:: Covenant Evangelical Free Church ::

Telephone: 65-6892 6811
Address: 10 Jelapang Road
Singapore 677740
Email: mail@cefc.org.sg

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	\| I have a dream \| key result areas \| nine lifelines \|

	Nine Lifelines Among the staff and church board, we want to grow "whatever it takes!" We sense a common vision. We know of Covenant EFC's growth potential and rejoice at what God wants to do through her. The question is; What exactly does it take? Allow me to share 9 essential things. I call them lifelines. If we neglect them, our future is dim and our potential stifled. Left at status quo, without these lifelines, Covenant EFC will die a premature death. What then are these lifelines?

	LIFELINE #1: A Fervent Vision to Birth a Prayer Movement This is very close to my heart. The Kingdom of God is advanced by prayer. Covenant EFC was revived through a group of praying teenagers in 1985. The next decade presents great opportunities to be harvested by prayer. I envision Covenant EFC to be a strong praying church. There are monthly Prayer & Praise, weekly/daily Dawn Prayer, Prayer Chains, Prayer Partners etc. We need a church with a strong prayer movement. After all, "prayer is not merely preparation for the ministry, prayer IS ministry!"

	LIFELINE #2: A Love for Truth to Establish a Bible-Centred Church We are living in a doctrinally perilous age. Heresies don't just come from without the church. The most dangerous king comes from within. As such, I see Covenant EFC to be an evangelical church that is grounded in the Word. I see our pulpit to be centre for sound Bible exposition. I envisage Covenant EFC to be a church with a strong pulpit ministry. The church must be culturally relevant, while remaining doctrinally pure.

	LIFELINE #3: A Passion for Souls to Promote Growth By Conversion We believe that lost people matter to God, and therefore ought to matter to the church. While there are deliberate efforts to evangelise the lost, and there are a number of conversions, most of our growth is by transfer. We want to grow by conversion.

	LIFELINE #4: Men's Leadership to Raise A Vibrant Adults' Ministry The Promise Keepers have made an impact in my understanding and vision for our Adults' Ministry. I see men taking up leadership in the home, in the church and in society to uphold the purposes of God. I am convinced that the answer to a vibrant Adults' Ministry is a group of supportive wives who encourage their husbands to lead.

	LIFELINE #5: Leadership Development to Grow an Expanding Leadership Base In a growing church, the leadership base must expand. The expansion is not linear but exponential. Every member of the congregation is encouraged to participate in one ministry. The evidence of Christian Maturity is the other-centredness and the commitment to the cause of Christ. The pastoral staff is committed to train and equip the members for ministry.

	LIFELINE #6: Fellowship Structures A church needs to strategise for growth, staff for growth and structure for growth. Covenant EFC is particularly weak in her infrastructure. To paraphrase Bob Gilliam of T-Net, infrastructure may be defined as "the organisation of the church to promote healthy relationships and to enhance numerical and spiritual growth, so that mature disciples are multiplied". In short, we need to know each other and be networked together. Indeed, our church is good at collecting people but not good at connecting them.

	LIFELINE #7: A Proper Span of Care that Enhances Intentional Care-Giving We desire intentional care-giving as opposed to sporadic caring. Every member of Covenant EFC is encouraged to care for 10 others. In this way, everyone cares for someone and is being cared for by someone. The whole idea is to return the ministry back to the people instead of just resting upon the shoulders of the pastoral staff and the church leaders only.

	LIFELINE #8: An Effective Cell-Group Network That Promotes Laity Mobilisation To facilitate and enhance the span of care, there must be an effective network of cell ministry. Intimacy and the quality of deep fellowship can only be advanced through the sharing and touching of lives. If all Covenant EFC members and visitors are committed to a cell group, there is an immediate group for care-giving and receiving. More than that, the cell groups are able to challenge its members to reach out to the community and the unreached. It mobilises the church as a whole!

	LIFELINE #9: An Eye for Value Change to Realise a Disciplemaking Church The disciplemaking church is evidenced by men and women who walk in obedience to God's Word, thereby producing maturity and ministry in their lives. In this way, they can multiply their lives and help win and fold people into the Kingdom of God. It is vital to Covenant EFC that we must impact lives and make them count for Christ. May the Lord help us realise our potential as a church in Christ. Let's renounce token commitments to the Lord. Let's reject small plans. After all, God is at work in Covenant EFC. Why hinder His work by our lack of faith? We have these lifelines for the future. Go for it!