Purpose and Vision

Mission Statement
We exist to make Christ known in Carlisle, Cumbria and the Borders, by raising up disciples in this and the next generation.

Core Values
(The guiding principles that express the way we fulfil our mission, & that govern our decisions, behaviour and relationships.)  We will seek to build a "GREAT" church by developing leaders who model, and encourage among our members:

Growth in discipleship each day by Bible application and dependence on the Holy Spirit
Relationships that are characterised by openness, honesty, joy, and generosity
Evangelism as a lifestyle through networks of friendships
Accountability through love, encouragement and sensitively challenging one another
Training to serve God and our community according to our gifts and to the best of our ability

Statement of Vision  (Our longer-term goal)
By 2014 we will be a church of all generations, where every member is on a journey of adventurous faith, expressing love upwardly to God, inwardly to one another and outwardly to our community. 

Building Community  as we encourage one another to be passionate for Christ.
"We'll be a network of friends, not just meeting-attenders, because we recognise we're 'Better Together'.  We'll accept people for who they are not just what they do.  As individuals, groups and a whole body - we will be a fluid army - flowing together and lighting up our City."  

 Growing in Christ-likeness as we train and develop wholehearted disciples.
"We'll be a body of people who are equipped and trained to serve Christ sacrificially in the world, taking initiatives, not simply responding to obvious needs.  Each of us will be given the tools to be disciples in our daily life and work, reaching out to people with Christ's love.  We will expect to see individuals whom we meet and serve miraculously transformed by the power of the gospel."

Reaching lost people through cutting edge social and evangelistic activities.
"We'll  be focussed on a small number of sustainable ministries, not duplicating what others are doing,  but partnering with those of like-mind, both locally and overseas.  We will share our evangelistic message by reaching out to people and meeting their needs, rather than expecting them to come to us."

Agreed areas for strategic thrusts:-

1. Transformational discipleship – we will develop an approach to discipleship that integrates with Sunday mornings and our midweek small groups, that transforms our membership and enables them to grow in Christ likeness.
2. Leadership training – we will develop an approach that equips leaders and deputies in every group and every department, that will enable effective multiplication. 
3. Healthy small groups - we will ensure that all our small groups are healthy and viable and demonstrate our core values.  We will build community by uniting people around our common vision. 
4. Youth – we will effectively equip our teenagers to be Pentecostal Christians in our increasingly secular society by the time they are ready to enter university or the workplace.
5. Social needs – we will research and identify specific areas of social need, in order to utilise our members' gifts and passions.

 Goals for Strategic Thrust Areas

Transformational Discipleship

• To establish a series of Spiritual Encounter events and run them annually from 2010.
• To have a clear and recognisable approach to discipleship for new believers, involving personal study, one to one mentoring, and supportive relationships through a small group involvement by Easter 2010.
• By September 2010, to have established a training programme for each of our ministry areas to introduce people and encourage involvement.
• To invite our membership to re-consecrate themselves to our vision every 2 years commencing at the Annual Fellowship Meeting in February 2010.
• By the Annual Fellowship Meeting in 2012, to have 90% of our membership committed to our Values and Vision and clearly demonstrating this upwardly, inwardly and outwardly.

 Leadership Training

• To train people in every group to sponsor newer converts and others in their group by the end of April 2010.
• To have an ongoing programme to train existing and potential leaders each year from September 2009.
• To establish a mentoring framework to facilitate ongoing development of mature Christians and encourage development of senior leaders by the end of 2010.
• To have effectively trained, developed and integrated 2 new Elders by January 2012.

Healthy Small Groups

• By September 2010, to have implemented an effective training approach for Christians transferring from other churches.
• By January 2010, to have communicated to leaders appropriate people to invite into their group.
• By September 2010, to have all group leaders and deputies adequately supported through zone supervision.
• By the end of 2010, to have seen decisions for Christ in every group through our Building Bridges strategy.

 Youth

• By September 2010, to have a new 5 year teaching curriculum to encourage spiritual growth, understanding of the Word of God, and the personal development of our young people.
• By September 2010, to have introduced basic training for those entering any area of youth work and children's work.
• By September 2011, to have a clearly communicated and ongoing training process (incorporating best practice) for all involved in youth work.
• By July 2012, to have a clear ministry development and training programme in place so that our young people are effectively released into ministry within the wider church.

 Social needs 

• By Easter 2010, to have a CAP Centre Manager trained and functioning.
• By April 2010, to have raised the profile of our outreach ministries so that all members are aware of the purpose and needs of each ministry.
• By April 2010, to have trained an adequate number of CAP Support Workers (with at least one in each community group) and have the CAP Centre given a regular profile in both small groups and Sunday services.
• By the end of 2010, to have a CAP Debt Advisor trained and functioning . 
• By the end of 2010, to have researched and resourced at least one other social outreach ministry and be ready to launch it at the start of 2011.