3 Year Vision

Tyler introduces the episode by announcing the opening of registration for Bridgetown Church's ninth annual Holy Spirit conference, scheduled for February 26-27, 2027, in Portland. The theme centers around the wedding at Cana, exploring Jesus' first miracle. He expresses enthusiasm about welcoming participants back to Portland and directs listeners to register via the church's website.

The episode begins with a reading from Luke 1, followed by a reflection on the nature of the church as a procession of apprentices following Jesus. Tyler emphasizes that the church is a family and a movement on the margins, involving blessing enemies and loving persecutors as part of God's kingdom invasion. He underscores that God's renewal of the world is rooted in human participation, not just initiation, where Jesus models discernment by doing only what he sees the Father doing. The discussion highlights the importance of obedience to both Scripture and the Spirit, especially when Scripture lacks direct answers to specific life questions, urging believers to listen to the Spirit for guidance.

As the church enters a new chapter, Tyler shares Bridgetown's collective discernment for the upcoming three years, emphasizing that it’s a continuation rather than a departure from their existing path. The focus will be on spiritual formation, family formation, and kinship. The episode explains the importance of spiritual renewal, which involves deepening knowledge of God's love and presence, and introduces a fourth Sunday worship gathering planned for 2027 to accommodate growth while maintaining intimacy. The leaders stress that growth isn't pursued for numbers but to deepen faithfulness and participation, making room for gifts and leadership among the congregation.

Pastor Bethany Sambela reflects on returning from a two-and-a-half-month sabbatical, sharing how it gave her perspective and gratitude for God's faithfulness in Bridgetown's journey. She discusses Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 about spiritual fullness rather than just growth, encouraging the church to focus on becoming more rooted in Christ and the Spirit. Bethany emphasizes that faithfulness in this next season involves listening, yielding, and trusting God's continual work, even as they prepare to add a new worship gathering and navigate growth changes while staying true to their identity.

Bethany addresses the challenges that come with growth, particularly in Sunday gatherings becoming crowded. She emphasizes that the purpose of adding a fourth worship service is not just expansion but creating space for meaningful participation and maintaining community intimacy. She outlines that the model they aim for is sustainable, formative, and participatory, where everyone can contribute. Bethany insists that the goal is to become a church that does not prioritize size over the quality of community, ensuring that people grow deeper in Jesus as they gather and serve.

Pastor Joy Schlichter recounts a personal story about Linda, a church member who welcomed her family with kindness, ultimately leading her mother to faith. Joy emphasizes the importance of shared life and story in raising the next generation. She discusses the expanded vision for family formation at Bridgetown, aiming to equip parents as primary spiritual leaders and to encourage all generations to follow Jesus together, regardless of family structure. She highlights that this effort is about more than programs — it’s about giving families practical tools to live out their shared story daily.

Joy announces Family Formation Sunday, scheduled for the following week, where families will worship together and participate in a hands-on activity outside, centered on practicing the way of Jesus. The event is designed to foster community and spiritual deepening, especially through shared moments of faith practice. Joy emphasizes that this is just a beginning, encouraging the congregation to see small everyday moments as opportunities to invite God's presence into their family lives and to remember the significance of passing shared stories through generational practices.

Pastor Sambela takes the stage to discuss the biblical concept of kinship as a way to transform strangers into family. She shares her personal story of inviting a neighbor, Kozy, into her life, illustrating how service can deepen into kinship. The message underscores that Jesus’ compassion was the foundation of his mission, and the church is called to follow that example by serving, seeking justice, and building relationships of kinship. The emphasis is on becoming a community that intentionally becomes family for others, especially in addressing systemic injustices and building genuine relationships.

Sambela defines service as loving others by meeting practical needs, justice as seeking systemic reformation and healing, and kinship as fostering relationships where strangers become family. She encourages the church to see everyday interruptions as divine invitations to love and serve others. The episode discusses specific areas of compassion work including homelessness, addiction, aging, foster care, incarceration, oppression, and refugees. The leaders urge congregation members to participate actively in ongoing ministries and to practice love in daily life, trusting that God can work through simple acts of kindness and attention.

The episode concludes with a reflection on discernment—listening carefully and prayerfully for God's invitation to participate in his ongoing story. Sambela urges the congregation to respond in faith, similar to Elizabeth’s faithful response to Mary. She emphasizes that God’s work is often small-scale but profoundly impactful, calling individuals to act with trust and openness, even when the scope or nature of their participation is unknown. The overarching message is about being attentive to the Spirit as they step into future initiatives like new gatherings, family practices, and community relationships, trusting the Lord to lead.