Our Corporate Mission           As believers, our mission is to become a “Spirit-filled-full-Gospel” Baptist Church.   Our mission is not only to reach the unchurched with the Gospel, but to reach our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord who have been blinded by the tradition of man as we once were.  To build a community of believers who worship and obey God and Share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all people.  Our desire is to other denominational churches, particularly, Baptist, come into the full knowledge of God’s Word and the fullness of His Holy Spirit.  God loves all of His people, and He has called us to love one another with unconditional love.  Jesus prayed in John 17:5, “that they may be one”.   z     Helping people say “yes” to Jesus Christ     New Canaan International Church exists to help people say “yes” to the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ by saying yes to grace, growth, group, gifts, giving, and going.   Helping People Say “Yes” To Grace: 54   We seek to create an environment that will enable our present generation to celebrate God's presence, inspire God's people, and draw those who have not yet accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord to experience God’s grace and appropriate the saving work of Christ by saying “yes” to belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and by saying “yes” to following Christ in believer’s baptism.   Measurable by: The number of unchurched persons we attract to our services Conversions Baptisms   Helping People Say “Yes” To Growth: 55   We seek to create an environment where people enjoy life and find meaning and purpose in life through spiritual growth.  Spiritual growth is both intentional and practical and occurs when we say “yes” to the daily disciplines of prayer, Bible reading, worship, fellowship, and witnessing with ongoing evidence of a biblical lifestyle and pursuit of Christ likeness. Spiritual growth must be a process where the results are demonstrated more by behavior than by belief.  Growth happens more readily when it occurs in a variety of spiritual experiences and has understandable levels of learning.  These include: knowledge, perspective, skills, convictions, and character.   Measurable by: Worship attendance Sunday School of Ministry attendance Intercessory Prayer attendance The School of Ministry Bible Study attendance Helping People Say “Yes” To Group: 56   We will create an environment where persons say “yes” to connect with other persons in the body of Christ to form significant relationships that encourage mutual spiritual nurture. The church is the family of God.  Therefore, in our relationships we should seek to express the unity and love of the family.  We seek to grow smaller (in fellowship) and larger (in conversion growth) at the same time.  Spiritual growth often occurs most rapidly when we share our struggles and joys with each other in the context of a small group fellowship.   Measurable by: Covenant Care attendance Covenant Care Group leaders   Helping People Say “Yes” To Gifts: 57   We will create an environment where persons say “yes” to serve the body of Christ by using their God-given spiritual gifts and passions as part of a ministry team. God has gifted every believer with certain gifts. For the church to function properly these gifts must blend together in service to Christ and function together as a unified body.   Measurable by: Persons identified as knowing their spiritual gifts–seminar attendance/gifts test Persons involved in ministry placed according to their gifts   Helping People Say “Yes” To Giving: 58   We will create an environment where persons say “yes” to honoring God with their resources and generously supporting the church through using the biblical principle of the tithe and offerings as a goal to reach or exceed as God prospers.   Measurable by: Consistent giving patterns   Helping People Say “Yes” To Going: 59   We will create an environment where persons say “yes” to God’s call to serve in mission beyond our local congregation.  As a church, we want to develop an intentional ministry that is focused on its mission, sensitive to people, and committed with a passion to fulfilling God's will in our community. For this to happen, each member must consider themselves a part of the team that is on mission for God.   Measurable by: Persons sent from our congregation in ministry beyond the local congregation. This may be a local service project, short term missions trip locally or aboard, or a person in full- time ministry. The Scriptural Bases of Our Mission Statement:   The Great Commandment:   “Love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . soul . . . and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40).   The Great Commission:   “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”  (Matthew 28:19-20).     New Canaan International Church Exists:   §         To Proclaim God's Forgiveness  (Grace) §         To Encourage God's People to Grow (Growth) §         To Love God's Family  (Group) §         To Minister God's Love (Gifts) §         To Share God’s Resources Entrusted to Me (Giving) §         To Communicate God's Word to the World (Going)