Mission Moves

I originally started this blog a few years back to promote the ministry values of a vision the Lord was giving me as the Lead Pastor of a large church. Now I'm shifting gears. These are still the values laid on my heart by God. He has helped me see that they are much bigger in my life than a vision for a church but for my entire life and ministry wherever God has need of me. I'm planning to use this blog to put forth my thoughts and ideas about ministry. I would enjoy comments and discussion. I will feature other writers from time to time. I've re-designed my original "TLC Cross" to convey those same values. the TLC Cross continues to serve the congregation where I originally worked with this mission vision. I've decided to leave my previous posts and the strategic plans that we developed because they are part of the history behind Mission Moves. I pray that God will direct my moves in the future.

Haiti Earthquake Relief

Have you wondered how you can make an impact in the Earthquake disaster in Haiti? Writing a check or making a donation is a wonderful way to help. I've learned that get "STUFF" to the victims is critically important. I'm learning valuable lessons about how the "STUFF" will make a strong impact for the poorest of the poor. Maybe that's why the Lord laid on my heart, a very physical response to our neighbors in Haiti. I really wanted an opportunity for people in our great community of Hudson to get up and do something to provide STUFF.

Trinity Lutheran church is teaming up with two LCMS churches in Florida to help the earthquake victims of Haiti. In partnership with LCMS World Relief and Human Care, the Florida-Georgia LCMS district and Cross International will be sponsoring a number of 40 foot containers shipped as soon as possible filled with relief supplies to Haiti.
They are collecting the following relief items:

• Bottled water
• Canned food with pop tops
• Peanut butter
• Rice
• Beans
• Dishwashing liquid
• Bed sheets
• Shovels
• Buckets
• Antibacterial ointment
• Band aids
• Washcloths
• Soap
• Good clean used clothing IF IT IS BOXED AND LABELED (i.e.; women's clothing, children’s clothing etc.) NOTE: Make sure clothing is boxed and labeled, we do not have volunteers available to box the clothing!!

You can drop off items at either Trinity Campus through the end of January.

For those of you who are not local but would like to help Trinity with this effort. There are financial needs for theis project You can mail your tax deductable contribution to...

Trinity Lutheran Church
1206 Sixth Street, Hudson, WI 54016

Write "Missions" in the memo line.

Or to make a contribution on line visit our website, http://www.trinityhudson.org/, click on "Giving", go to the online giving form, enter amount on the line marked "Special" and put "Missions" in the memo line.

Join us in growing a heart for "Global Compassion"!

The Main Purpose of Christian Worship Is to Receive God's Gifts

If you were to ask most people what "worship" is, they might say," Worship is praising the Lord" or "Worship is what human beings do to express their thanks to God" or "Worship is going to church," or something like that. While there is some truth to each of these answers, they do not adequately describe the main purpose of Christian worship.

The Lutheran tradition has a unique perspective on worship. We know that God's Word and His holy Sacraments are His precious gifts to us. They are the tools the Holy Spirit uses to give us forgiveness, life and salvation. The main purpose of worship is to receive these gifts from God. The Lutheran Confessions explain this truth as follows: "The service and worship of the Gospel is to receive good things from God" (Apology to the Augsburg Confession, Article IV.310).

When we worship at Trinity, God is present with us, His people, drawing us to Himself and giving us what we need so much--His mercy, forgiveness, love, joy, peace, power and comfort! The purpose of worship, therefore, is to be gathered by God around His gifts. This is the inspiration we talk about in our church values. We aren’t the inspirational ones, He is. He gives so much to us when we worship Him.

Hudson’s Missional Motivation

J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was an English missionary to China. He founded the China Inland Mission which at his death included 205 mission stations with over 800 missionaries, and 125,000 Chinese Christians. I have always admired Him and his story is an inspiration to everyone who wants to see the Gospel message reach those who are not yet saved. What motivates you to be a part of God’s mission? So far, in addition to planting two independent congregations (River Falls & Houlton) Trinity has two mission stations. Imagine having the passion of Hudson Taylor, here in Hudson, Wisconsin!
Hudson Taylor was interviewing some young people who had volunteered for the Lord’s service. He asked several practical questions to find out how well qualified they were for the life they were anticipating. “And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?” “I want to reach others across the sea because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature,” one replied. Another said, “I want to go because millions are dying without ever having heard of Jesus, the only One who can save them.” Others have similar answers.
Hudson Taylor looked at them thoughtfully for a moment and then said. “All of your motives are good, but I fear they will fail you in times of severe testing and tribulation—especially if you are confronted with the possibility of having to face death for your testimony. The only motive that will enable you to remain true is stated in II Corinthians 5:14. “For the love of Christ compels us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all…”
Hudson’s missional momentum will keep us on the move in Hudson, Wisconsin and across the world. Our goals for Trinity all begin with the motivation of God’s love. Check out Goal #6 from the Strategic Plan!

Missional Momentum

• Goal: The love of Christ compels us to utilize and leverage all our resources to effectively move forward on a daily mission to love God and others.



• Objective: Trinity balances the ministries of program and provision under a single vision with an effective organizational structure for leadership and ministry.

It might interest you to know that Trinity’s leadership team is working very hard on all our goals. Goal # 6 is critical to keep us moving. But, without God’s love, all our best resources would accomplish very little. In the face of any and every hardship we must be compelled by His love.

Grow Faith & Show Love

Recently I was prayerfully meditating on Trinity’s call to Love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind; and love our neighbors as ourselves. As you are probably aware, our staff and leadership team has been promoting our mission with the ministry logo that we call the TLC Cross. We’ve been busy making plans and setting goals with this ministry in mind. We want to fulfill the vision of “reaching out daily with a growing heart for heaven, home, and humanity near and far.” In order to do that, I’d like to encourage you to see the two stretching directions of the TLC Cross. We want Trinity to serve you and your family by being a wonderful place to grow faith. We want to make it a place where your personal life finds greater faith and love through the worship of our wonderful Lord and Savior. We want to support the foundation of faith for all of God’s people regardless of age or course of life. We want to come along side faith-filled parents and be a blessing to their homes. God desires our growth in faith, love and trust. 2 Peter 3:18 says, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
The other stretch that we want to make is to show love. We want Trinity to be a place where you can personally become involved in showing the world what it means to have the love and joy of Jesus Christ alive in your heart. We want to provide opportunities to connect to our community in meaningful ways that bless the Hudson area and those who we brush up against in everyday life. We want to be a church that shows love to people in faraway places too. That’s why we send people from our own congregation to serve as short-term missionaries to places that need compassionate Christian care. That’s why we support long-term missionaries like Pastor Jacob Gillard in Uganda. God desires that His people show love to the world, Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16.

God wants to teach us how to touch the world with His love and grace. May I invite you to join the mission? Trinity will work together as one family in Christ to grow faith and show love.

Mission, Vision, Values: A Statement of Purpose

Trinity Lutheran Church
Hudson, Wisconsin

Mission:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

Vision:
“Trinity is reaching out daily with a growing heart for heaven, home, and humanity near and far.”

Values:
· Missional Momentum
· Personal Transformation
· Inspirational Worship
· Foundational Faith
· Relational Connection
· Global Compassion

Statement of Purpose:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) These words of our Lord Jesus, by His own admission, formulate the “Greatest Commission” and serves to inspire us as our mission. We believe that Trinity exists to love God and to be a vessel of His love to others by means of faithful Christian ministry. This mission has given birth to our congregational vision. “Trinity is reaching out daily with a growing heart for heaven, home, and humanity near and far.” Our model for ministry is the practical application of this vision, expressing itself under six core values.
· Missional Momentum
· Personal Transformation
· Inspirational Worship
· Foundational Faith
· Relational Connection
· Global Compassion

Ministry Priorities

Personal Transformation

Goal
The love of Christ compels us to be a vessel that God uses to transform lives so that we love God and others, faithfully reaching out in ministry.

Objective
Trinity Lutheran Church nurtures an environment that connects and keeps people engaged and growing in faith and service to others.
· Small Groups
· Daily Time with God
· Bible Study
· Sacraments

Inspirational Worship

Goal
The love of Christ compels us to reach up to God in relevant worship that glorifies God and invites Him to inspire a greater love for Him and others.

Objective
Trinity Lutheran Church cultivates a lifestyle of worship that focuses on prayer, praise, and thanksgiving to God.

· Prayer Ministry
· Worship Gathering
· Thanksgiving

Foundational Faith

Goal
The love of Christ compels us to plant the seed of faith, equipping the generations with a firm foundation in God’s Word and love.

Objective
Trinity Lutheran Church educates and supports individuals and families as they grow in a living, saving faith.

· Generations
· Home
· Education

Relational Connection

Goal
The love of Christ compels us to intentionally reach out to those near us through relationships that demonstrate His love and serve the needs of a broader community.

Objective
Trinity Lutheran Church pursues partnerships that facilitate hospitality, care, and evangelism.

· Evangelism
· Strong Community Relationship
· Hospitality
· Care

Global Compassion

Goal
The love of Christ compels us to reach out, with compassion, to the world to proclaim the saving Gospel and heal the broken.

Objective
Trinity Lutheran Church instills and cultivates, a passion for global ministry through communication, education, and participation.

· World-Mission Communication
· World-Mission Participation
· World-Mission Lifestyle

Missional Momentum

Goal
The love of Christ compels us to utilize and leverage all our resources to effectively move forward on a daily mission to love God and others.

Objective
Trinity Lutheran Church balances the ministries of program and provision under a single vision with an effective organizational structure for leadership and ministry.
· Vision
· Leadership
· Provisional Plan