“To love God, love each other and love the world that Jesus, through His people, is working to restore.”
– Willowdale Chapel Mission Statement
Recently, two of our bloggers, Danielle Kuhn and Sarah Flowers, reflected on Willowdale’s Mission Statement and on mission statements in general.
What does a mission statement mean to me?
Danielle:
A mission is an important assignment, one that as believers we are all called to. A mission statement provides purpose, direction, and guiding principles. As a rule follower, having a clear objective acts as a North Star and compass providing me direction in the way I should go. While many things in this world compete for my time and attention, Jesus boils it down to the greatest commandments in Mark 12:30: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Sarah:
Having worked in business, I certainly understood the concept of a mission statement and the value it could add to a company. The last few years I have been pondering my personal mission and the idea from Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.” The personal mission I take from this is that there ARE good works that God has set up and expects me to complete. I trust that He will put me where and when I need to be to accomplish them, but I need to be ready and willing.
What does it look like in my life “to love God?”
Danielle:
To love God with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength takes a lot of intentionality. I don’t love Him perfectly yet His love for me is unconditional. Because of His great love for me I get to love Him in return, not because I have to but because I want to know Him more and obey the first and greatest commandment. For me, this means regularly spending quality time with Him, filling my mind with truth from His word, talking with Him throughout the day – telling Him what’s on my heart and mind, praising Him through song and deed in the good times and the bad.
Sarah:
I think that the best way I love God in my life is getting to know Him. He’s an infinite fountain of abundant life; there is no end to it! Seeking to view things and people through His eyes has helped me understand His commandments and desires for me. When I come to an understanding of His desire for us in a certain area it is not onerous to obey. Obedience comes from a desire to please Him and to reap His blessings. Trust is another part of loving God and I am afforded myriad opportunities to practice!
What does it look like in my life to “love each other?”
Danielle:
Loving God also looks like loving others – His second greatest commandment. Loving others is more challenging than loving God as we are all flawed human beings, sinful and selfish. Filling up on the love of God allows me to love others by praying for them in person, over the phone, or sending a prayer by text message. Loving my friends, family and body of believers means building connection with them by spending time learning what’s going on in their lives so that as opportunities arise, I can serve them, encourage them with a note or bible verse, listen to their concerns and bring them before God in prayer.
Sarah:
I think the biggest part of loving my sisters and brothers in Christ is listening to the Holy Spirit. Discernment is a gift, but I believe it can also be developed. God has given me the gift of brave communication but I often say the wrong things. Since studying Priscilla Shirer’s “Discerning the Voice of God” with my women’s small group at Willowdale, I have been more confident in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the guidance that I receive from God through the Spirit. On my best days I try to approach each situation listening to His voice and looking for opportunities to love others. Sometimes this looks like a text messaged Bible verse; sometimes it’s a few extra words beyond a cursory checkout experience at the grocery store. In some cases it is the meal, the shoulder, the ear or the random item I give or act I feel the urge to do. God loves us well through our Christian brothers and sisters, and it is incumbent upon us to be obedient to His leading. We often say, “You may be the only Jesus some people meet.” But have you considered that you are the manifestation of God’s love for those people?
What does it look like in my life to “love the world that Jesus, through His people, is seeking to restore?”
Danielle:
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus tells his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Loving the world requires obedience to the great commission. We are on mission each and every day in all of our interactions with others. Every day is an opportunity to see the world through the eyes of God as His sons and daughters, His beloved, and created in His image. Loving others just as they are without judgement or expectation and using every opportunity to share hope and speak truth requires a lot of grace. One way I do this is by sharing what God has done or is doing in my own life. When someone asks why you’re “so nice,” give God the glory!
Sarah:
Talk about a ginormous opportunity to be light and salt! This part is also Spirit-driven for me. I often will share about what God has done in my life if there’s any way to relate it to the conversation. I tell people about myself and my story; it’s difficult, if not impossible, to argue with someone’s personal story. Restoration as it applies to your life is also helpful, the more personal the better. God has given us a desire to be truly known and He knows us and cares for us in myriad little ways if we let him. What a wonderful witness to share these divine appointments with others!
What does this mission look like in your life? How do you love God, others and the world that Jesus through us is working to restore?
Please comment below!
ABOUT OUR BLOGGERS
Sarah Flowers lives in idyllic Chadds Ford, where she is steeped in beauty and connection to the land and its history.
She loves coffee and flowers and getting to know Jesus. A lifelong learner, she seeks to follow God’s plan to bring justice to the under-resourced.
Sarah is a self-declared serial optimist and melodiphile; there’s always a path to the sunny side and a soundtrack for the journey! She is a mom and wife and a grateful alumna of Northwood University.
Her former iterations include automotive professional and shoe diva.
Danielle Kuhn is a Delaware native who enjoys all the small-town aspects of living in the heart of Kennett Square with her husband Brian.
Meaningful conversations and exploring the beauty of nature by foot fill her soul.
She is passionate about connecting and encouraging other women in their faith.
One of her simplest joys in life is sipping a warm cup of tea, that has undoubtedly been reheated at least once in the microwave!