The Heart of Messiah

The Heart of Messiah is a new quarterly communication and connection initiative designed to keep our growing church family informed, engaged, and united in purpose. Each quarter, you’ll receive an email centered on a specific theme from our strategic plan, highlighting updates, celebrations, and what’s on the horizon. These messages will include clear ways for you to participate, opportunities to share your feedback, and a call to join the conversation. Alongside each email, you’ll be invited to a casual luncheon designed for connection and open dialogue with staff and leaders. More than just information, The Heart of Messiah is about building trust, deepening relationships, and aligning our hearts around God’s mission. Together, we celebrate what’s going well, acknowledge what needs to grow, and boldly step into what’s next.

John Kunze

Senior Pastor

- LOVE GOD - LOVE OTHERS - SHARE CHRIST -

What’s happening. What matters. What’s next.

FOUR PRIORITIES

Connect

People are searching for connection within a community of Christians to feel safe, loved, have hope, and find answers as they grow in their love of Christ and others. Our Goal: We will be invited and encouraged to connect with fellow members and guests through purposeful engagement in Bible study, fellowship, education, and service opportunities. Result: With the help of the Holy Spirit, we will grow closer in our relationship with Christ in a culture of authentic and loving relationships.

Discipleship Pathway

As the Body of Christ, we will engage in a clear Discipleship Pathway so that we grow in faith and knowledge of Jesus and His calling for us. Our Goal: To have a clear, easy-to-understand roadmap for growth as followers of Jesus through learning, practice, and experience. This will also help us become more comfortable and effective in sharing the Good News of salvation. Result: With the help of the Holy Spirit, we will grow deeper in faith and relationship with Christ and will join more fully in living out the mission in our daily lives.

Kingdom Growth

In order for more people to know Jesus, we will equip our congregation with tools and provide opportunities to share Christ’s love with our neighbors. We will share salvation in Jesus through building relationships and service/care opportunities in our community and beyond. Our Goal: God working through us, we will fully utilize all the ministries of Messiah to reach people who do not know, or have fallen away from, Jesus. The heart and language of the Great Commission will be deeply entrenched in the culture of Messiah’s daily mission into the world. Result: With the help of the Holy Spirit, God’s Kingdom will be expanded through sharing the Gospel, cultivating new and re-engaged believers.

Resource Excellence

We will effectively steward all of the resources God has provided so that His mission of redemption can be accomplished with excellence and in accordance with His will. Our Goal: Messiah will be healthy in people, finances, and in facility resources to improve and grow ministries today and for generations to come. We will strive to reduce debt to free up the next generation to dream and build ministries that are effective in their day. Result: With the help of the Holy Spirit, our time, talent, and financial resources will create long-term, viable, and effective ministries positioning Messiah to be a beacon of light and hope for the Lincoln community and beyond.

TRACKING

We’re committed to intentional growth and faithful stewardship. To support this, we’re actively tracking ministry measurements across the four key priorities—Connect, Discipleship Pathway, Kingdom Growth, and Resource Excellence. These measurements give us insight into how our mission is being lived out and help us evaluate both spiritual and organizational health.

Connect

Weekly worship attendance (in-person, online – members and guests)
Percentage of Messiah members active in worship/ministry
Number of people involved in Life Groups
Number of opportunities to invite community members to Messiah events

Discipleship Pathway

Percentage of Messiah members active in Bible studies/Sunday School, Next Gen Ministry, etc. (outside of Life Groups)
Number of Bible studies offered, along with the attendance of each
Number of children in our Elementary School and Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC)
Number of people serving in and outside of Messiah
Number of Messiah members and guests who move from worshipping only to involvement in other areas of ministry
Number of households/individuals involved in supporting ministry through tithes/offerings

Kingdom Growth

Number of adult and youth Baptisms
Number of families who become part of the church family through the School and ECDC
Number of new members each year
Number of families/individuals who transfer to other churches, are removed, or become inactive

Resource Excellence

Sanctuary, School, and Land utilization
Percentage of people available to serve
Financial tracking (tithes, offerings, debt, assets, campaigns, etc.)

QUARTERLY LUNCHEON

We would love for you to join us for our quarterly luncheons. At this informal lunch, we’ll enjoy good food, recap content from the Strategic Plan, and spend most of the time in open Q&A. Several staff and lay leaders will be present to help answer questions and listen to your input. If you have a question you’d liked to send in, use the button below to submit. Please use the RSVP button to let us know you can join us which helps us prepare for meal accommodations.