February 10, 2003

MTV gives pastor vision for ministry
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___SAN ANTONIO--Armando Morales wants MTV and thinks every church needs it too.
___The pastor of Calvary's Cornerstone Fellowship in Floydada believes each church needs to do "Ministry Through Vision," or MTV for short.
___"MTV is it," Morales said during a breakout session at the Baptist General Convention of Texas Hispanic Evangelism Conference. "It's the rock. It's the bomb. We need to see through Christ's eyes. We need to have vision."
___Morales encouraged the audience to find God's vision for their churches and formulate mission statements. A mission statement posted around the facilities helps visitors know what the church stands for and reminds members what they are to do.
___The plan should work to bring people into the church and increase their involvement and commitment until they are in the core group of believers, said Morales, who used the MTV concept as a youth minister before becoming a pastor.
___The Floydada church developed a mission statement from the five purposes of the church they found in the book of Acts. The five purposes they identified are evangelism, worship, fellowship, discipleship and ministry.
___Church members recognized where their community and congregation were spiritually and designed programs to accomplish each purpose in the mission statement and help people reach to the next spiritual level, Morales said.
___Above all, the church stresses evangelism in everything it does, Morales emphasized. He noted that in his church evangelism is a process, not a program. Christians are constantly trying to reach non-believers through each action, including sports, meals and worship, he said.
___Since initiating the plan, church attendance has more than quadrupled. Morales has baptized 12 people during that time.
___As a result of the visible vision, Morales has witnessed a renewal of excitement and unity in the congregation. The congregation has taken ownership of the church ministry, and the gospel is being shared in the surrounding neighborhoods, he said.
___The ministry-through-vision concept allows churches to more efficiently and effectively follow Christ's imperative to make disciples, Morales said.

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