Concordia has recently adopted a new PURPOSE STATEMENT intended to serve God's Mission of reaching people with the Gospel.  The statement is this:  "To make the love of Jesus R.E.A.L. in the lives of all people."  It is based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  (Luke 10:30-35)

The fact of the matter is, because of our Sin, we were the WOUNDED ONES who lay dying (actually, dead in Sin) by the side of the road, and Jesus came to us and bandaged our wounds.  He did this by coming as a man and by dying on the cross and rising again.

Our mission as a church is now to make this LOVE OF JESUS R.E.A.L. IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.  We will endeavor to do this by living out the word R.E.A.L. in our statement.  The parts of the acronym R.E.A.L. are as follows:

R - Relevant  "being on the road where the wounded are"
        - being on the "cutting edge" in touching lives
        - that we "hit the streets" with the Gospel

E - "Engaging in Ministry" (putting the wounded on the donkey)
        - that we engage in ministry being using our resources

A - (to see people) "Accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord"
        - that we "invest in people" by giving them the most valuable thing we have -
                THE GOSPEL

L - "Loving God and Loving Others"  (Discipleship)
        - that, by the power of the Word of God, we help people to pattern their life after Jesus

This is our purpose to pursue as a church.