STEP THREE: STRATEGIC ENVISIONING (Refresh) FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS

     These  are the recommendations of the strategic evaluation, refresh team, of IBC, Madrid. The Refresh Process was facilitated by a broad range of members from Immanuel.  They met monthly, sometimes bi-monthly, to work on their assigned areas based on the proposed new mission statement.  Three teams working on Knowing, Following, and Sharing.  We are grateful to the team members listed at the end of the report.  Their tireless hours of praying, meeting, strategizing, sharing, and leading have helped begin the journey to being a healthy church.  A big THANK YOU to the team! 

New Mission Statement: Knowing, Following, and Sharing Jesus Christ

New Vision Statement: A Christ-centered international community where people are known, loved, and equipped to serve for Kingdom work globally.

Note: The teams have identified a Primary Ministry that best encompasses each step of the mission statement.

KNOWING TEAM (first contact with the gospel and with the church)

Primary Ministry: Sunday Service

The Knowing Team identified a lack of well-defined systems for welcoming newcomers and integrating them into the church community. While proactive individuals find their place quickly, others—especially the more reserved—can struggle for months, with some ultimately slipping through the cracks. To address this, the team proposes:

1. Host regular Newcomers’ Lunches (at least once per quarter), where visitors can learn about the church, meet members, and connect with leaders.
2. Continue the implementation of the church management software Planning Center / Church Center. Sunday Service check-ins and implementation of workflows to be able to do follow-ups with newcomers.
3. Handwritten name tags for newcomers instead of printed ones. Currently, newcomers are identified during the service (e.g., by raising their hands), but they often get lost in the crowd during fellowship time. Handwritten name tags would make them easily identifiable, encouraging members to approach and welcome them personally.

FOLLOWING TEAM (discipleship)

Primary Ministry: Life Groups

Teaching and discipleship are essential for a healthy church community, and Life Groups (small groups) play a crucial role in this.

1. Regular Training for Life Group Leaders
   – The Following team saw a need to train and mentor new small-group leaders regularly, as the church currently lacks enough small groups (6-7 members per group) to meet the demand.
   – Without consistent leadership training, groups tend to dissolve when leaders step down or relocate.
2. Seeker-Friendly & New Believer Bible Studies 
   – Existing Bible studies are theologically rich but may be challenging for seekers and new Christians.
   – The team sees a need for Bible studies that provide a foundational introduction to the Christian life alongside the current in-depth studies.

SHARING TEAM (service & evangelism)

Primary Ministry: Missions & Evangelism

1. Make Volunteering More Accessible
   – Serving should naturally flow from following Christ. However, due to high turnover within the church, volunteer retention is a challenge.
   – To address this, ministry role descriptions should be easily accessible via Church Center, allowing members and newcomers to identify where they can serve based on their spiritual gifts.
2. Regular Evangelism Training
   – While outreach events and street evangelism are valuable, many members feel unequipped to share the gospel with the people they see daily.
   – The Sharing Team recommends regular, practical training to help members confidently share their faith in one-on-one conversations.
3. Follow-up System for Outreach Events Visitors
   -Establish a structured system to follow up with first-time visitors from outreach events in Planning Center
   -This will help ensure that visitors feel welcomed and have opportunities to connect with the church community beyond the event.