Our mission is encapsulated in one sentence: Derby Hill Baptist Church exists to worship God, grow in Christ, and minister to the world. In response to our being a church of Active and Mature Adults and in response to the coming "Age Wave" and to the felt leadership of God, we see our mission being conducted with a bold and somewhat cutting edge approach. We believe that God is calling us to invest ourselves, in the next five years and beyond, toward enthusiastically embracing reaching and ministering to Active and Mature Adults. Our ministry efforts will unapologetically focus on adults in the second half of life who are unchurched or disconnected from active church life. A secondary target group will be the grandchildren of the Boomer and Builder generations. Our key geographical ministry field will focus on, but not be limited to, the normal driving radius around our church location.
Encounter God
Worship services will be designed to help worshipers Encounter God by coming into His presence. Our approach to worship will be culturally relevant to our primary target group while maintaining a vibrant and joyful environment. The service will provide connecting points with the best of past worship traditions while remaining fresh with touches of new, creative formats. Participation will be valued, as will, Biblical preaching that focuses on applying God’s truth to life. Participants will be led to practice private spiritual disciplines and to cherish all of life as a worship encounter with God. We will actively seek to transition worshipers toward engaging the Word of God.
Engage The Word
Spiritual transformation requires that we purposefully Engage with the living and written Word. Transformation equals growth. "Growth in Christ is the process of understanding Christ, the ability to live for Christ, and a loving relationship with Christ and others." For growth to occur, we see Derby Hill providing a variety of opportunities to engage the Word through small groups, special studies, and a variety of training formats. Growth opportunities will apply God’s truth to the challenges unique to the second half of life. Teachers will be equipped to teach with excellence. We will tap into the felt need of Adults to continue growing intellectually and spiritually. By engaging the Word, we will assist persons to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives and to finish well the course of life. We will also be sensitive to the final years of life by assisting one another to get ready to enter the Lord’s presence. We will actively seek to transition learners toward serving others in Christ’s name.
Encore Ministry
With upwards to 18,000 adults age 55 and over living in a 5 mile radius of our church by the year 2011, we see a tremendous mission field. "We will reach out in service to believers and unbelievers with love, compassion, hope, and the Good News."
Our vision is not to "coddle" persons in the second half of life, but to lead them to experience Encore performances of service and outreach. We will help active and mature adults express their deep desire and need to be useful in their latter years by performing significant ministry to others. Actively serving God by serving others in Jesus’ name will help provide them a sense of purpose and life fulfillment. By actively reflecting the heart of God toward others experiencing life transitions, those who need the Lord will have their lives touched by His grace and eternal hope.
As Believers are transformed through encountering God’s presence in worship, engaging the Word of God, and experiencing encore performances of service and witness, we will actively seek to transition these maturing disciples into roles of greater leadership.
Our Legacy
Resulting from the fulfillment of this vision, we expect to see Derby Hill become a growing congregation numerically and spiritually. We anticipate every class room being utilized for ministry and the worship center holding multiple services.
We see the legacy of Derby Hill being one of changed lives, a community that has been enriched by Christ ministering through us, and a continuing presence within our field of ministry. Within five to seven years we anticipate assessing our legacy opportunities concerning our current location, a new location either as a relocation or in partnership with a new multi-generational church plant.
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