Where God is Leading
The routines of modern life leave most people feeling as though they are swimming against the current, struggling to keep their head above water. They’re sinking beneath the waves, seeking meaning, significance, and fulfillment in shallow and empty pursuits. Young people, drowning in the wash of online influencers, struggle to define who they are and what they should live for. In despair, our culture is collectively facing a crisis of identity. Families are under attack, our communities have had their moral foundations eroded, and the most vulnerable in our society have been targeted for destruction in spirit and body. One of the saddest truths of modern life is that most people will never know their unique purpose or how to make the contribution only they can offer the world.
Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly,” and we believe that God has called Christ Harbor to be a place of connection, formation, and purpose for the people in our community and beyond. We believe God has uniquely positioned Christ Harbor to be a beacon of hope and purpose in our community and across West Alabama. Multiplying leaders through intentional spiritual formation, we seek to leverage the collective power of a fully mobilized Church, leading people to Christ and teaching them how to navigate their particular calling to live in the Kingdom victory and power of the Resurrection.
We believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone and that when He is lifted high, He draws all to Himself. We will help every believer discern their unique Kingdom purpose, equip them to fulfill that purpose and empower them to walk in it. We will build stronger families by giving parents the training, tools, and support they need to form the next generation for Kingdom living and service effectively. We will do this by engaging across generations to leverage the collective wisdom, experience, and perspectives that come from multiple age groups. We will multiply our impact at home and abroad by being formed in service to our community and the world through strategic partnerships with missional partners. We want to see other churches flourish and grow alongside us, as together, we embody the presence of Christ in Tuscaloosa County and West Alabama.
The Process - How did this Vision come to be?
In August of 2023, a group of a dozen people, including founding and retiring pastor John Kearns, new pastor Jonathan Lawson, Christ Harbor’s Lay Elders and Ministry Staff, along with a handful of others from different constituencies within the congregation, embarked on a year long journey of discernment and prayer, utilizing a process based on the life’s work of pastor, theologian, and seminary professor, the late Rev. Dr. Aubrey Malphurs. Drawing from the knowledge of those who have been a part of Christ Harbor for decades, as well as more recent members of the community, the process sought to understand and articulate answers to the following questions: Who has God uniquely created Christ Harbor to be? What has God uniquely called Christ Harbor to do under the broad commission to His church to make disciples? And What is the unique context in which God has intentionally placed Christ Harbor? Where these three overlap, one is able to discern the unique expression of the Kingdom of God Christ Harbor is called to incarnate.
This “sweet spot” of identity, calling, and context formed the foundation from which the Vision Team began to pray for clarity to carry us forward into the future. Framed by our unique expression of the church’s mission to make disciples by Igniting Faith that brings Eternal Purpose to Everyday Life, our Core Values, Marks of Discipleship, and Discipleship Map, we were able to discern between wonderful godly dreams that better fit someone else, and what felt like uniquely Christ Harbor.
A key moment was when four different team members all described imagery they have long had in their minds of what they believed God wanted Christ Harbor to be. These were; an ant hill that even when kicked over simply spread and thrived as each did their part; a lighthouse who’s light spread with intensity, pushing back darkness; a wagon wheel, characterized by the hub and spoke structure that reached out; and a harbor, which is a natural formation of land and sea, that transformed into a port, bustling with activity of ships coming and going, receiving repairs and cargo to carry to distant lands. Every member of the team identified with one or more of these images, and it was clear that when different people joined in a prayerful exercise, seeking God’s guidance and voice, and articulated such similar visions something greater than coincidence was involved.
We believe Christ Harbor has been bestowed a bold vision by a Mighty God. Our desire is to serve and honor Him by doing all we can to obediently pursue this vision, while acknowledging only He can bring it about.