Purpose Statement
Sprowston Methodist Church believes that all disciples of Jesus are called to be faithful and fruitful in their lives and this must be outworked not only in terms of worship, fellowship and care, but also in terms of mission, through using God’s gifts.
Sprowston Methodist Church sees its mission in terms of developing a process of disciple-making that will incorporate “not-yet-believers” and encourage Christian maturity in mission among all its members – by serving and witnessing – in the power of the Spirit.
Mission Priorities (“Our Calling“):
In partnership with others wherever possible, the Methodist Church will concentrate its prayers, resources, imagination and commitments on this priority:
To proclaim and affirm its conviction of God’s love in Christ, for us and for all the world; and to renew confidence in Gods’ presence and action in the world and in the Church.
As ways of realising this priority, the Methodist Church will give particular attention to the following:
Underpinning everything we do with God-centred worship and prayer
Supporting community development and action for justice, especially among the most deprived and poor – in Britain and worldwide
Developing confidence in evangelism and in the capacity to speak of God and faith in ways that make sense to all involved
Encouraging fresh ways of being Church
Nurturing a culture in the Church which is people-centred and flexible.
Within these overall parameters, we see our local priorities as:
Resourcing each service of worship appropriately, to provide time with God that inspires and instructs (with the additional support of downloadable materials)
Resourcing our work with families as well as with young people and children to support their emerging needs
Ensuring the needs of older people, and those with special needs, are supported
Taking time to listen to the community of Sprowston – with the “Heart for Sprowston” community survey
Holding the concept of cell, as a means of pioneering local mission and flexible development for future years of this 21st century, and preparing for future church planting (especially with reference to our neighbouring churches and the residential expansion of Sprowston)
Upgrading various features of the property, to provide a safe and well-equipped environment for the activities it sustains
Encouraging a greater sense of co-ordination across various areas of church life
These local priorities are under review, as we adjust to some of the symptoms of a growing church.
In all these things, and being faithful to the Jubilee Vision, we are called to be “going forward, all working together”.
We are pleased to proclaim Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, to share the merciful love of our heavenly Father, and to serve and witness in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We are learning afresh what it means to be a discipleship movement, shaped for mission. To achieve this, our desire is to be open to all that the Lord is doing and to have the courage to join in.
