Our mission is the overarching goal and focus God has given us. It is based on God’s five purposes for the church and for each of our lives — evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, service and worship. Our vision is a more detailed picture of what our church will look like once we have achieved our mission. It is our ‘ideal.’ Our vision is written in the present tense, as if we already have achieved it, to help us remember that this is something we always are striving towards:

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church is a healthy, vibrant and active community of families who are diverse in ages, races, nationalities and backgrounds yet share a common goal: to follow Jesus Christ and live out the five purposes of worship, fellowship, discipleship, service and evangelism as families and individuals.

At CELC, people of all ages are recognized as valuable members of God’s family, each with God-given gifts and an important role to play in the body of Christ. Children and teenagers are actively involved in all areas of church life. Parents take seriously the responsibility God has given them to be their children’s primary faith teachers and mentors, actively working to instill in their children an understanding that the Christian walk is a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week journey, not something that starts and ends on Sundays. They and their children understand the five purposes and live them out in the following ways:

EVANGELISM … Families at CELC actively pursue God’s call to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 25:19). Their eyes, ears and hearts are constantly open to opportunities God gives them to reach out and develop relationships with people who don’t know Him, and they are equipped to respond when those opportunities arise. Children, teens and parents regularly invite their friends to worship, Sunday school, youth group and other activities at CELC with the sole goal of helping others know Jesus Christ in a real and personal way. They warmly greet visitors and look for opportunities to develop relationships with people who are new to CELC.

FELLOWSHIP … Families at CELC look forward to connecting with one another and make building relationships a high priority. Friendships among children, teens and parents are strong, faithful and growing, and they genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Families spend time together in church activities but also in one another’s homes and neighborhoods, where they reach out to other families.

DISCIPLESHIP … Parenthood is a blessing and a challenge. CELC’s parents recognize that they cannot do it alone, and so they turn to the love, encouragement, and nurturing of small groups for support. All parents are involved in small groups where they discuss family issues, encourage and hold one another accountable, read the Bible and pray together, laugh and enjoy relaxing time together as friends. These small groups support each other outside of small group time as well, checking in and praying for each other during the week and stepping in to provide extra help and support at times of extreme difficulty.

CELC parents regularly tap into other opportunities and resources God provides to equip them for the job He has given them as their children’s primary faith teachers. They actively participate in special trainings, workshops and other opportunities for parents. They faithfully read the Week Ahead and Chronicle and visit the Parent Resources bulletin board and family minister’s office to peruse the resources available to assist them in their individual spiritual journeys and spiritual leadership in their homes.

CELC families spend time each evening talking about the important things going on in their lives, reading the Bible together, discussing how Scripture applies to their lives and praying together. All family members feel comfortable being open and vulnerable with one another and all feelings are respected. This daily connecting time is an opportunity to unpack the day and spiritually prepare for the next, to request and express forgiveness, to experience grace and healing, to share how God is working in their lives, and to grow closer to one another and Jesus.

Children at CELC are excited to learn about Jesus and want to be more and more like Him each day. Their parents faithfully bring them to Sunday school each week. Sunday school is fun and engaging, and the children leave each session having learned a Bible story, an important life lesson from the story and a new (or reviewed an old) way to be like Jesus. They take what they learn in Sunday school home with them, where they excitedly share it with their family and friends. Their parents and older siblings help them complete follow-up activities that reinforce the lessons learned in Sunday school.

Teens at CELC are passionate about developing their relationships with Christ. They take personal responsibility for their faith growth (including daily Bible reading and prayer time), and they see their parents, peers, youth workers and others in the congregation as helpers and encouragers in their faith journey. Teens look forward to Sunday school and youth group as places where they can be open, honest and vulnerable about the things going on in their lives, where they will be encouraged, supported, respected, lifted up in prayer, held accountable, cared for and loved, and where they will receive teaching that is both Biblical and relevant to their lives.

SERVICE … CELC is a place where servant hearts are grown. The congregation recognizes that all people are gifted by God and have important roles to play in the body of Christ. Children, teens and families know their spiritual gifts and regularly use them in service to the church, local and international communities. Families enjoy serving together, and they grow closer to each other and Jesus in the process.

WORSHIP … Families faithfully participate in worship each week, and they make it their No. 1 priority on Sundays. Worship services are engaging and enjoyable for children, teens and adults alike, and all have opportunities to be involved. Beyond that, families recognize that worship is more than a Sunday morning event – it is a way of life. To this end, they actively seek to recognize God’s blessings in every area of their lives, to worship Him in times of joy and times of sorrow, and to glorify Him in all they say and do. They know that people watch how they live and that their lives could be the greatest tool they have to reach others for Christ.

If this vision excites you, please join us in the journey! Contact:

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church

8011 Old Georgetown Road,

Bethesda, MD, 20814  

301-652-5160

www.heartmindsoul.com