We held our Annual Meeting on September 30, 2012, part of this meeting included Lead Pastor Jim Powell sharing where we believe God is calling Richwoods to go over the next twelve months and beyond.  You can hear the audio with this link: 2013 Vision: Breaking Camp.

This statement is a result of congregational input, and over one year of prayerful discussions among our leadership.  You’ll notice that it does not include specifics about dates, numbers, or locations. Those items will take care of themselves down the road.  Our primary concern is to convey the desires that we unanimously agree the Lord is laying upon our hearts regarding the kind of church that we are striving to be.  With that said, here is what we feel the Lord has laid on our hearts ::

We believe God desires for us to be ::

A Church with a Pulse  … that is vibrant and passionate; a healthy congregation that strives to grow — not only in number, but also in maturity.

A Church that Engages … and intentionally draws its people into life-changing relationships with Christ and each other.

A Church of One Heart … where members of varied backgrounds, unique opinions, and diverse abilities understand the value of their God-given talents as they work in unity purpose for God’s glory

A Church with Opportunities … that offers its members numerous options to serve and receive from an ever increasing variety of specialized, high-quality ministries; while striving to maintain closeness and a sense of belonging

A Church that Impacts … through love and truth, serving as an influential presence in our community and Christ’s envoy to the world; a congregation where God forever changes the hearts and lives of those who encounter it.

At Richwoods, we believe we have the opportunity to engage in four circles of influence :: campus, local, regional/national and global.

Campus
We believe it starts here.  A healthy Campus community has greater capacity, a longer reach, and a deeper passion to serve others as ambassadors for Christ.  Pick a Campus to find out more :: East Campus • Knoxville Campus

Local
We are committed to serving our communities – specifically ‘the least of these’ Jesus spoke of in Matthew’s Gospel. Our primary focus at this level is our Adopt-a-Block ministry that serves families and Trewyn school in the 61603 ZIP code.

Regional/National
We know first hand how difficult it can be breaking through barriers to growth – especially as a smaller, under-resourced church.  God has planted a vision in our hearts to lend a hand to other churches and church leaders to help them reach their redemptive potential.  Stay tuned for more on our efforts with The 95 Network.

Global
We continue to receive ‘returned blessings’ in the midst of our service to the Manaus region of Brazil.  It started with water filters, service projects, and conversations about God’s love for people.  The potential for impact continues to grow as we build partnerships with others and dream big about how God might work in and through us as we look forward to the future.

Interested in reading more about our vision?