Mission Statement

The first component to bring the vision of transforming lives to fruition is our mission statement, "Be on Mission". This simple but profound statement derives from the last words of Christ to His church as He was ascending into Heaven. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8 ESV). The word witness comes from the Greek word martyreó which means "bearing witness." The English word martyr also derives from this same context of bearing witness. 

Jesus who is the Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23) has commanded those who belong to Him to be His witness to everyone, everywhere. Therefore, the church is To Be On Mission within the context of their everyday life (workplace, school, neighborhood town, county, and region) which is their "Jerusalem." Every interaction though it may seem minute should point other to Christ through evangelization along with intentional evangelization outreach programs or partners throughout the state through local associations of churches. The follower of Christ is not to stop with their "Jerusalem," but is to bear witness of Jesus throughout the state in which they live, this is the "Judea" that Jesus speaks of. This will include intentional partnerships throughout the state to evangelize to the lost with the help of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Once again, the believer is to take the gospel even further, to the entire nation of fifty states, this is the "Samaria" of Acts 1:8. This will take cooperation with church planters, North American Mission Board, and other ministries to reach those who are far from God. Jesus finally points to the end of the earth; this will be the "nations." The believer is to intentionally evangelize to unreached people groups all over the world through partnerships such as the International Missions Board and many other missionaries and church planters. 

Jesus mandates the church to "Be On Mission," by providing a strategic plan for the mode of evangelization while providing the secret weapon, the power of the Holy Spirit. The church does not have to fear, for this task will not be based upon our power or skill set, it is driven by the mighty power of God through His Spirit who dwells within us (Romans 1:16). The only thing the church must do is be obedient to the task of evangelism. Beougher provides a wonderful definition of evangelism, "Evangelism is taken from the Greek word evuangelion, translated "the gospel." Within the word evangelism we see the word evangel, meaning "good news." The evangel which lies at the heart of the Christian faith is the good news about who God is and how he has provided reconciliation for sinful humanity."