In the past few months, I've read several books specifically on church planting. You would be amazed at how many different philosophies are out there.

Of everything I've read, one thought stuck out to me.

Let's say 4 years from now, Salt Church ceased to exist. How would the local community react?

That hit me like a ton of bricks, and sent me down a road of seeking God and what He wants Salt Church to represent.

Here's our vision statement:

To be a welcoming home where all can belong, whether broken, hurting, wandering, redeemed, or otherwise. To be a family of believers who openly and willingly allow the Gospel to inform all aspects of our lives. To be the hands and feet of Jesus throughout our community by serving all, believers and unbelievers, with our whole hearts.

When Jesus calls Matthew to be his disciple in the synoptic Gospels, he makes an interesting comment. He almost turns into Dr. Jesus.

Mark 2:17: "And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'"

Matthew was a tax collector. He hung out with other tax collectors.

Tax collectors robbed people. Nobody liked them. 

But here we find Jesus hanging around a table littered with tax collectors and sinners. He was a welcoming home, not a closed door.

Salt Church should be like a hospital in the neighborhood where all can come, regardless of background or current state, to find help.

But it doesn't stop there.

My prayer is that we fall so deeply in love with the Gospel that it impacts the way we work, love our spouse, parent our children, and all things in between. 

That will allow us to be both Salt and Light in our community.

Lastly, I want to be a people that reach the needs of those around us. Whether financial, emotional, or spiritual - opportunity is all around us.

Even now, when our country is in a time where unemployment is skyrocketing and people are hurting and broken, I am praying that an opportunity would present itself where Salt Church (although still 6 months away from even having a preview service) can make an impact in our community when it is needed most.

3 things:

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• All can belong

• Informed by the Gospel

• Outwardly focused to serve

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Thanks for reading. I hope you are staying healthy!

- Michael