What Makes Sierra Tick? #10

Our philosophy of ministry
by Paul Null, FormerTeaching Pastor

Our Vision for Ministry

It doesn't matter how many times I come around the curve on the way down from Echo Summit on Highway 50 and catch that first glimpse of Lake Tahoe. I am always touched by the majesty and beauty of this place where I am fortunate to live.

Statistics tell us that 20 million people get to see that view from one vantage point or another every year. There's no question about it, we are a recreational community, and millions of people come to Lake Tahoe every year from all over the world to hike and bike and camp and gamble and enjoy in one way or another the uniqueness of the place we call home.

And we stay for various lengths of time. Some come once, many come back. Lots come every year and some come every few months. 70% of the homes in Tahoe are owned by people who don't live here full time. And among those of us who do live here year round at least 30% move in and out every year. Needless to say, we are a very transient population and only a few of us call this home for any length of time.

We come to Tahoe for various reasons; some to start over; some to get out of the rat race; some to retire; a few because of job opportunities; most because of the beauty of the Lake and its environs. People make great sacrifices to live here. Many work at two or three jobs to survive. Survival here is not easy, but people continue to come and make their best effort, just to live in Tahoe. Those of us involved with Sierra Community Church have come to Tahoe for all the reasons mentioned above and more. Some of us brought our Christian faith with us. Lots of us met Jesus here in Tahoe. And, of course, we gather regularly to worship him, encourage one another and grow in our faith.

We are also aware that we live in a special place that provides a unique opportunity to represent Jesus to the many people who come our way. In a very real sense we can take the message of Jesus to the whole world without leaving town. We are aware that we do take Jesus into every nook and cranny of our community as we go about our daily lives. Some of us coach and participate in community sports; some work in the casinos and the many other entertainment and recreational forums that characterize our town; some are ski instructors and guides; some are in business; some are doctors and lawyers. Wherever we are and whatever we do we go out into the community with a sense of our mission___to provide a distinctive witness of the power and simplicity of the message of Jesus that welcomes everyone to hear and respond and become a growing member of the family of God.

But we also have a vision for ministry that goes beyond our witness in everyday life. Well aware of the unique opportunity provided by the millions of people who come and go through South Lake Tahoe every year we have a passion to reach as many of them as possible with the message that has made all of the difference in our lives. And so we are concentrating our time, efforts and resources on providing a "distinctive witness" designed to touch people where they live and recreate with the message of Jesus. Simply stated, Our vision for ministry is to prepare a congregation of 1000 committed, growing followers of Jesus by 2005 who are reaching into every part of the South Lake Tahoe area, making disciples of Jesus.

One example of the outworking of that vision is our annual Easter service. We host more than 1200 people in the Special Events Center of one of the local casinos and estimate that upwards of half of those in attendance are not connected with our fellowship. Some are just passing through. Some are local residents who would not come to a regular worship service. It is no exaggeration to say that we harvest fruit from that entry point all year long. Our vision involves expanding these kinds of outreach events to provide more gateways into the family of God.

Our passion to reach the unchurched with the message of salvation is also reflected in the style of our worship services. In short they are informal and contemporary. Without compromising our reverence for God or watering down the message of his Word we seek not to encumber those who come to Sierra with man made traditions, restrictions, or institutional structures that cloud the simplicity and purity of the message of Jesus.

Our vision for ministry is also reflected in the ministry choices of individuals in our congregation. Dave Beaty has been moved to begin an outreach and discipleship ministry at our local jail. Cindi Elias is involved in volunteer literacy training among our large Hispanic population. Mark Bartholomew and Sandy Hamm head up a ministry that provides a weekly hot meal for indigent people in our community. John Hulen and Rex McQuillen minister to those who have drug and alcohol addiction problems through Overcomers Anonymous. These and others like them in our congregation see themselves as part of a larger effort that reaches beyond the bounds of daily living and into the lives of people who need Jesus.

Do you share our vision for ministry? If you do we invite you to invest yourself and your resources in the unique opportunity God has given us to represent him through Sierra Community Church in South Lake Tahoe.

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