SENT Booklet by Valley Church

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19

WE ARE

RE SENT

This fall we celebrated 7 years together as a church community and if you had told me we would be at this point in our story, I’m not sure I would have believed you. We’ve come a long way and beat the odds. At every point in the road Valley has been a place of grace for all kinds of people and their stories. Our story has been filled with your stories. Stories of love and life-change, of tears and laughter with one another, of radical missions to the underdogs, of real and raw authenticity, and risk-taking next steps of faith in people’s lives. Great things have happened for God, for People, for a Change. And if we stopped there; that would be good. And we could celebrate. But forget the former things God says. So as we prayed about our future and Valley’s next steps we couldn’t shake God’s voice saying, “I want to do something new, but you have to think bigger and bolder.” Sent is about that. It’s about a BIG vision for mission, ministry and multiplication. It’s also about a home for our church, which is important for our next steps in this big vision. But, it’s important to remember that a building is not the focus OF ministry but a tool FOR ministry. This isn’t a building initiative, it’s a vision initiative. A building is just a place of grace for that vision to grow and have a face. Reaching more people for Jesus is the vision. And that matters. We are here, at this point and time in our story as a church, for a reason. And we get to be a part of it! Because, we know that God is crazy in love with people and the more people who know that; the more lives become filled with the hope and grace and love of Jesus. “You have to think bigger and bolder.” Because, when it boils right down to it, we don’t want to be a bunch of saved people, we want to be a bunch of sent people. Who send other people. Across the street. Across the city. And across the world. Buckle up and hang on! This is going to be an awesome ride. Go God! Matt

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sentâ&#x20AC;? is about three laser focuses. Three compelling challenges for our church. Three visions that converge into one calling and new thing. To be SENT.

SENT FOR MISSION: Since the beginning we’ve always said, “This isn’t about us.” We want to be intentional about that with our generosity and efforts. Over 2000 years ago Jesus and the early church did so much good with what they had, that it changed the world. We want to play our part in a radical and unheard of way. Putting others first and ten.

SENT FOR MINISTRY:

We can build a new building, but if we don’t have a healthy church to move into it we’re sunk. We’ve identified two key areas of ministry where we need to nurture and grow with laser focus and invest more resources and energy. It’s essential that we keep maintaining and growing what God has entrusted us with.

SENT TO MULTIPLY:

There should always be more room at the table of God’s grace. In our current leased facility that’s a challenge. A church home will help us widen and deepen the table so that we can be a place of Christ’s grace, hope, and love for more and more people. It will be a place to be equipped and sent from, to multiply our mission and ministry as we build the Kingdom with Jesus.

SENT FOR MISSION

In a radical step of generosity we want to â&#x20AC;&#x153;put our money where our mouth isâ&#x20AC;? and do something completely outside the box. Right off the top we will tithe and give the first 10% of what we raise to the following missions as we continue to partner with them in creative, hands-on ways:

The Diaper Store Ministry Allendale Public Schools Homeless Liaison Initiatives for students that are high need and high risk Green Acres Assisted Living Community Summer 2018 Adult and Student Ministries Mission Trips United Methodist Missions which helps fund things like UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and New Church development and initiatives across Michigan.

SENT FOR MINISTRY Being sent for ministry means we have to keep our ministries strong and growing. God has been doing amazing things through Valley and we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to stall and slow down due to a lack of things like staffing or resources. In the last three years weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown incrementally about 5% each of those years across the spectrum of ministry:

Worship Attendance Go Groups Church Wide Giving Volunteers Serving in Ministry Kids, Student, and College Ministries

Y We’ve identified two key areas of ministry that are vital to our church and our values. We need to nurture and grow these ministries with laser focus. The “Sent” vision will help us invest more resources, energy and focus. Valley Kids And Family Ministry - Fun, effective, practical, secure, and safe space for our growing Valley Kids ministry. No more three room juggling! We want our kids to have the space they need to grow and learn how to live for God, for People, for a Change too! Our kids, and their families, are too important not to invest in! We’ll also be positioned to respond to growing staffing needs. College ministry - Space for college students, college Go Groups and worship. Our land on 52nd Ave is practically next door to the growing campus and housing developments of GVSU. This gives us an amazing footprint and opportunity for effective campus ministry as we help college students live for God, for People, for a Change. We’ll also be positioned to respond to growing staffing needs.

SENT TO MULTIPLY A place of Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grace, hope, and love. A place for God, for People, for a Change. A place to be sent from.

*The colors represented are conceptual and will change by time of build

12,500 Sq. Ft. of simple, practical, and functional space On 6 acres of land 90 parking spots 240 seat worship space Kids, Student, and College spaces Welcoming guest space and Gathering Area

HOW WILL YOU RESPOND AND BE SENT?

1. PRAY:

Pray that your heart would grow more generous. Let your giving be an act of faith through the leading of God in your life. Seek God through prayer so that Jesus can begin a new thing in your life as he sends you head first into the SENT vision and initiative. Worship him for the grace he sends into your life each and every day. Surrender all you are and all you have to God to be part of something bigger than yourself.

2. REFLECT:

As you journey through prayer, and listen, we believe that God will speak to you. Use this journey and take the time to reflect on what God is saying to you. If you’re married talk together about where you sense God leading you. If you’re in different places, that’s okay. Keep praying and listening. To one another and to God. If you’re not married talk about it with some friends at church or some others you trust and value.

3. TAKE A BIG SENT STEP:

Discipleship and stewardship go hand in hand. You can’t truly live into one without the other. As we go deeper into our relationship with God we learn what it means to put him above everything else. It’s about a journey of trust. It’s about a journey of next steps. And we don’t grow without taking steps of faith. Growing in stewardship requires trusting in Jesus and giving what he has called us to give because we value him more than anything else.

GIVING GUIDE

Is money your God? Or is your money a tool for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kingdom? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big difference. The Sent journey helps our hearts, and our priorities, beat in sync with Jesus and his will for our lives. Each step of this journey represents growth in an intentional lifestyle of generosity and sacrifice built on the foundation of faith. We pray these steps will help you evaluate your spiritual growth. The Bible encourages us to grow in every area of our walk with Christ, including the grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7)

Rookie Giver:

This giver is someone who decides to either give for the first time or occasionally. They’ve decided to give and trust God and the leaders of the church with this gift.

Regular Giver:

This giver has decided to give on a regular basis. This requires some amount of focus and planning to set up a recurring gift online or through a check. It honors God with a sense of consistency and shows that giving is starting to become an important part of their faith.

Relational Giver: This giver no longer asks the question, “God, how much are you asking me to give?” They ask, “God, how much are you asking me to keep?” This posture is where Tithing starts and they release it for Kingdom work. A Relational giver makes a lifetime commitment to tithe 10% so God can help them live on the 90% that’s left. This is a relationship of trust with God. Relational giving helps govern his/her decisions on things like homes, cars, investments, purchases, etc.

Radical Giver:

This giver goes above and beyond the tithe. The radical giver asks questions like, “Does my generosity reflect the transformation Christ is making in me? Shouldn’t I be giving more to God than I give for my mortgage each month?” This is a radical and intentional choice that is “larger than anything else in their life.” This means they adjust every other expenditure and choice to meet that sacrifice and commitment for Jesus and his church.

SENT

THE TIME IS NOW TO BE To pray BIG and give BIG for a miracle. The big MIRACLE goal is to raise $380,000 over two years to accelerate the Sent Vision. This is a vision that is so big we can’t do it on our own. That’s why we’re excited. Because we don’t have to do it on our own! We can only reach it, and even surpass it, with God’s help!

NOVEMBER 19, 2017 - BIG GIVE SUNDAY! We will take a special, one-time, offering to collect gifts that will start us on the Sent journey and go towards the total goal. Our goal for this offering is $75,000. We’re praying this is the single biggest one-time offering in the history of our Church. We’re also praying that it’s the most radically, generous, one-time gift you’ve ever given to the work of God. In short, we’re praying for a God-Sized Miracle! We are also humbly asking you to make a Two-Year giving Commitment to the Sent Vision over and above your current regular giving. This will help us reach, or surpass, our overall total goal of $380,000 over the next two years. Next fall, of 2018, we also have the opportunity to apply for a potential grant that we’ve been recommended for. The “John C Lasko Foundation” helps promising churches that are in the process of moving towards a building. Grants from the foundation are exclusively for the construction and furnishing of a church’s “Worship Space.” For us, that could amount to the potential of a $500,000 - $600,000 grant! Here’s the big deal though; how we respond to Sent now will impact our chances then. They will want to see that we have “skin in the game” in a big way. The more generous we are now, and over the next year, the more likely they are to get behind us and award Valley a grant.

We’ve included a sample commitment card that you can begin praying over. You don’t have to fill this one out, because you’ll get a shiny new one on Big Give Sunday! We’ve also included a giving chart that gives you a snapshot of the number and dollar amounts needed to break through the miracle. Our hope is that it will challenge you and inspire you as you pray about how you are being sent to build the Kingdom of God.

BIG GIVE SUNDAY ONE-TIME GIVING CHART Gifts Needed

1 1 1 1 5 10 30 25

Gift Amount $ 50,000 $ 15,000 $ 7,500 $ 5,000 $ 2,500 $ 1,000 $ 500 $ 200

Gift Total $ 50,000 $ 15,000 $ 7,500 $ 5,000 $ 12,500 $ 10,000 $ 15,000 $ 5,000

SENT VISION TWO-YEAR COMMITMENT CHART Gifts Needed

1 1 2 10 25 20 10 10

Gift Amount

$ 15,000 $ 10,000 $ 7,500 $ 5,000 $ 3,000 $ 2,000 $ 1,000 $ 500

Annualy

$ 7,500 $ 5,000 $ 3,750 $ 2,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,000 $ 500 $ 250

Monthly

$ 625 $ 417 $ 312 $ 208 $ 125 $ 83 $ 41 $ 21

Commitment Total $ 15,000 $ 10,000 $ 15,000 $ 50,000 $ 75,000 $ 40,000 $ 10,000 $5,000

My Sent Commitment Generosity Goal: $380,000 Total $38,000 to be sent for mission $342,000 to be sent for ministry and multiplication

Name: Address: Phone: Email:

After prayerfully considering this vision and opportunity I/we commit to give a big one time gift of $____________ to start us, in a big way, on the “Sent” Journey In addition I/we will commit $____________/month, above and beyond my current regular giving, for the next 24 months of the Sent Vision.

The Sent Prayer

We go nowhere by accident. Wherever we go, God is sending us. Wherever we are, God has put us there. Jesus wants to do something through us, where we are. Believe this, live this, and be Sent in his Grace, Love, and Power. For God. For People. For a Change. Amen.

Message Notes Week 1