OUR VISION STATEMENT:

We are called to serve a community with limited opportunities; the result is often a hopelessness, complacency, loss of value of self and others, and discontentment. This has led to lives enslaved by issues relating to the desire to escape life's hardships, and harmful "ruts" are formed, often deeply ingrained from one generation to another.

Our vision is to actively pursue lifting people up from destructive ruts of thinking and living by exposing them to the renewing and redeeming power and love of Jesus Christ. We endeavor to also promote, help establish, and maintain "good ruts" for people's lives, characterized by hopeful faith, peaceful contentment, growing desire to do one's best and stand strong, and loving service. We will pursue these "good ruts"... for our own hearts and lives, as well as for our Spring River community.

THEME PASSAGES:

• “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve of what God’s will is– His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)

• “I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.... I will make you my own people, and I will be your God” (Exodus 6: 6 - 7)

OUR 2024 "VISION IMPACT" STATEMENT:

In addition to our regular activities as a congregation that help to "Renew hearts and redeem lives through Jesus," we commit ourselves to working together to pursue the following goals this year, with the theme,

"FINDING CALM IN THE CHAOS"

​“RENEWING HEARTS” THROUGH JESUS:

• A primary "good rut" to stay in is managing the input given to our minds and hearts as to how to face, process, and manage the overwhelming chaos that surrounds us in this coming year. We will provide the "Peacemaker" Bible study, refreshing those who remember it from past presentations.., and an orientation for those unfamiliar with it, giving us Biblical tools for effectively dealing with anxieties and conflicts in our daily lives and relationships. Other appropriate material will also be studied together to help us understand and appreciate each other as God's unique and beloved creatures, needing grace, love, and "spurring on" from God and each other (Hebrews 10:24-25). In addition, we will seek to offer two mid-week Bible studies for opportunity to grow in spiritual wisdom and service, and at least one of these will be offered to the community.

• As we spend much time serving the community with busy, scrambling events and activities, it is important to reflect on and remember the "why" behind all our scurrying. We will work through a special focus this year on the Great Commission as pursued in this bustling time we live in by our efforts together as a church family. We will also address how every Christian can share Christ with people we encounter in our daily lives who are not currently nurturing their souls with God's Word and Christian fellowship.

• Recognizing the "wear and tear" of life in these uncertain times, it is important to also pursue times of wholesome refreshment and rejuvenation ... one of the many blessings given to us by God through having a church family. We will specifically make time in our planning and activities this year to just enjoy being together, pursuing a special event or two such as a shared trip to see a Christian presentation at Branson.

​“REDEEMING LIVES” THROUGH JESUS:

• Appoint a special ad-hoc team to produce a professionally done pictorial directory that will both provide improved familiarity with one another in the church family, and also serve as a source of sharing Peace Lutheran's history and unique personality as a church family.

• Since Thrivent Action Team events have shown a great ability to provide meaningful mission and ministry events that further our work together in both internal nurture and outreach to the community, we will strive to utilize at least 10 Thrivent Action Team seed money grants this year again for helpful projects of outreach, education, and service.

• We will continue to provide and support the community impact groups that our church has been offering, such as Griefshare for those who have lost loved ones, game nights for building friendships and trust, and dog-training sessions that allow interaction and relationship-building with those who are unchurched. These types of groups provide excellent help to both churched and unchurched alike, giving an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to impact people's lives. We will also be careful not to over-book our limited time, resources, and skills by thinking in terms of coordination with the whole body of Christ (not groups competing with one another). We affirm that God uses all sorts of means to accomplish His calling to make disciples of all nations ( 1 Cor. 9: 22 - 23, Matt. 28: 19 - 20).

• We will commit to providing 3 Community Outreach Events, allowing us to work together to bring the calm of Jesus Christ to combat the chaos experienced by so many in our community. One of these will be specifically preparing for the chaos of the coming solar eclipse on April 8, and how we can positively impact both our residents and the many visitors in Jesus' Name.

• In the spirit of generosity and love toward all people (not content to only "take care of our own"), we will also further the Gospel's impact in our times on a broader scale by selecting at least one international mission effort to promote and support with an all-congregational activity.

• We will partner with at least 2 community organizations to come alongside of them as they help with redeeming lives in our community.

• As specific larger project goals with designated fund drives to enable us as a congregation to continue serving our community effectively, we will spend time and effort promoting two major upkeep improvements this year:

1. Seek to complete the already-started effort to replace the badly worn carpeting in the fellowship hall with some more durable flooring material, since this part of our facility has a large impact on our interaction with the unchurched in our community; and

2. begin a multi-year effort to assess and update the audio / visual equipment in the sanctuary, as it is 29 years old now and reaching the stage of imminent malfunctions. This will allow us to pro-actively be prepared to continue and improve our worship together, both providing for our current membership and offering to new visitors an engaging experience in worshiping our magnificent God and Savior.