Where would you like to be on your spiritual journey at the end of 2009?  Do you have a plan to get there?  Spiritual growth is not automatic.  If you want to be in a different place, you need to take steps to get there.

Pathways are designed to help you take the Next Step in your faith journey.  No matter how long you’ve been a Christian (a day or a lifetime), God is clearly calling each one of us to continue to grow and become more like his son Jesus.  “Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”, 2 Peter 3:18.

The Bible often describes this process of discipleship as a journey, a walk or a path.  We’ve developed these Pathways to give you direction and guidance as you discern your Next Steps.  The Pathways are not intended to confine you to a certain path.  Feel free to move between Pathways as you feel God leading you.  You may start the year on one Pathway and end the year on another, or you may even be on two Pathways at the same time.  The important thing is to be intentional about choosing a Pathway and committing to grow in your faith this year.

Each Pathway has a Shepherd to help guide you along the way and answer any questions you may have.  You may also contact our Director of Discipleship, Linda Pevey, with any questions or to request more information about any of our Pathways at (302) 629-2862 or by email

Discipleship is the process by which we become more like Jesus Christ, and one of the five purposes God describes for us as Christians.  It is part of the mission statement of our church:  Encouraging believers to become more Christ-like through Discipleship. 

The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”   We believe the Bible is clear that every Christian is called to take steps to continue to grow in their faith.  Discipleship can take many forms, from learning basic Christian beliefs, to making time for prayer and Bible study, from applying biblical principles to our lives, to serving in and outside the church, to leading others, among other things.  Wherever you are in your faith journey, we have a Pathway for you.  Decide, commit and succeed in 2009.


EXPLORE:

If you are new to our church, this is the Pathway to start with. We are truly “Not Your Typical Church”.  We strive to offer opportunities for everyone to grow in their faith and commitment to God.  On this Pathway, you will: 

- Get to know our church, its programs and ministries.

- Get an introduction to our discipleship process.

- Get an introduction to Christian community and your church family.

- Have the opportunity to become a member of our church.

LEARN IT:

Are your ready to put your faith on the fast track?  This Pathway will give you all the tools you will need for a lifelong journey as a follower of Jesus.  This is where you learn the basic beliefs of Christianity, the daily habits you need in order to continue to grow in your relationship with Christ, and how to hear God’s voice!  Get ready for a life-changing journey on the Learn It Pathway this year!   On this Pathway, you will:

- Get a solid grounding in the fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith. 

- Learn the importance of and start working on establishing daily spiritual habits such as prayer, Bible reading and Christian community.

LIVE IT:

Do you know that God has much to say about how we manage our money, take care of our physical bodies, and how we interact with our spouses and children?  On the Live It Pathway, you will have opportunity to study what God says about these subjects and learn how to apply it to your life in four important areas that affect us everyday: Finances, Health & Fitness, Marriage and Parenting.  Applying God’s Word to our lives truly brings us closer to Him and changes our lives in incredible ways.  On this Pathway, you will:

- Learn and apply God’s principles to your everyday life.

- Improve your health and fitness, relationships, and enjoy greater financial peace.

LOVE OTHERS:

The Bible says the world will know we are Christians by our love.  As followers of Christ, we show our love for others by serving them:  by serving others in the church and by serving those in need outside the church.  This is the heart of Christianity, and you will be richly blessed as you walk this Pathway, experiencing the joy of serving others.  This is a very exciting Pathway to be on as you will be planning a project to serve those in need outside our church!  On this Pathway, you will:

- Discover your spiritual gifts.

- Take part in planning and implementing a Ministry Fair for September to help others find their place to serve in the church.

- Take part in planning and implementing a church-wide missions project or trip for fall.

LEAD OTHERS:

We encourage everyone in a position of leadership to take this Pathway. Leadership is one of the  most sought after qualities in an outside the church.  There are many challenges for leaders, and we must continually work to improve our skills as we seek to lead others in and outside the church in a godly way.