Underlying Philosophies
- People do not find their way to WSC by accident—God has played a role in leading them here for some purpose.
- The church has a duty to come alongside each person and help him or her discover and develop that purpose (related to their SHAPE).
- This duty continues until the connection with WSC ceases.
- The ministries and organization of WSC should be shaped by the SHAPEs of her people as well as the organizational concepts of her leaders.
- The church has a duty to come alongside each person and help him or her discover and develop that purpose (related to their SHAPE).
- WSC has a complete Great Commission role for each person (Conversion, Sanctification, Reproduction and Service).
- The Program Ministries (particularly those with small groups) have the primary responsibility through their leaders to know their people and coach them to take the appropriate next step in their discipleship (service, learning, experiencing, receiving care, community). This means that Volunteer Ministries has a “staff role” in supporting, coordinating and nudging the Program Ministries in their lay resource functions.
- The manpower needs of the church are secondary to the development of her people (hopefully a case of “both…and” and not “either…or”).
- The people of WSC are both the primary resources used for the disciple-making process and the products of that process—generally, this means that they should be nurtured and used at the same time.
- Every step of every process must be loving and must be Spirit-led. In this context, expression of interest and proactive concern for people’s development will generally be welcomed and not seen as infringement on their freedom.