For any questions regarding Vision21, please email vision21@fbcrockhill.org.
INTRODUCTION
Why does First Baptist Rock Hill exist and what does God want us to do?
What is His vision for us?
Vision 21 answers these questions. It describes what our church will look like at the end of December 2021 as we fulfill God’s vision.
We Exist to... LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPlE, MAKE DISCIPLES
“Why” we do what we do is clear. We love Jesus and want to make a difference in people’s lives. We do this by helping people have a relationship with Jesus Christ that impacts their life both now and for eternity. This is their greatest need. It is also our purpose and mission as followers of Christ.
Our priority commitments for the next three years are to:
- Engage Lostness
- Grow Disciples.
- Strengthen Families
OUR CHURCH
It is December 31, 2021, and First Baptist Church is a vibrant, growing church with members from every generation who are actively engaging the lost in their families, our community and beyond. Baptisms and Sunday School attendance are at record highs and we are becoming more diverse ethnically and racially. Disciples of all ages are growing in Christ, excited about worship, serving in the church, and the community, praying for the spiritual and physical needs of others and generously supporting the ministry with their tithes. We have strong families with husbands and wives who love each other as Christ loved the church and parents who disciple their children. Our church provides the best ministry possible for every generation and also encourages families to worship, serve, learn, and play together. We demonstrate our love for the lost and saved by treating them at all times in keeping with the fruit of the Spirit and love as defined in I Corinthians 13.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
We have a list of Kingdom and community partners we support with money and volunteers for the purpose of changing lives now and for eternity. We strategically host community events and participate in other community activities off campus to engage with the people of our city. We have 100 members who regularly volunteer with one of our partners and we have 400 members who participate in at least one service project each year.
EVANGELISM
Because the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope of eternal life, we help each member of our church to be competent and confident to share their salvation story with the lost. We regularly provide our members with exciting and meaningful opportunities to invite their friends and acquaintances. Our guests feel welcome because we treat them with respect and serve them by having a first class welcome and assimilation ministry. We train our ministry leaders and those who serve on mission trips, in VBS, camps, and other large group activities to share the gospel.
NEW CHURCHES
We are advancing the Kingdom of God on earth beyond our local community by supporting three church plants with our money, prayers, and volunteers. We have relaunched one church and had 100 members participate in a mission trip or project to support these new churches.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Our Sunday School classes connect believers in meaningful relationships where they support one another, pray for each other, and stay in touch with each other. We know our classes are healthy because 1) each class is growing, 2) each class in our adult and youth divisions have at least one person come to faith in Christ and baptized each year, and 3) we have started 15 new adult classes in the past three years. Our Sunday School leaders and class members understand their roles and how they contribute to the overall health and growth of the church.
WORSHIP
Our worship honors Jesus, is grounded in His word, and touches hearts. The music and preaching demonstrate consistent quality, preparation, and commitment to reaching those we target in each service. Our 9:10 service targets those in the baby boomer and builder generations who prefer a choir and hymns. Our 10:30 service targets those in gen x, millennial and younger generations who prefer modern music and bands with a lead singer. We use the best talent in our congregation to accomplish this. People are excited about worship, arrive early and fill the front seats first.
FAMILY MINISTRY
Because strong families positively impact our community, church, and the kingdom of God; we value the home as a place of evangelism and discipleship. We consistently provide opportunities and processes for marriage enrichment and growth in relationship intelligence. We provide resources and training to help parents disciple their children, while also being a good partner by maintaining quality ministries and programs for every age group at the church. We provide opportunities for parents and children to serve, worship, learn, and play together. We encourage dads who are faithful followers of Jesus to assist with their children’s baptism.
PRESCHOOL, ELEMENTARY & YOUTH MINISTRIES
Each age level ministry is a place where children are safe and parents are confident their children are being nurtured in the faith. Using age-appropriate methods and materials, each age group is learning the Gospel and essential Bible stories, truths, and principles. Children are excited to attend and regularly invite their friends. We regularly see elementary children and youth come to faith in Christ and be baptized. Teenagers are confronted with the Gospel and the claims of Jesus’ Lordship in their life. We prepare older children and youth for the college years and beyond.
GROWING DISCIPLES
We have a defined path for new believers and new members to facilitate their connection with other believers and their spiritual growth. We track their participation on this path and communicate with them as needed to help them move forward. We have identified spiritual disciplines and behaviors that both facilitate and indicate growth as a disciple. We provide Biblical and practical training to help members develop and practice these disciplines and behaviors. The outcome is that members are able to spiritually feed themselves as mature disciples.
PASTORAL STAFF
Each member of our Pastoral Staff is fulfilling God’s call on their life as a New Testament Minister of the Gospel. We regularly share the Gospel with people in the community and help new disciples grow spiritually. Our spiritual and professional growth is evident in the church body. We lead out in our areas of ministry responsibility with a passion for evangelism, baptism, and connecting people to a Sunday School class. We make connections weekly with church members who are not part of our specific ministry for the purpose of prayer and encouragement.
FINANCIAL
We have paid the debt associated with our relocation, our ministries are generously funded, our members understand Biblical stewardship, our donor base is growing, and our budget is at a record high.
OUR NUMBERS
Sunday School attendance is at a record high with an average weekly attendance of 900. Each age division and class is growing. Baptisms are at a record high with 200 people baptized the last three years. Each adult and youth Sunday School class is seeing one person come to faith in Christ and be baptized each year. An additional 300 people have joined First Baptist by letter or statement in the past three years. Worship attendance now exceeds 1,000. Giving is at a record high with our budget being $3 million and our World Mission Offering is $150,000.