Fifth Avenue Baptist Church

Congregational Conversation

june 13, 2018, 6:00 pm

fellowship Hall

explaining the completed vision statements and objectives

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Visioning Journey

Message from Rev. Eric Porterfield

The Vision Team met Friday, January 12, with Bill Wilson, director of the Center for Healthy Churches, as we enter phase two of a visioning process we began last year. We're seeking God's vision for the future in our worship, work and witness as a congregation. Bill will be a great guide for us; I look forward to working with him, with the team and with you in this process! And, as the vision team so rightly discerned in an earlier meeting, a crucial component of this process will be our ability and eagerness to prayerfully listen to one another. I pray the January 14, worship service, and our Epiphany sermon series on loving one another, will be used of God to deepen in us the art of listening. If you would like to listen to any of the sermons you may access them on the our website just click here.

On January 14 during worship, we explored James 1: 19-20. My sense that James is not simply saying, "Make sure you hear the actual words people speak" when he says, "Be quick to listen." Yes we need to hear people's words, but I believe James is pointing us to listen to the heart and soul behind people's words. So often we are not simply seeking to communicate information, we're seeking communion with others through our conversations. We're sharing our hopes and dreams, our joys and sorrows, our fears and our longings As we continue our visioning journey, we'll ask the Holy Spirit to sharpen our ears so that we listen not just for information but for communion with God and each other.

Phase Two of our vision journey (Phase One was last spring) launches Wednesday evening,

January 31st! Bill Wilson will lead a congregational conversation. We will start earlier and end later than normal meeting from 5:45 to 7:15 in Fellowship Hall to maximize our time with Bill. Whether you have been a member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church for years or have been attending for a short time this is a congregational conversation that you will not want to miss.

Congregational Conversation on Worship with Doug Haney

On September 15, 2018 all the congregation was invited to attend the "Worship" conversation facilitated by Doug Haney. Meeting in Fellowship Hall the discussion began at 8:45 and lasted till noon. If you were unable to attend and wanted to view the questions and or provide your thoughts you can

click here and view or print the "Discovery Guide". If you would like to submit your feedback please turn into the church office or give to Cindy Taylor on Wednesday nights.

Congregation Conversation

May 9, 2018

For over four months the Vision Team, the Church Council, and the congregation have worked tirelessly and prayerfully to develop “vision statements” in the areas of discipleship, fellowship, worship, evangelism, and missions. With these statements we’re seeking to identify God’s dreams for our church over the next 5 years. Thanks for your feedback! In our conversation two weeks ago, many of you expressed a desire for shorter statements that were easy to remember. The Vision Team has added “tag lines” to each statement based on this feedback, and has made some adjustments to the statements as well. Here’s what was shared with the congregation on Wednesday night, May 9. These are not the final recommendations, but we’re getting close!

Discipleship: We help people become like Jesus. We are fully committed to an ongoing journey of spiritual transformation for every person. We open ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit so that we become more like Jesus as individuals and as a congregation.

Fellowship: We love one another unconditionally. We are devoted to life-changing relationships with our sisters and brothers in Christ. We embrace each other across generations, showing hospitality to all people, and love one another with the love of Jesus.

Worship: We worship God wholeheartedly. We worship God together with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. As we worship, we find the Holy Spirit drawing people to faith in Jesus, forming the character of Christ in us, helping us engage each other and our guests with warm hospitality, and sending us out to love the world.

Evangelism: We help people meet Jesus. We believe in personally inviting people to follow Jesus with us, sharing with them the hope, grace, and new life Jesus gives.

Missions: We love our hurting world. With the love of Jesus, we serve Huntington, our Tri-State region, West Virginia, and the world. We are a vibrant and faithful presence in our community, partnering with others as the Holy Spirit works through us to further God’s kingdom.

Also at the meeting the Vision Team shared its first draft of “objectives” we sense God leading us to pursue under each vision statement. Thanks for your participation! Thanks for your prayers! God is on the move among us. Grace and Peace, Eric Porterfield

visioning Process Phase 2

If you were unable to attend the Vision Team Phase 2, Congregational Conversation with Bill Wilson and you would like to have a copy of the Scripture Readings for our Visioning Journey please click here.

Want to see the Vision Team Reading List that was discussed at the meeting? These books are available in the FAB Library off of Smith Hall and can be checked out. Click here for a list.

Congregation conversation

January 31, 2018

Bill Wilson

On January 31, 2018 in Fellowship Hall, Bill Wilson came and met with our congregation as part of our Phase 2 of the Visionary Process. You're invited to view the video's below.

second Congregation conversation th

March 7, 2018

Bill Wilson

On March 7, 2018 Fifth Avenue Baptist Church had their second congregation conversation with Bill Wilson. Below are the videos from this Vision Conversation.