We’ve reviewed where the Church of Tukwila is at present.  Where will we be in five years?  Ten years?  Obviously, only God knows for sure just as only He could have seen the dramatic changes that have occurred in our world and indeed, Tukwila, over the last couple of decades.  Yet it is precisely because only God knows what lies ahead that we need to give careful and prayerful thought to where we believe He would want us to be.  Jesus said in John 12:26, “…where I am, my servant also will be.”  We are His servants.  We could not faithfully follow this command if He left us clueless as to where He is.  Thankfully, He speaks to us – through the scriptures, in prayer, through one another, and through circumstances.  The important thing is that we listen - and listen collectively.  The Holy Spirit, in Revelation 2-3, was speaking not to individuals but to city-churches.

We would like to propose a long-range vision of what the Church of Tukwila can be, along with a potential “slogan” by which we might be identified, and then look at practical steps that might be taken towards an initial identifiable vision that would enable us to move from where we are to where the Lord would desire us to be.  Obviously, we make these proposals with tentativeness.   Although fashioned through dialogue with other leaders in the Church of Tukwila, we still do not represent the whole of this city-church.  Further refinement will undoubtedly come from others and from an increasing depth of understanding what the Church of Tukwila is all about.  Also, like Paul and his companions in Acts 16, we can expect that the Holy Spirit will guide, direct, and redirect as we take steps toward the vision.

Be that as it may, here is a long-range vision for the Church of Tukwila:

"To develop a framework by which the Church of Tukwila may continue to mature in becoming a viable, visible, and valuable expression of the Kingdom of God."

With the zeal of a seasoned biology teacher we would like to dissect this vision with some explanations of key terms.

“...develop a framework…” – to be led by the Spirit is not antithetical to developing the needed structure to enable the Church of Tukwila to function.  Just as our own personality and life is expressed through the identifiable structure of our body, so the dynamic work of the Spirit through the Church of Tukwila needs some identifiable form by which to operate and to be recognized.  A suggested structure is presented in the chart on p. 12.

“…may continue to mature in becoming…” – in past episodes where there has been cooperation among Tukwila congregations, the incentive has been largely fueled by particular events.  When the events were completed, momentum withered.  What is desired is to see a movement of God sustained as a process such that even as individual believers and congregations grow and mature, so does the Church of Tukwila.

“…viable…” – as a result, the life of the Church of Tukwila will not be dependent upon events or structures we develop.  Instead, its life will be sensed in a unique way as a sum that is greater than the collective life of its individual ministries.

“…visible…” – the Church of Tukwila will not be a stealth tool of its congregations.  Rather, it will be known and seen in the community as a cooperative extension of the various congregations/ministries from which it springs. 

“…valuable…” – the Church of Tukwila will impact the community in a positive way with the blessings of the gospel.  Lives will be touched with ministries that meet the needs of people and enhance the outworking of righteousness.

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