Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church & School
Strategic Plan 2008-2009
Vision
• Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church and School is a caring family of passionate followers of Christ,
transformed by the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to be disciples who make disciples.
We honor God in worship and by offering our lives in service to Christ, His church, the surrounding
community and the world, in response to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Mission
Saved By Jesus Graciously
To
Seek Him Fully
Serve Him Totally
Share Him Joyfully
Core Values
• Trust and belief in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior
– All who believe in His death and resurrection have the gift of a full life, now and forever.
• The joy of God’s presence
– Our greatest desire is to have God bless us with His presence and the fullness of His
grace always and everywhere, especially as we corporately gather for worship.
• Evangelism
– We share the good news of our faith so that others might come to Christ. We believe this
is done most effectively in the context of personal relationships. The Gospel is shared
through opportunities of corporate worship, small groups and special events.
• Loving relationships
– We believe in demonstrating our love through service, commitment and acts of Christian
love. We believe that Christ-centered relationships are best fostered in the home, in a
small group environment and through involvement in our church.
• Spiritual growth through relevant teaching and study of God’s Word
– God’s Word is essential for spiritual growth and maturity and intended to be understood
and applied to daily life by all. Commitment to daily study of God’s Word transforms and
equips Christians as disciples to worship, serve, and share Christ joyfully.
• Spiritual growth through relevant teaching and study of God’s Word
– The future of Christ’s church and world is our children. We are committed to offering the
highest quality Christian education through our Lutheran School and church.
• Total involvement
– The church is most effective when every member is engaged in service using their Godgiven
spiritual gifts. Every person has an important role to play in the body of Christ and
lovingly gives the best of their time, talents and treasure.
• Outreach
– In service to the community and world, we have an opportunity, privilege and responsibility
to share the good news of Jesus Christ and draw them into the family of God.
• Christ-centered homes
– The Church partners with the family and equips it in growing Christ’s precious people. We
believe that spiritual growth happens most effectively when the home is the primary
location for faith formation.
• Pastoral care
– Every person in the church is known, loved and cared for and cares for others in a
personal way.
• Prayer oriented church
– We hold to the firm belief that God desires and commands us to pray. We are committed
to daily prayer, praising Him for His goodness, thanking Him for His blessings, seeking
Him for His guidance, trusting Him for His mercy and waiting for His perfect will to be
done.
Desired Outcomes
• Growth in worship
– An increasing number of worshippers will participate in praise and honor of God; joyfully
experiencing the presence of God, the joy of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and the
loving fellowship of His body.
• Assimilation
– All members are encouraged to discover and utilize their gifts and talents to accomplish
the work of Christ through membership in small groups, service and activities.
– We will increase unity and involvement between church and school.
• Outreach
– The ministries of our church and school will reach out to school families without a church
affiliation.
• Christian Education
– We will continually grow in the knowledge and understanding of the Bible through
educational offerings for all ages to better know Christ and be equipped to share His gift of
salvation.
– We will focus on promoting and growing our Lutheran School.
• Stewardship
– The congregation will increase offerings through a focused Biblical stewardship drive and
develop a plan to pay off the debt.
– Establish an endowment fund.
• Stewardship
– Pay off the debt as soon as possible.
• Outreach
– The presence of Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church and School will have a positive
impact upon the surrounding communities and world through specific service and
community events.
• Youth
– Grow youth ministries to ensure uninterrupted Christian growth opportunities from junior
high through college age.
– Offer opportunities for increased youth involvement in community outreach, mission
opportunities and church operations and activities.
• Governance
– To create a properly functioning congregation governance system that promotes
congregational involvement, communication and proper reporting to the congregation.
