Purposes and Values

ERG Purposes and Core Values

As the Evangelism Resource Group of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, we strive individually and collectively to engage Christ followers and churches in the Great Commission. To this end, we focus our time, energy, and resources on the following purposes:

1)      Sharing the gospel personally, and both equiping and mobilizing others to do the same.

2)      Starting groups, ministries, and churches that multiply Christ followers and ministries.

3)      Strengthening leaders and their churches to become more faithful in obeying the Great Commission.

4)      Synergizing individuals and groups to work more collectively and effectively at seeing the Great Commission fulfilled.

5)      Sending gospel proclaiming believers on missions throughout Ohio, the United States, and to the uttermost parts of the world.

As we live and operate within these purposes, we do so adhering to the following core values:

1)      God’s Presence – We want God’s presence to be unquestionably evident throughout our ministry spheres. We will follow God’s leadership in our planning, processes, and strategy, working to ensure that our activites are initiated by God and saturated with the power of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, we commit to seeking and following God’s direction and leadership, regardless of timing, limitation, or cost.

2)      Stewardship – We have been granted much, and we desire to be faithful stewards of all we have. We believe that resources shoud be used wisely and carefully, and that expenditures of time, energy, and finances should be utilized as an aid in extending God’s kingdom. We will seek to invest ministry resources in those areas where we see God’s leadership and where we believe Him to be at work.

3)      Excellence – We are God’s workmanship created in God’s image each with a specific purpose in Christ. While our purposes may be different, all of us are obligated to reflect the glory of our Creator. We believe that we honor and glorify God most when we live, think, act, and speak according to His purposes that are at work within us. Therefore, we commit to live holy lives believing that this will bring God great glory.

4)      Effectiveness – Our daily activies and schedules could be spent in numerous ways, each being beneficial in enhancing Christian ministry in Ohio. However, the task set before us is obedience to the Great Commission. Therefore, with limited time and resources, we are determined to do the right things. It is our desire to leverage our time, strengths, skills, abilities, and resources in furthering the advancement of God’s kingdom and the furtherance of the gospel.

5)      Relationships – Deep and meaningful connection with God and people are the two most valuable ingredients of life. Unfortunately, our world is full of individuals who are relationally disconnected and overwhelmed by busyness. By sharing our relationship with Christ and the restorative power of the gospel message, we strive to develop strategic spiritual relationships with believers, families, churches, and those lost without Christ.

6)      Networking – We realize that networks are vital in bringing people and resources together to enhance and strenghten ministries, connectivity, and kingdom impact.  Accordingly, we desire to develop and extend networks that will enable believers to obey and pursue the mandate of the Great Commission, reaching and teaching the lost about Christ.

7)      Teamwork – We desire to do life together. As we work side by side with non-believers, Christ followers, churches leaders, and churches, we share in the joy of seeing all of our unique strengths, abilities, and gifts united to accomplish God’s kingdom purposes.

8)      Relevance – Cultural and contextual awareness increases our oppurtunities and abilities in connecting with more people, and in connnecting more people with Christ.  God’s message of love, salvation, and restored relationship are unchanging, but our methods of connecting people to Christ and His church must remain flexible and adaptable within an everchanging world.

9)      Evangelism – The greatest form of love that any believer can extend toward any non-believer is the proclamation and presentation of the gospel message. In an effort to extend God’s love to as many people as possible, we covenant to become increasingly more effective in our own personal evangelism lifestyle. In addition, we want to do everything possible, and use whatever biblical means necessary, to mentor, teach, train, and lead others to also proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ.