Walt Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, wrote, “There is no science in creativity. If you don't give yourself room to fail, you won't innovate.”
University Baptist Church is in a state of creative discernment. Since September, we have gathered for conversations around who we are, why we do what we do, and how we might experience exponential growth.
While UBC is in a unique position for growth, we are earnestly seeking long-term and sustainable ways to enhance our capacity to reach people of all ages and love our community. We are not looking for “a flash in the pan” kind of gimmicky events and programs that attract people to our church for the short-term until another church in town produces something flashier.
Instead, we are diving headfirst into a profoundly spiritual process of discernment as to how God would help us best serve our members and reach new members of each specific generation.
As you can imagine, this takes time. Time translates into patience, fortitude, courage, and spiritual centeredness.
We are, therefore, inviting each member of University Baptist Church to join us in an ongoing process of praying for this initiative.
If you are a member of a specific SGI team, we invite you to pray earnestly for the initiative you are a part of and for our willingness to follow God’s leadership.
If you are unable to join a specific SGI team, we invite you to pray for our church's ability to adaptively and faithfully care for our members and reach new people.
As the fourteenth-century church mother, Julian of Norwich, wrote, "The whole reason why we pray is to be united into the vision and contemplation of God to whom we pray."
We recognize that undertaking a major initiative like this might have come at a busy time. We did launch it during an exciting year for both the LSU Tigers and the Saints. However, the New Year is an opportunity to come alongside the 90 plus people who are leading this process.
On January 12, we will host a churchwide gathering focused on the Strategic Growth Initiative. Each team will be provided with a space for continued dialogue, as well as sharing their findings with those gathered.
Beginning in January through March, each Sunday, we will hear from each of the twelve initiative teams about where God is leading them.
We invite you to join the conversation and bring your best self to the process.
Get in contact with the office if you would like to join a team.
But above all, join us in prayer.