| Core Dreams |

The purpose of Vine Church is to be a multi-ethnic community that worships Jesus and makes authentic disciples of the people in the Carbondale area. LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, LIVE IT OUT!

We believe Jesus has called us to live out this vision through the following core dreams:

1. 10% OF SIU AND LARGE NUMBERS AT JOHN A LOGAN
We have always been a “Student Church”; which is distinctly different than simply having a College Student Ministry. We have consistently had half of our total attendance comprised of students. Although we may have relatively large numbers of students already attending; the total enrollment of SIU leaves around 18,000 that aren’t going anyplace. We believe that Jesus wants to reach them.

2. 50% NON-CAUCASIAN
Out of all the Core Dreams we have, this one will have the most impact on our church family. Although our local community demographics show 80% Caucasian, 13% African American and 3% Asian, we believe the Church is supposed to be the leader in demonstrating the truth that Jesus is calling all people to himself. In Revelation 7, we see the ultimate fulfillment of this: “I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.”

3. CUT HOMELESSNESS IN CARBONDALE BY 50%
We can’t profess to love Jesus without loving the poor! We currently spend 4.6% of our annual budget on helping the poor and have a goal of 10% as a minimum. To reach our dream, it will likely mean having a full time director on staff who manages an off site facility that will provide daily meals, short-term housing, job and educational training, and of course spiritual and emotional healing. It will also provide expanded opportunities for our members to serve those in need.

4. PLANTING HEALTHY CHURCHES IN UNIVERSITY CITIES
Church planting is widely known to be the most effective means of reaching people for Jesus. We currently have four church plants (or daughter churches) and are training many more to go to communities all over the nation to build places where people can experience the same things that God have given us in Carbondale. It’s a Kingdom principle that the generous are blessed, and we will continue to send out our best leaders and close friends to “go and make disciples”.

5. WIDELY KNOWN FOR EXCEPTIONAL MINISTRIES FOR OUR KIDS AND YOUTH
We hear this so often: “We’re here because of your youth program.” For parents, finding a place that is safe and partners with them in the spiritual development of their children is the number one priority. We want to invest in the lives of our kids. We want them to meet Jesus and grow into the people He intended them to be. Our staff and leaders already do a wonderful job at providing such a place, but we will continually strive to improve and expand those ministries.

6. A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WITH NO CHURCH EXPERIENCE CAN HEAR ABOUT JESUS IN A RELEVANT WAY
We need to continue to reach out in a culturally-sensitive and relational way to the thousands of people in our area who don’t yet know Jesus. This means that, though our methods may shift with the culture, the impact of the message will result in changed lives as people become disciples.

7. WIDELY KNOWN FOR HELPING PEOPLE WITH INNER HEALING AND SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Using a fishing analogy; “if you catch them you have to clean them.” That means Jesus called us to not simply help people to turn their lives over to him but to become authentic disciples. This means working through the junk from our past and getting real help with the struggles we currently face. It’s incredible to see the transformation in someone committed to getting help. We want everyone who Jesus has called to be a part of our family to have an opportunity to receive training and encouragement in their faith.

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