Vision 20/20

LOVE GOD | LOVE OTHERS | SERVE OUR WORLD

The vision of WBC is to teach and live out the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40, to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul and to love our neighbor as ourselves, equipping each other to Love God, Love Others, and Serve Our World. (Eph. 4:12)

Over the last two years the leadership at Waxhaw Bible Church has sought to refresh our purpose and direction. We are endeavoring to create a clear, focused purpose and vision, and we have spent a lot of time, energy, prayer, and planning to discover how God wants us to reach and transform lives in our area. Over the past year or so we have analyzed the changing demographics of the area. One thing is certain: the largest growth is in the range under 45 years of age. This group has some distinctions from their parent’s generation.

People in the age group 9 – 28 are called the Nexters; ages 29 – 45 are called Generation X. These two groups know a world quite different from the generations before them. Atari pre-dates them, as do vinyl albums. The expression "You sound like a broken record" means nothing to them. They have never owned a record player. The Vietnam War is as ancient history to them as WWI and WWII or even the Civil War. They have probably never dialed a phone. They have never heard a phone "ring”. There have always been PCs and Macs in homes and school. Computers have always fit in a backpack. For them music comes from an iPod or other mp3 players. They all have cell phones.

The Nexter Generation and Generation X have some additional distinctives. They are seeking relationship to meet needs. They value and seek out younger leadership. They are looking for a church where they are loved in spite of who they are; a church that can foster friendships and develop community. They want to do something for God. They take risks, and they want their church to take risks. They want a church where the older generations appreciate their contribution. They need discipleship. Their leadership abilities need sharpening. And this is where our mature believers of WBC play such a vital role. Just as Paul taught and trained Timothy and as Paul encouraged the mature women of the church to take the younger women under their wing we who are the mature believers will be called to mentor and disciple these younger ones. (Psalm 71:18)

We also see that most people who are over 45, who want to go to a church have probably found one. So to attract the un-churched in this age group to a relationship with God would require something different from what is currently available. To a greater degree, many in the Nexter generation and Generation X have never known of church or a relationship with God as part of their upbringing or family culture. This is discouraging news.

The Waxhaw Bible Church leadership feels it is time to adjust and to reach out to this very needy group of people in addition to continuing to disciple our current membership. We need you and your impact to accomplish meeting the needs of this unreached group of people. Over the next few months we will experience change. Change is good, especially when it is change that God is calling us to accomplish. Just a warning: sometimes change that IS good may not FEEL good at the time.

One change that we have already seen is the development of our Community Groups. We know that real life change happens when we are connected to other growing believers in a small intimate discipleship setting where we do life together, study the Scriptures together, cry together, laugh together and serve God together. Our desire is for everyone who is part of Waxhaw Bible Church to be involved in a Community Group. It is hard to have a meaningful relationship with 300 others, but it is possible to have a meaningful relationship with the 6 or 8 people in your Community group

I know that some of you are wondering about Sunday school and whether we are doing away with it. The not so simple answer is no. It is our desire to have every adult in a consistent discipleship program where they can grow in their relationship with Christ. Due to our lack of space on the church property and changing culture we cannot reach this goal solely on Sunday mornings. So you can say that our Community Groups are small Sunday school classes that meet during the week throughout our communities.

There is one pending addition that has been widely rumored for many weeks: Closing the Refuge and Saturday night at Waxhaw Bible Church. What are we planning? Why are we doing it? When will it start? Who will be involved?

Waxhaw Bible Church will initiate a new worship service specifically planned for the age groups described above. The service will be more casual, the music will be more energetic, while keeping the teaching part of the event the same. We will have opportunity to help even more in our community come to know the same Jesus that you and I love. In addition many of you work retail/shift schedules and can’t make our Sunday morning services on a consistent basis. The Saturday service will allow an additional opportunity for you to connect to our teaching and worship experiences.

It is our desire to possibly start at the end of April. Initially the participants will be people who currently attend Waxhaw Bible Church. Some may want to worship in a slightly different way. Some may just be curious. Shortly after it starts, you and I will invite new folks to come and join us on Saturdays.

So, we will close the Refuge starting on the same weekend that we start the Saturday night event. This will provide space for people on Sunday but requires us to look beyond where we are and plan for the future.

Using the Refuge requires a rigid time schedule on Sundays. When we close the Refuge we will have flexibility that we have not had within our services for several years. What does this mean for us? We will likely adjust the timing of each event (Saturday and Sunday) and perhaps in the order as well. It will mean a change in the music presentation and the teaching presentation. You have seen some of this starting already. This is quite exciting and quite important as we try to touch the Nexter generation and Generation X and continue to impact you and your family.

Psalm 79:13
But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

So, stay tuned! Don’t touch that dial. (What is a dial anyway?) Much more to come! Join us in praying. Get involved! This is exciting.