Elder Board Vision for 2007-2008

With Pastor Curt’s announcement that he will be resigning from the Senior Pastor position at our church at the end of May 2008, the Elders have developed the following vision statement for the upcoming year.  We recognize that God brought Pastor Curt to us over 10 years ago and has blessed us greatly during this time.  We celebrate the God ordained ministry of Pastor Curt and we trust that God in his perfect timing will provide a new Senior Pastor for us.  We also recognize that we have many others who minister together with us at GIEFC thus we look ahead to the following ministry priorities for the next 9 months.

1.  Calling a new Senior Pastor.   We have met with and received substantial guidance from our District Superintendent Bill Smith.  We are developing a Senior Pastor profile, which details the qualities and strengths of who we are searching for and will soon finalize a church profile, which describes GIEFC so that a potential candidate can better, get to know us.  This fall we will appoint a search committee led by Dr. Mark Stines.  With God’s help, we as a congregation will choose a man known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom to lead us forward to fulfill the calling God has for the Grand Island Evangelical Free Church.

2.  Call a new Senior High Youth Pastor.  We have an interim plan in place for fall ministry and a search committee led by Kent Kincanon is looking for the correct individual to lead this vital ministry.

3.  Completing the Building project and beginning the process of debt reduction.  This exciting project will be completed in February 2008.  There will be much work for our staff to transition to the new facility.  A goal will be to work on reducing and eliminating debt from the project.

4.  Develop a comprehensive stewardship program.  Statistics indicate that stewardship has been growing within our congregation but still many are missing the blessing of giving to God’s work.  Our goal is fully devoted followers of Jesus who bless and are blessed through stewardship.

5.  Increase the level of prayer in our congregation.  The Elders want to pray for the needs of individuals in our body.  We want to see prayer become ingrained in the body life of our church and in the daily lives of our congregation.

6. Be intentional in adult discipleship.  We have identified our Adult Community model as the primary place for adult discipleship.  We desire that this ministry work together with the vibrant women's ministry and the developing men's ministry to build strong adult disciples.