Introduction - The following is a living document designed to articulate what our church will be in 2012. Each year we will update this statement to project current priorities and new ideas for each of the coming three years. Many of the attributes and programs listed below are strong today, others are in existence but need work, while others are just good ideas.

Vision Summary - Through the guidance of continual prayer, Mountain View United Methodist Church provides a vibrant, loving environment that invites and welcomes every seeker and nourishes souls in their journey to salvation through Jesus Christ. We serve the children and youth in Forest and the surrounding communities to help them, their parents, and their mentors manage the pressures and opportunities of the twenty-first century. We serve our elders and rely on their wisdom to guide the younger generations and we support families of the infirmed. As a beacon we serve the hungry in body and spirit; every member is involved in a local missions group. We are responsible stewards with God's resources. We draw strength from our roots by having everyone take ownership of Mountain View and get actively involved. We have five intertwined program areas - evangelism, worship, education, outreach, and nurture.

Programs

Evangelism: Mountain View invites new souls to Christ through inspiring programs such as special music and drama events, festivals, dinners, and other activities; we also invite new people to worship. We quickly and lovingly follow-up with visitors to worship and these other events with supportive visits from laity and staff. We assimilate visitors and especially new members into programs with personal invitations to events and ministries that are uniquely interesting and appropriate to each individual. We shepherd all persons associated with Mountain View UMC in their spiritual growth toward becoming faithful servants equipped to share their faith with others.

Worship: We consistently provide high quality, inviting, Christ-centered worship with a variety of prayer, oratory, music, drama, liturgy, visuals, and other participatory activities that inspire and affirm a broad spectrum of families. Midweek services offer a compelling message and lively music. Each service conveys the theology of the United Methodist Church and promotes ongoing spiritual growth and transformation toward each person becoming a faithful servant. We provide a children's church program during all worship services and most members are actively involved in worship.

Education: We provide a comprehensive program for children, youth, and adults that nurtures Christian development through education and related activities. The majority of our members and others from the greater Forest community engage in these activities. Mountain View provides an effective after-school program called the Knight's Club for seventy K5 through sixth graders. Local children, youth and their parents see our church as an exciting, fun, uplifting, and safe place to interact with others through a variety of integrated activities including service, music and drama. Youth have a space of their own, a place dedicated for their activities: game room, meeting & music space, etc. Our entire congregation supports children and youth programs and we facilitate all age levels supporting one another through bible studies, fellowship, and missions. We provide a variety of Sunday school classes for adults, young adults, youth, and children.

Outreach:  We are a beacon to the community through active involvement in local, national, and global missions. We support outside care groups like Salvation Army, Society of St. Andrew, United Way, American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, etc. within our local community through consistent and broad-based member participation and development of on-going church/agency relationships. We provide significant support to Forest's public schools and other programs such as scouting, offering Mountain View's facilities, close proximity, and strengths in music and drama, to demonstrate Christ-inspired love for the children, teachers, and school administrators in our community. We know our members' skills and desires and match these with community outreach possibilities to create a focused list of outreach ministries. We actively execute mission trips for youth and adults including support of the Jamaica mission teams. We endeavor to tithe to outreach and missions projects each year.

Nurture: Mountain View promotes and facilitates corporate and individual prayer opportunities. We perform programs and ministries which provide contact, comfort and care for church members, church attendees, and specific, known individuals and especially to those who are hurting or in need of care; we also provide help to programs that provide such comfort and care in the greater Forest community. We have regular family night meals for youth and adults that include uplifting activities like praise & worship bands. We have a strong and growing small groups program. We host seminars on life issues and a variety of activities that nurture all sectors of our church and local community.

Tools in Support of our Programs

1. Prayer

2. Regular Worship: Sunday Morning, Mid-week, Holidays

3. Sunday School: children, youth, and adult

4. Small Groups: Bakers Dozen, Purdy Group, Home Builders, UMM, etc.

5. Special Drama Events Outside of Sunday Morning Worship

6. Special Music Events Outside of Sunday Morning Worship

7. Social events: Chili Cook-off, Aloha Sunday, Pot Lucks, Festivals, etc.

8. Special Events: Cancer Awareness/Quilt Auction, Yard Sale, etc.

9. Service Projects: Potato drop, Shepherd's Table, etc.

10. MV Sponsored Groups: Scouts, Beth Moore, etc.

11. Loan of our Facilities to "Outside Groups": Moms in Touch, Overeaters Anonymous, AP Testing for High School Students, Community Group Meals (i.e. sports teams), etc.

12. Communications: Bulletin, Newsletter, Email, Web Site, Bulletin Boards, Meetings, Newspaper, Radio, TV, etc.