Pastor Jim W. Baize, Midway Baptist Church, San Diego:

When asked this question, I immediately thought of our purpose statement: We exist ³to glorify Christ by making more disciples for Jesus Christ.²

That¹s a nice, tidy purpose statement. So how are we doing? Pretty well, and not so well. Implicit in our statement is the idea of winning people to Christ. You can¹t disciple them until you win them. We do a fair job of showing people their need of Christ and leading them to a personal trust in Him.

We next work at getting the new converts baptized and started down the road to discipleship with a ³101 Class² for new believers. We talk about church membership during this class, as well.

The next part of our strategy is the part we need to fine tune. I am not satisfied with the maturation process of our new believers/church members that prepares them for leadership and launches them into ministry. In fact, this is part of our strategic planning for 2006 - how do we mature believers and get them involved in ministry? If we can fine tune that process, we will make an even more significant impact on our "Jerusalem."

Dr. Robert B. Thompson, pastor, Mt. Zion Fellowship, Poway:

Our church¹s purpose is to provide a place where the people of Poway can find God¹s will for their life and learn how to pursue that will successfully. We are carrying out this purpose by having services at which all the people of the community are welcome. Also, we have a large sign facing the street with statements that we hope will help people as they drive by to pursue their daily tasks in a godly, constructive manner.

For example, a recent statement was, ³Each day in Jesus is more wonderful than the day before.² Another was, ³If you would have peace, why not come to know the Prince of Peace.²

Each Sunday morning for 45 minutes, prior to the beginning of the worship service, we conduct what is termed ³Burden Bearers.² Various members of the congregation present a devotional, which reflects their experiences with the Lord Jesus. When they finish, anyone with a burden or problem can come before those who have gathered and tell of their need. Then the group joins in prayer to assist that individual.

In addition, we have taken steps to cooperate with the Red Cross that we may assist in any community efforts to provide relief in the event of a major emergency.

Pastor Mark & Anne Stapleton, Cornerstone Community Church, Lemon Grove:

At Cornerstone, our mission is simple (but not easy): to live like Jesus, to love like Jesus and to lead people to Jesus. We are committed to be a people known by love, who live with humility and have a heart of service. Cornerstone is on a journey to become a transformative community of faith. One way we offer to help in the transformational process is through our weekly worship gathering.

Imagine a place where people can¹t wait to gather to share what they have been learning and living during the week, to discuss scriptures they are wrestling with, to link arms with others who are rejoicing or grieving. Imagine a place where people are challenged by not only the preacher, but by each other, to apply the Bible to their everyday lives and to discover the implication of the Biblical texts to the entire community of faith. Imagine an environment where you are not told what to think, but encouraged to think, to ask questions and grapple with concepts, ideas and beliefs, together. Imagine a way of doing church that not only keeps you awake during services but also invites you to participate, contribute and engage. We sit ³in-the-round² -- facing each other -- to facilitate openness, honesty and a sense of community. This is the kind of place and the kind of people that Cornerstone is seeking to become.

Pastor David Escovedo, Victory Outreach, Escondido:

We at Victory Outreach are concerned about the growing proportion of gang members, drug addicts, alcoholics, troubled youth and school violence in our community. Therefore we offer Christian recovery homes, which provide room and board to our residents at no cost to them. Our dedication to the rehabilitation of these individuals has helped thousands in finding hope through a new way of life with Jesus Christ.

Victory Outreach Escondido regularly holds evangelistic crusades throughout our community. Each year we have our annual ³Operation Hope² campaign where we present live dramas that depicts the negative effects of drugs, gangs and violence. The purpose of the campaign is to reach our young generation and give them a positive alternative in life.

People who need help in coming to know God, have problems in the home, or are troubled by any of a multitude of other things that keep people from being happy and fulfilled, need someone who cares. And that¹s the message of our fellowship. Because Jesus cares for people, Victory Outreach is people who care about each other.

Pastor Larry D. Hudson, Pacific View Baptist Church, Encinitas:

As pastor, Pacific View Baptist Church has been my purpose driven church ministry for the last nine years. We just celebrated over 50 years of ministry here in the Encinitas-Cardiff area. Our main purpose is to actively help people become part of God’s family and then to help each one mature into biblical ministering, missionary, servants of Christ. We have been a consistent bearer of His Word and our Lord Jesus Christ in supporting mission work denominationally around the world as well as getting involved in many ways, both locally and in worldwide mission evangelism.

Many pastors can share how varied the church’s purpose in the community has ranged from sports, to helping the homeless, to helping establish a spiritual work for our Hispanic community. I have witnessed our congregation making baby blankets for military families, lap blankets for our wounded veterans, skirts and nap blankets for children of a Head Start program, food donations locally and to orphans in Mexico, and much more. We serve a Savior that takes broken lives and makes them whole again. Our work is as varied as the size, age and the leadership of our congregation has been through the years. We will continue working and serving our Savior till He comes back as Lord — that is our driving purpose.

Pastor Tim Barry, Grace Family Fellowship, Del Mar:

Grace Family Fellowship was founded for one purpose: to place the Name of Jesus in San Diego. Deuteronomy 14:23. The Lord called our family to the Del Mar/Carmel Valley area to exalt His Name.

We live in a world full of hurt and hopelessness. That is why Jesus came. “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

When the angels announced the birth of Jesus they said, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” That’s right! ALL people! A SAVIOR! GOOD tidings!’ God was sending His Son to die so that we could be FREE from the power and penalty of sin.

Grace Family Fellowship’s desire is to spread this Good News. Jesus has set us free from sin, sickness and poverty, and through His blood and His resurrection, He has given us victory over all the works of the enemy. We have a desire to bring the Good News, the Gospel, to this area. There is nothing impossible to him who believes in His Name.

Pastor John Bales, Community Reformed Church, Escondido:

The greater purpose of the Community Reformed Church is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We are called to magnify the manifold perfections of the One, True God through the proclamation of His Word, the Holy Scriptures. It is through the proclamation of the gospel, God’s good news, along with the working of His Holy Spirit that a person can come to know Him and enjoy Him. Although this should be the purpose of every Christian church, we live in an age of much confusion regarding the church’s purpose.

Having said this, every church is different and therefore those churches which seek to glorify God will do so in ways which are unique to its context. We are not intentionally trying to become a mega church. Rather, our intention is to be spiritually alive, mature and reproductive in ministry. The two large oak trees at the entrance of the church are symbolic of our desire to be fruitful, drawing upon the life of Jesus Christ, bearing fruit in people’s lives and in the multiplication of churches. We seek to glorify God by providing biblical preaching in a reverent, classic style of worship. We also believe that God will be honored as we authentically love each other. Our church feels a special calling to leave a legacy for the next generation.

Pastor Richard Burkey, Christ Lutheran Church, La Mesa:

Christ Lutheran Church exists to develop dynamic disciples for Christ through the five purposes Rick Warren highlights in The Purpose Driven Church:

In membership, we gather together and become a part of God’s family through small group ministry meeting in homes and serving in our community.

In maturity, we grow in our relationship with God to become more Christ-like. Study of God’s Word in Bible classes, small groups, and individual devotions results in practical application in prayer, generosity and service.

In ministry, we give ourselves through using our spiritual gifts and talents. God has shaped Christ Lutheran Church to build families through a pre-school through 8th grade school, youth ministry from middle school through college age, and generational events like sock hops and over 230 participants at La Mesa’s Pick Up the Park Day.

In mission, we go and tell others about the good news of Jesus Christ. Working with Global Mission Fellowship, we’ve gone to Cuba, Paraguay, Russia, and next year Ethiopia. Working with Mission India, we’ve planted over 20 churches in India. Working with Yugo, we work to connect youth in Mexico to Jesus. Through relationships God provides, we seek to be contagious, connecting people to Jesus.

In magnification, we seek to live a life of worship that brings the glory to God. Worship in our sanctuary and gym as well as the occasional service on Mount Helix and in Harry Griffen Park celebrates the purpose God has for our lives.