS Leaders Meeting with detailed plan distributed stating purpose, plan and schedule. Room assignments made at this time.

First Baptist Church Growth Plan 2007 - 2008

Dec 23 & 30

One worship service at 10:30am

Jan 6

New schedule

8am – Worship at MC

9am – SS at MC

9am – Worship at Bellair

10:30am – Worship at MC

6pm – Teaching at MC

QUESTION“How is this new ministry going

to affect me?”

ANSWEREvery First Baptist member

and attender will be affected. Our schedule will change.

Our focus will be refined. Our plan will be clearer.

QUESTION“Why do we need to do this?”

ANSWERThe Great Commission

The Great Commandment

QUESTION“What if I don’t like change?”

ANSWERYou run the risk of being left

behind. God did not place First Baptist Orange Park here all those years ago just to see it

come to a point of going through the motions. This is our calling.

We cannot miss this.

staying focused

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