Vision involves mapping the future, which is easier said
than done! Mapping the past is like charting fixed points
on land. We can even show you pictures of our past (like
each location used for NBLC worship since our beginning
in 1999!)
Mapping the future is like mapping the ocean’s surface—it
is always changing. Looking through our Vision
Framework, NBLC sees God’s kingdom growing among
us and beyond us.
Our Vision statement begins this way:
"We see thousands of people connected to Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament at NBLC …"
Our Vision statement begins this way:
"We see thousands of people connected to Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament at NBLC …"
We continue to see God bringing people to faith and
renewing personal lives and families. God is blessing our
congregation to be a blessing to our community and world
with the gifts we have received. God has blessed us from starting in a living room to our
current campus so that we can equip God’s people for
works of service (Ephesians 4:11-12) back in living
rooms, driveways, and other meeting places! We’ve seen
hundreds of people baptized and cannot wait to see what
God does as we grow in His Word and join Jesus in His
mission!
Baptized believers are all ordained by God to share the reason for the hope they have. We simply do this by looking for where God is at work, listening to Jesus through His Word, befriending others, and looking for how we can do good through actions and prayer. These simple practices are explained in detail in a two-book series by Greg Finke called, Joining Jesus. When God’s people let the Holy Spirit do His part and we just do our part, the world will not be the same.
Baptized believers are all ordained by God to share the reason for the hope they have. We simply do this by looking for where God is at work, listening to Jesus through His Word, befriending others, and looking for how we can do good through actions and prayer. These simple practices are explained in detail in a two-book series by Greg Finke called, Joining Jesus. When God’s people let the Holy Spirit do His part and we just do our part, the world will not be the same.
Our Vision statement continues with the following:
"… catalyzing partnerships to plant churches that reach hundreds-of-thousands of people LOCALLY …"
What is the fruit of an apple tree? The fruit of an apple tree is not just apples, but an apple orchard. Apples have seeds that are meant to grow into more trees. If an apple tree were left alone, it would produce an apple orchard—not just apples. We need to think in the same way about churches.
What is the fruit of a church? You may think the answer is more disciples. After all, churches tell people about Jesus and many of those people will become Christians, right? True, but think bigger! More Christians make more churches possible. After all, that is what happened with New Beginnings. Aren’t you glad some Christians at another church planned to start our church? They knew that "Different churches reach different people."
There are so many people who don’t go to church. These people don’t know it, but they are going to fall in love with the next church NBLC starts in their town—just like you’ve fallen in love with New Beginnings. Start praying for this, ok?
"… catalyzing partnerships to plant churches that reach hundreds-of-thousands of people LOCALLY …"
What is the fruit of an apple tree? The fruit of an apple tree is not just apples, but an apple orchard. Apples have seeds that are meant to grow into more trees. If an apple tree were left alone, it would produce an apple orchard—not just apples. We need to think in the same way about churches.
What is the fruit of a church? You may think the answer is more disciples. After all, churches tell people about Jesus and many of those people will become Christians, right? True, but think bigger! More Christians make more churches possible. After all, that is what happened with New Beginnings. Aren’t you glad some Christians at another church planned to start our church? They knew that "Different churches reach different people."
There are so many people who don’t go to church. These people don’t know it, but they are going to fall in love with the next church NBLC starts in their town—just like you’ve fallen in love with New Beginnings. Start praying for this, ok?
Our Vision statement concludes this way:
"… catalyzing partnership to plant churches that reach hundreds-of-thousands of people locally and GLOBALLY!"
Believe it or not, billions of people alive today have little opportunity to hear the message of Jesus Christ. While few of us in North America can drive to the store without seeing numerous churches, there are whole people groups in the world who haven’t a single church among them. These people are considered "unreached people groups," because less than 2% of their population is Christian. That is why the Tian Shan Mission Society was formed (NBLC is a member of this mission society) and why our friends have been sent to Central Asia: to start church-planting-churches among the Dungan people.
The 10/40 Window
The majority of the unreached people of our world live in a rectangular-shaped window! Often called "The Resistant Belt,” the window extends from West Africa to East Asia, from 10o north to 40o north of the equator. This specific region, which has increasingly become known as The 10/40 Window, encompasses the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists—billions of spiritually impoverished souls.
"… catalyzing partnership to plant churches that reach hundreds-of-thousands of people locally and GLOBALLY!"
Believe it or not, billions of people alive today have little opportunity to hear the message of Jesus Christ. While few of us in North America can drive to the store without seeing numerous churches, there are whole people groups in the world who haven’t a single church among them. These people are considered "unreached people groups," because less than 2% of their population is Christian. That is why the Tian Shan Mission Society was formed (NBLC is a member of this mission society) and why our friends have been sent to Central Asia: to start church-planting-churches among the Dungan people.
The 10/40 Window
The majority of the unreached people of our world live in a rectangular-shaped window! Often called "The Resistant Belt,” the window extends from West Africa to East Asia, from 10o north to 40o north of the equator. This specific region, which has increasingly become known as The 10/40 Window, encompasses the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists—billions of spiritually impoverished souls.
The Great Commission
New Beginnings is convinced that Jesus commissioned us to make disciples of all people groups, both locally and globally (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Therefore, our church is committed to raising up prayers, people, and finances to reach the unreached—especially the Dungan. Yes, this means church planting globally! Technically, we do not "support our friends," but we support mission work to reach the Dungan. Eventually, we may support other missionaries—maybe even from New Beginnings (maybe you?)!
The Tian Shan Mission Society
If it were not for the TSMS, our friends would not be in Central Asia. The purpose of the TSMS is to mobilize prayer, finances, and people with the vision of planting reproducing churches among the Dungan people. TSMS was started by three LCMS churches: Our Savior’s Community in Palm Springs California, Mount Olive in Milpitas California, and Good Shepherd in Honolulu Hawaii. New Beginnings joined the TSMS in 2004, not only to support our friends, but to "mobilize prayer, finances, and people with the vision of planting reproducing churches among the Dungan." We at NBLC have done much more than adopt a missionary family— we have set out to do what it takes to see a thriving church among the Dungan. Pray for our increased involvement in the TSMS when you pray for our friends.
New Beginnings is convinced that Jesus commissioned us to make disciples of all people groups, both locally and globally (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Therefore, our church is committed to raising up prayers, people, and finances to reach the unreached—especially the Dungan. Yes, this means church planting globally! Technically, we do not "support our friends," but we support mission work to reach the Dungan. Eventually, we may support other missionaries—maybe even from New Beginnings (maybe you?)!
The Tian Shan Mission Society
If it were not for the TSMS, our friends would not be in Central Asia. The purpose of the TSMS is to mobilize prayer, finances, and people with the vision of planting reproducing churches among the Dungan people. TSMS was started by three LCMS churches: Our Savior’s Community in Palm Springs California, Mount Olive in Milpitas California, and Good Shepherd in Honolulu Hawaii. New Beginnings joined the TSMS in 2004, not only to support our friends, but to "mobilize prayer, finances, and people with the vision of planting reproducing churches among the Dungan." We at NBLC have done much more than adopt a missionary family— we have set out to do what it takes to see a thriving church among the Dungan. Pray for our increased involvement in the TSMS when you pray for our friends.