Mission and Strategy (2/20/2005)

By December 31 2007, as the Lord directs, we will put our faith in action to fulfill the following initiatives in keeping with our vision for ministry. We want every person in the Cornerstone family engaged in a ministry that challenges them and expands his/her faith.

Through diligent prayer and sacrificial service - from the youngest to the oldest, from the newest believer to the most seasoned disciple - we will serve our fellow believers, our community and our world. May God glorify himself as we take the gospel to our neighbors and the world.

1. Church Planting
We will initiate a church planting program, providing an incubator experience at CEFC with training, spiritual oversight, and commissioning for those who wish to participate. Our first church plant will focus on South St. Louis with pastoral intern Todd Brooks as the church planter.

2. Mission Strategy
Mission Involvement
We will involve every person in our congregation on an intentional, intensive mission experiences with a group or work team. These trips will have specific goals and may include local, national, and overseas opportunities.

Mission Investment
We will reach out in service to those outside of our congregation by investing in ministries and initiatives that care for the poor, promote social justice, spread the gospel to new lands, and builds disciples among specific groups. We will work incrementally until we are investing at least 10% of our total expenditures on ministries and initiatives outside of our own (in house) ministries.

3. Counseling/Conflict Resolution
Under the oversight of professional counselors, we will train a team of men and women in the areas of peer counseling and conflict resolution. This initiative will utilize seminars, classes, mentoring, and other venues to promote spiritual, relational, personal, marriage, and emotional growth.

4. Small Groups
We will increase the number of small groups currently at Cornerstone by developing specialty groups addressing special needs related to recovery, grief, and personality disorders. We will also enhance the evangelistic aspect of small groups by deploying outreach/seeker groups. The goal will be to launch two new groups every six months.

5. Stewardship
Every member will be equipped and motivated with the biblical rationale and practical tools to honor God through financially supporting the work of the church and through active service according to their gifts and abilities. Through giving beyond regular budgeted items, we will increase our contributions to missions and eliminate outstanding debt.

6. Alternative/Evening Gathering
We will offer an alternative service at Cornerstone geared to reach those who would not or could not participate on Sunday mornings. The atmosphere and style would be very different, with more interaction and less formality. The message will remain consistent, with a much different package.

7. Leadership Development
Operating under the philosophy that leaders exist to inspire and serve the needs of their team, and not the other way around, Cornerstone will offer leadership development and training to ministry leaders on an ongoing and as needed basis. There are two goals behind this:
a. to help ministry leaders develop to their full potential in Christ, b. to sharpen their focus and understanding of the church's direction and vision.
Through this initiative, we will have 2/3 of the people in Cornerstone with some leadership responsibility.

8. Worship
With the call of Director of Worship Arts we will implement a system of long range and short range worship planning. This system will result in a variety of expressions of worship, utilizing music, drama, visual arts, and other tools.

9. Discipleship/Spiritual Formation
Through biblical discipleship and spiritual disciplines such as prayer, contemplation, Bible intake, and simplicity, we will draw closer to God and experience more of the fullness of our faith.

10. Diversity/Racial Reconciliation
We will increase the percentage of minorities and disabled individuals, in our congregation through intentional outreach, service and ministry options. We will also make an effort to include people from various socio-economic levels in our ministry.