OUR COMMON GOAL

Leading up to 2012 a review of all the Association functions and activities was undertaken. Out of this review a bold goal of 1000 healthy churches in a generation (GEN1K) was established and affirmed by member churches.

This goal “To become a movement of 1000 Healthy Churches by 2050” will encompass several core areas of ministry if it is to be achieved.

This goal informed the development of our vision pictures so we could better understand what the 1000 healthy churches would look like. Our Vision, Values and Goal partner together to explain what we believe, what we need to look like, how we will get there and what we hope to achieve through Christ.

Assisting churches to develop holistic health is key if this goal is to become reality.

We recognise this goal is not attainable in our own strength. God will have to move powerfully across our movement.

Our first strategic priority is to “Encourage the development in our movement of a culture of prayer that underpins all our activities.” It makes a clear statement about our desire to further deepen our experience of and commitment to prayer. Our GEN1K goal cannot be realised in our own capacity and necessitates a sovereign outpouring of God’s grace and power.

The primary call of Jesus to His church is to GO and make disciples.

This calling is the foundation of ministry and mission and is the underpinning principle of the GEN1K goal. As a movement of churches we are focused on resourcing, supporting and inspiring churches to have a greater emphasis on making disciples that make disciples. This replicating process is the very definition of healthy church and impacts the effectiveness of all GEN1K initiatives.

No matter how capable a church is, it is an ongoing journey to remain a thriving, healthy community. Together we desire to see churches continually revitalised. We believe healthy churches will be places where:

Communities replicate faith-transforming disciples
Leaders are identified, nurtured, equipped and released
Mission shapes all parts of the community
The wider community and culture is impacted positively for Jesus.

To become 1000 healthy churches in a generation our Association will need to grow. We see this expansion primarily being achieved through people being won into the Kingdom of God. To see this happen the Association must invest in the missional growth of the movement through:

CHURCH PLANTING

The GEN1K goal, as affirmed by our movement, calls every NSW & ACT Baptist church to be linked to a church planting project in some way, either directly or indirectly. Church planting is exciting, risky, challenging and rewarding as we see God work in new ways in the lives of people.

MISSION

The goal of 1000 healthy churches in a generation is closely tied to mission. Mission contributes in two main ways. Firstly, and most obviously, the hope is that our movement of churches will grow through new believers coming to know Jesus, not simply transfer growth. Secondly, evangelism contributes to healthy churches. Generally, churches that are evangelistically engaged are more likely to thrive.

Critical to accomplishing the Gen1K goal of 1000 healthy churches in a generation is the establishment of a culture of leadership development across our movement that grows and enables leaders for our churches, affiliated groups and the broader community. Those who lead will be godly men and women of influence who increasingly exemplify loving God comprehensively and loving others as they love themselves (Mark 12:30-31).

An integral part of the Gen1K goal is the development of strong healthy interdependent partnerships that facilitate networks of leaders, churches, missionaries, disciples and church planting pioneers. These networks bring economies of scale, efficiencies, accountabilities and freshness to churches and allow for greater work to be done across NSW & ACT.

Partnership around the GEN1K goal builds on a church’s affiliation responsibility and calls on churches and individuals to give to this goal – prayerfully, practically with time and gifts and financially.