OUR MISSION

GOOD SHEPHERD IS A METHODIST CHURCH FOR NW HOUSTON THAT EXISTS TO EMBODY THE TRANSFORMING LOVE OF JESUS IN EVERY RELATIONSHIP

OUR VALUES

  • PEOPLE OVER PROGRAMS

    Programs matter, but they are not an end in themselves. They are tools that exist to gather and grow people in Christ. Jesus didn’t come to build a program. He came to love, serve and save people. If relationships mattered to Him, they matter to us. Relationships are how trust is built, lives are changed, and Good News travels.

  • PROCESS OVER PRODUCT

    We aim for engaging in a healthy process in every decision we make. In other words, how we do something is more important to us than simply achieving a particular result. Earnest prayer, transparency, hard conversations, giving people the ‘benefit of the doubt’ and consensus-building lead to a healthy church, heading in the same direction over the long-term.

  • MOVEMENT OVER MOTION

    Continual transformation of our people and our community is more important to us than ‘church as usual’, busyness or spinning our wheels. We want to intentionally aim at more and deeper disciples, rather than hoping disciples will be made from our varied activities. Motion is not the same as progress.

  • SENDING OVER SUSTAINING

    Our ‘sentness’ to the community is more important to us than simply sustaining an organization. We want to have maximum kingdom impact, which means starting close to home and moving outward. The world needs Christ too much for us to focus inward, to protect our territory or to settle for coasting or cruise control.

  • SUBSTANCE OVER SHOW

    We believe that the masks we wear and the way we hide from God and one another are the number one barrier to life change. We’re not where we want to be yet, but we know God meets us where we are. That’s why we are making the choice to ‘come as we are,’ rather than ‘fake it ‘til we make it.’

OUR STRATEGIES

  • GET TOGETHER

    Worship is the heartbeat of the Christian life. In it, we are reminded who God is, who we are and that we are not alone - things we need to know before we do anything else. We challenge everyone at Good Shepherd to be in worship weekly unless they are prevented from it by things like sickness or travel.

  • GET SMALLER

    Jesus met people wherever they were, moving them forward in their journey: from the crowds of thousands, to the 70 he sent out, to the 12 disciples he spent the most time with, to the 3 of his inner circle and even to one-on-one discipleship. We want everyone at Good Shepherd to continue their journey from corporate worship (the crowd) all the way down to deeper and smaller relationships and intend to provide every one of these environments to make that happen.

  • GET GOING

    Following Jesus is not a spectator sport. To ‘embody the transforming love of Jesus’ is to literally become His body - His hands and feet in the world. We want everyone at Good Shepherd to find a place to serve Him inside and outside the church.

  • GET AWAY

    Sometimes before you can advance, you have to retreat. We believe people often move forward the most when they leave behind the stresses and busyness of life and go away on a short time of retreat along with God. We want to challenge everyone at Good Shepherd to retreat on an annual or regular basis so they can get alone with God and move forward in their spiritual journey.

  • GET OUT

    Often our most important ministry is done beyond the four walls in the everyday relationships God has given us. We want everyone at Good Shepherd to ‘embody the transforming love of Jesus in EVERY relationship they have.’ It’s our mission!

AT GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE AIMING TO MAKE DISCIPLES WHO…

  • WORSHIP PASSIONATELY

    + By participating with a joyful heart (Psalm 150:1-6)

    + By attending regularly (Hebrews 10:25)

    + With an openness to encounter the Holy Spirit (John 4:24)

    + By participating in the Holy Sacraments of Communion and Baptism (Acts 2:38, 1 Cor 11:26)

    + By putting your life on the altar (Rom 12:1-2)

    + By trusting in the truth of scripture and staying within the Word (Col 3:16-17)

  • GROW CONTINUOUSLY

    + By making a commitment to grow towards spiritual maturity (Hebrews 6:1)

    + By listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27)

    + By developing personal disciplines (e.g. reading scripture) (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

    + By developing an intentional Prayer Life (Philippians 4:6)

    + By participating in Christian community (1 Cor 1:10)

  • GIVE GENEROUSLY

    + By tithing or working towards a tithe of our financial resources (Leviticus 27:30-34, Luke 6:38)

    + By donating time to be present for ministry (Hebrews 13:16)

    + By giving of talents in service (1 Peter 4:10)

    + With a trust in God’s abundance rather than scarcity (Ephesians 3:20)

    + As a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7)

  • LOVE RADICALLY

    + By having empathy towards others (Romans 12:15)

    + With a spirit of authenticity (Rom 12:9)

    + By accepting forgiveness and forgiving others (Matthew 6:15)

    + By loving our enemies and praying for those that persecute us (Matthew 5:43-48)

    + By loving and welcoming strangers and foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19)

    + Modeled after God’s love for us (John 3:16, 15:13)

    + By loving the most vulnerable (Matthew 25:31-46) 

  • SERVE COURAGEOUSLY

    + By using your spiritual gifts in service to God (1 Cor 12:1-31)

    + Within a ministry within the church (Rom 12:6-8)

    + By volunteering for service organizations in the community (Matthew 25:35-40)

    + By providing leadership within the church (1 Timothy 4:12)

    + By not letting fear stop us (Joshua 1:9, 2 Tim 1:7)

    + Beyond what we can do in our own strength (Phil 4:13)

  • SHARE FAITHFULLY

    + By making disciples who make disciples (Matthew 28: 18-20)

    + By becoming an ambassador for Christ in word and deed (2 Cor 5:20)

    + By making intentional invitations (Mark 1:17)

    + By cultivating relationships with an intentional spiritual focus (Acts 8:27-39)

    + By being prepared at all times to give an account of our hope (1 Peter 3:15-16)

    + By seeking God’s guidance (1 Cor 14:15-16)

  • OBEY BOLDLY

    + By pursuing a life of holiness (Hebrews 12:14)

    + By listening with patience for the will of God (Romans 12:2)

    + By putting our faith into practice daily (James 1:22)

    + By keeping the commandments of Christ (John 14:15)

    + By obeying God rather than human authority (Acts 5:29)

    + Aligning our lives with the authority of scripture (Peter 1:13-16)