FIVE YEAR VISION
NEIGHBORHOOD TO NATIONS
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20
CONNECTING
Jesus Christ
life changing
GOSPEL OF
everyone
WITH THE
OUR MISSION
A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR
Dear Connect Church Family,
When we planted Connect Church in 2018, we never realized all that God had in store for His church. We serve a God who is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Hundreds of people have come to faith in Jesus in the past three years. We have watched and celebrated new believers as they took their next step in their faith and were baptized. From the hundreds who are in Connect Groups each week, to the hundreds who serve in the life of Connect Church - we are grateful.
Our heartbeat remains strong, we desire above all to make much of Jesus and to connect everyone with the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our vision is clear; we are going to love God, love people, and make disciples. As our community grows, Connect Church must grow as well. With tens of thousands of people without a church home across our community and many thousands of people without a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ, the work and mission of Connect Church has never been more important and has never been more urgent.
This 5 Year Plan contains our prayed-through vision for the next five years in the life and ministry of Connect Church. One thing is for sure, without HIM, none of this is possible. There is something else we are certain of; we need YOU. Together we must pray like never before, share the gospel like never before, serve like never before, and give like never before!
We are ready to move forward as a church, to take hold of the vision that has been cast, and to continue connecting everyone with the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ!
In Christ,
Anthony Kendall
Lead Pastor
Connect Church
The Barn
SUMMER 2014
First dreaming conversation
about a potential church
plant....one day!
JAN. 19th, 2018
First Connect Church salvation while at Chickfila!
JAN. 21st, 2018
First meeting at the King's Barn to share the
vision of Connect Church
The Lodge
APR. 1st, 2018 - Easter
Connect Church launches on Sunday evenings at Hidden Mountain's
Lodge to prepare for Sunday morning launch
APR. 1st, 2018 - Easter
First salvation and baptism at the Lodge on Easter Sunday
JUN. 26th, 2018
First prayer meeting for the Ridge space. (At the time, it wasn't the Ridge. It was an empty building.) Our team walked through and prayed for God to give us the space
The Ridge
SEPT. 30th, 2018
Connect Church launches on Sunday
morning at 10am at the Ridge!
APR. 20th, 2019 - Easter
Connect Church launches second service time. We went from 10am to 9am and 11am.
SEPT. 29th, 2019 - 1 Year Anniversary
Celebrated over 50 baptisms in the first year of Connect Church's ministry.
FEB. 2020
Special Needs Ministry launched at Connect Church.
MAR. 2020
COVID-19. Connect Church went digital and God uses Connect Church in ways we didn't believe possible online.
SEPT. 27th, 2020 - Two Year Anniversay
Two years of ministry to celebrate! In a digitally
focused year, we saw thousands of people watch our services from all over the world due to the 2020 pandemic.
AUG. 25th, 2021 - Group Night
We see over 200 people involved in our first Wednesday evening group night! More people are connecting in small groups than ever!
THE STORY OF
CONNECT CHURCH
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21
The Story of Connect Church
is the Story of its People...
Mallory Lafollette
"The mission statement of Connect is reaching the people outside of the
walls and unchurched people."
Christian Haynes
"I've never had as close friendships that I have now. The Young Adult Ministry is basically my family."
Teresa Teasley
"Not being native to this area, we have just made friends that we will probably have for a lifetime."
Tilon Simms
"Connect Church provided me
with the community that I'd been longing for."
Carrie Murphy
"The people here are incredible...and I love each of them deeply. Connect church, for me, is my family."
THE
STORY
ISN'T OVER...
FIVE YEAR GOALS
"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Proverbs 16:3
1,000
SALVATIONS
AND BAPTISMS
1,500
PEOPLE
CONNECTING WITH
CONNECT CHURCH
LOVE
GOD
1,000
PEOPLE IN
CONNECT GROUPS
4-5
CAMPUSES & CHURCHES PLANTED
1,000
PEOPLE
SERVING
300
CONNECTED IN
CONNECT KIDZ
LOVE PEOPLE
300
CONNECTED IN
CONNECT STUDENTS
300
CONNECTED IN
CONNECT YOUNG
ADULTS
OPEN COFFEE SHOP
TO EMPLOY INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
MAIN CAMPUS
OF CONNECT CHURCH & CONNECT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY STARTED
MAKE
DISCIPLES
FOR THE SUN TO NEVER SET ON CONNECT CHURCH MISSIONS
AROUND THE WORLD
2
UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS REACHED WITH
THE GOSPEL
2021-22
2023-24
BY 2025
A GLIMPSE AT THE FIVE YEAR VISION
People. People are at the heart of our mission: connecting everyone with the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. People aren’t the means to an end. They are the end. They are the goal. Each item behind our 5 year vision focuses on reaching as many people with that life changing Gospel. As we continue to work hard to connect everyone with the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, we also continue to dream, to plan, and to look towards the future. Below is a glimpse into the next 5 years in the life and ministry of Connect Church!
During the first two years, we will locate and identify land to be the future home of Connect Church. We want to acquire the land and raise the funds to build this home debt free. We will launch the giving campaign and continue to raise funds in order to see this vision happen! During this time, preparations for Connect Christian Academy will begin.
Once land is identified, we will hire an architectural firm to help us cast vision for a future home of Connect Church. We will begin a 1-2 year giving campaign to raise money to build debt free. Preparations to launch Connect Christian Academy will continue.
We desire a home for Connect Church by 2025. We also desire to launch Connect Christian Academy alongside the launching of Connect Church main campus
All these times must remain flexible as opportunities present themselves
2021+2022
PHASE ONE
LAUNCH GIVING CAMPAIGN &
IDENTIFY LAND FOR FUTURE HOME OF CONNECT CHURCH
2023+2024
A HOME FOR CONNECT CHURCH IS BUILT AND
CONNECT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY IS LAUNCHED
DEBT FREE
PHASE TWO
2025 and Beyond
BEGIN SITEWORK FOR THE FUTURE HOME OF
CONNECT CHURCH AND PREPARE FOR THE LAUNCH OF
CONNECT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
"Unless the Lord builds this house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."
Psalm 127:1
PRAY
LIKE NEVER BEFORE
How should you pray?
The Land
Pray that God would prepare and provide land for Connect Church's home.
The Leadership
Pray for Connect Church leadership
who will be leading this project.
The Project
Pray that we would be in God’s will throughout this entire project.
"Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:5-7
"True prayer is a way of life, not just for use in cases of emergency. Make it a habit, and when the need arises you will be in practice."
Billy Graham
SHARE
LIKE NEVER BEFORE
How should you share?
Social Media
We are on Facebook and Instagram. A simple share on a post or like on our facebook page can bring awareness to this campaign.
Word of Mouth
An effective way to share is simply talking to others about what the Lord is doing here at Connect Church. Don't doubt that God can use you to help push this campaign forward!
The Gospel
The true "good news" isn't this building
campaign. The good news is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Connect everyone with the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.
That's why we exist!
GET INVOLVED
GIVE
Generosity matters. At Connect Church, we believe we should be generous because God was and is generous to us. We all have the opportunity to take part in this 5 year vision by giving. Your giving isn't toward a building. It's towards people.
Become a Financial Partner
One Time
Giving at Connect Church is simple and secure. We have financial teams in place that audit our accounts. Our online giving portal is kept secure through encryption and secure connections.
Make Checks to
Connect Church
Write "5 Year Vision" in the memo
Monthly Recurring
Contact us
An easy way to give is by setting up monthly recurring donations. You can set this up by following the instructions below. All giving at Connect Church is tax deductible.
You can setup any amount
If you have questions about our giving campaign or if you would like to give via phone call or other means, such as cryptocurrency, stocks, or bonds, reach out to us and let us know!
Contact
865-365-1750
Instructions
- Input amount
- Select "5 Year Vision Fund"
- Select Frequency
- Input Email and Name
- Input Payment Method
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency
in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
GIVING CAMPAIGN
Giving Campaign Goals
TOTAL GOAL
$10,000,000
5%
2%
6%
5%
72%
10%
Project Budget Allocations
-
-
Building & Site
AVL
-
-
Design
IT/Security
-
-
Contingency
FF & E
*As prices in the industry increase/decrease and as opportunities arise, this plan could look different. However, God knows how it will all work out and we are trusting
in Him for His will to be accomplished.