St John's over Woodbridge slid

Our Purpose, Values and Vision

Our Purpose

Explains why we exist
 
Discovering God and sharing the love of Jesus
 

Our Values 

What matters to us and how we do things
 
Welcoming
By this we mean welcoming all ages and backgrounds, enjoying one another’s company, valuing and supporting one another, acknowledging our differences and having fun together.
Loving
By this we mean loving God and loving others around us with the Father’s love, demonstrated by what we do, such as generously sharing, forgiving, caring, serving and encouraging each other.
Prayerful
By this we mean growing in our experience and understanding of God, giving ourselves to God through prayer and worship as we discern God’s guidance, depending on the Holy Spirit in daily life.
Community focused
By this we mean being a church that relates to and serves our community, sharing in God’s mission to the world, helping others to know Jesus as our Saviour and living out our faith in everyday life.
Growing in faith
By this we mean reading, listening and studying the Bible, supporting and encouraging one another to grow, learn, and go deeper as we live out our faith. 
 

Our Vision

Our vision priorities are what we seek to become by the grace of God, and the focus of our ministry  over the next 3-5 years
 
In 2028 we want to say that…
 
As a church we have seen growth in the number of children, young people and families.
We have vibrant and attractive children’s and youth ministries with many new children, young people and their families coming to faith, and being supported through the week, and that St John’s is relevant to them.
 
We are attractive to those outside the church, relate to and serve our community, helping others to know Jesus as our Saviour and living out our faith in everyday life.
That we are a church that engages with and serves our community, reaching out in word and action. That we are a church that is relevant and accessible. That the congregation are equipped and confident to share their faith and does so regularly. That we have launched new outreach ministries, including in the Thoroughfare. That our buildings and facilities support our mission and outreach to Woodbridge.
 
As a congregation, and as a benefice, we have grown closer to one another.
As a congregation, and as a benefice, we have grown closer, we welcome all ages and backgrounds, acknowledging our differences, enjoy one another’s company, valuing and supporting one another as we laugh and weep together.
 
As a church, we are committed to Jesus, being filled with and led by the Holy Spirit, and growing towards maturity in faith.
We have grown as spirit filled disciples with a deep faith, are committed to Jesus, and maturing in our faith. We are a church where every member is encouraged to be a part of a thriving Life Group, has taken responsibility for discovering and using their God-given gifts to lead, serve and give whilst everyone feels empowered, encouraged and appreciated.
 
That we are a church that cares for creation and sets an example.
We are an Eco Church, which raises awareness and encourages every member to be aware of climate change, care for the environment, and actively consider longer term changes in lifestyle. We support organisations and campaigns in Woodbridge and beyond and have taken steps to make our buildings more environmentally friendly.