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Dear Calvary Family,

Last Sunday, we learned about the story of Jesus’ journey with two men as they walked on the way to Emmaus. I loved reading about the way Jesus talked with them and walked with them in the midst of their disappointments and even as they had no clue about who he really was! Within that message, I also began to reveal some new vision and direction that God has for Calvary Church.

We are calling all of this The Calvary Way - the way that God has led Calvary to go in this season of our church’s story, the way that God is leading us to disciple our people, and the way that we believe God will continue to make a huge impact in our neighborhoods and the nations through everyone at Calvary Church. Life with Jesus to Bless the World.

OUR MISSION: Equipping everyone for the adventure of life with Jesus to bless the world.

It all starts with life with Jesus. Life with Jesus is the most wonderful adventure any of us could ever experience! We long to truly be in relationship with him as our God, our Lord, our friend, and our King. This life with him includes talking with him, hearing from him, learning from him, and walking each day alongside him. Then that leads us to bless the world with the love and truth of Jesus as we make disciples and provide compassionate care and loving service to a world in great need. We haven’t had a Mission Statement in the past. This frames our way of thinking around equipping everyone to go and actively live the adventure of life with Jesus to bless the world. This is the paradigm for church ministry given by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:11-16.

OUR VISION: Calvary seeks to be a joyful church family that is better together, being changed by the Gospel to love like Jesus and reach the world across all cultures and generations.

This has been our vision for many years now and has some slight revisions to include being a joyful church family that seeks to reach the world with the love of Jesus.

OUR CALLING: Hear from God > Walk with Jesus > Live On Mission

Hear from God: Filled with the Spirit of God, we are called to a life of dependence as we pray together—abiding in Christ and being led by the Spirit, who aligns us with the way of Jesus and wisdom of God’s Word.

Walk with Jesus: Rooted in the Word of God, we are called to a life of discipleship as we grow together—sharing our reason for hope, making disciples, and loving like Jesus by giving away what we’ve received.

Live On Mission: Moved by the love of God, we are called to a life of impact as we serve together —being equipped to use our God-given gifts and bless the world with the love and truth of Jesus.

These three Calling Statements are the core around what our 40-Day Journeys will be based upon, to help equip you to live them out in whatever way God is calling you to do that in this season of your life. These Journeys will include 7 in-person gatherings around tables with 40 days of readings, prayer exercises, challenges, and experiences. These Journeys will prepare you with resources and relationships to go further together!

So how can you be part of it?

We want EVERYONE AT CALVARY to go through these Journeys and to then live out what God shows them through the process. But we mean literally everyone - young and old, new and long-time members, all languages, people in LifeGroups, people not in LifeGroups. All of us! The first Journey, Hear from God, will start in September. There will be much more information to come in the months between now and then.

This is just an introduction and providing you with a written form of what we talked about on Sunday. Please be praying for the impact that Calvary Church can make in your own life, in our church, and in the lives of people we interact with each day.

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Eric Wakeling