Overland Hills Church Mission, Strategy, Values & Vision

Before he left his followers, Jesus gave them a mission. He said, “Now as you are going, make disciples of all people, teaching to them all that I taught to you.” (Matthew 28:19-20, paraphrased) This mission is proof of God's eternal love (John 3:16) and is empowered by God’s Spirit. People clearly matter to God because his desire is that no one should be separated from him (2 Peter 3:9). This mission is our mission and it informs and guides everything that we here at Overland Hills Church.

Leading people to become fully-devoted to Christ is a process. Each element of this four-fold process is what Jesus accomplished with his followers two thousand years ago. Simply stated, his method is our method.

Jesus commanded his followers to pass on everything that he had taught them. (Matthew 28:20) In the Bible (God’s word) we discover everything we need to grow as Christ-followers. At Overland Hills Church we teach the importance of membership because the truths of God’s word are best reinforced through active participation in mutually dependant Christian community. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

A fulfilled Christ-follower is one that is fully participating in the mission of the Church using God-given gifts and abilities. This is ministry. Therefore we seek to equip each Christ-follower with the tools to understand and use his or her unique Spirit-given gifts. (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12) At OHC we encourage ministry participation as an expression of obedience to Christ.

Do the math! The hope for our community and the world is not a single person who wins people to Christianity rather it is an exponentially increasing army of devoted followers who reproduce their own discipleship in the lives of others. We recognize that a fully-devoted Christ-follower is also a disciple-maker. Therefore we lead people to become leaders who are not only rooted in Christ’s teaching but also the assurance that he would be present with them as they continued to carry out the mission.

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Mission, Strategy, Values, Vision		Our reason-to-be is biblically defined. Christ is our past; present and future. And as his Church we exist because of him, for him and to him.
Why do we exist?		Our Mission
		“Leading people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ”
		Before he left his followers, Jesus gave them a mission. He said, “Now as you are going, make disciples of all people, teaching to them all that I taught to you.” (Matthew 28:19-20, paraphrased) This mission is proof of God's eternal love (John 3:16) and is empowered by God’s Spirit. People clearly matter to God because his desire is that no one should be separated from him (2 Peter 3:9). This mission is our mission and it informs and guides everything that we here at Overland Hills Church.
How do we accomplish our mission?		Our Strategy
		Win-Build-Equip-Multiply
		Leading people to become fully-devoted to Christ is a process. Each element of this four-fold process is what Jesus accomplished with his followers two thousand years ago. Simply stated, his method is our method.
Win them over		How will people know about God’s love for them unless they hear about it and how will they hear unless we tell them? (Romans 10:14) Like Jesus did, we must do all we can to teach about and invite people to personally trust and obey Christ.
Build them up		Jesus commanded his followers to pass on everything that he had taught them. (Matthew 28:20) In the Bible (God’s word) we discover everything we need to grow as Christ-followers. At Overland Hills Church we teach the importance of membership because the truths of God’s word are best reinforced through active participation in mutually dependant Christian community. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
Equip them		A fulfilled Christ-follower is one that is fully participating in the mission of the Church using God-given gifts and abilities. This is ministry. Therefore we seek to equip each Christ-follower with the tools to understand and use his or her unique Spirit-given gifts. (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12) At OHC we encourage ministry participation as an expression of obedience to Christ.
Multiply them		Do the math! The hope for our community and the world is not a single person who wins people to Christianity rather it is an exponentially increasing army of devoted followers who reproduce their own discipleship in the lives of others. We recognize that a fully-devoted Christ-follower is also a disciple-maker. Therefore we lead people to become leaders who are not only rooted in Christ’s teaching but also the assurance that he would be present with them as they continued to carry out the mission.
What’s important to us?		Our Values
		These eight values motivate our mission, guide our strategies and empower our vision.
		We value... Prayer. It connects us to the heart of God. (Matthew 6:5-13) The word of God. It is wholly trustworthy, the final authority for what we believe and how we live. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 Authentic Worship. God desires it so we regularly offer it. (John 4:23 ) People. All people, they matter to us because they matter to God (2 Peter 3:9) Authentic Community. Life change happens when reinforced by mutual concern and accountability of a small group (Hebrews 10:25) Growth. It is evidence of individual and organizational health (Acts 2) Excellence. It honors God and inspires people. God gave his best and so do we. (Romans 8:32) Relevance. Art and technology are servants of our mission. Remaining faithful to the word of God we will use these to ensure that people hear and understand the message of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:22)
What do we hope to become?		Our Vision
		The Church is called to be visible, strong, unified and effective
		Jesus' teaching throughout the gospels gives us a picture of what the mission-focused church would look like. Our vision for OHC is Christ's vision for the church everywhere.
Visible		Jesus said, “You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14) Light is demonstrated by good works—love in action. The church that is visible must recognize that good deeds, the outworking of the character of Christ, ultimately help point people to God. Jesus vision for his followers was that they would be known and seen through their service to and love for others.
Strong		Jesus said “I will build my Church.” (Matthew 16:18) This same Word that established the universe calls us into existence as his people. Thus the church ought to be a thriving, life sustaining organism. The church ought to be organized, focused on its mission, reproducing itself over and over, increasing in influence and marshalling resources in order that it may successfully advance against the “gates of hell.”
Unified		Jesus’ prayer to his Father (John 17:20-21, 23) demonstrated his longing for unity among his immediate followers and all those who would subsequently come to believe through their message. That unity would be essential for mission success was demonstrated as he prayed, “That all of them may be one… so that the world will know that you have sent me.” We seek and protect the unity of the church because the mission depends on it.
Effective		Jesus commissioned his followers (Acts 1), sent the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) and the Church was born. The result was that “...the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47b) If we remain faithful to Jesus’ mission here at OHC, we too shall see that “the Lord adds to our number daily those who are being saved.”
overland hills church \| 707 gruenther road \| papillion, ne 68046 \| 402.331.3626 office@overlandhills.org