What Kind of People Do We Aspire to Be?

Lance Caddel

Jul 14

2 min read

Hey Pastors and Ministry Leaders,

Over the past two weeks, I’ve shared the vision that has been shaping much of our thinking over the past year:

To work with God and His churches to extend His Kingdom.

I’ve also shared the Big Bold Goal that is helping us move toward that vision:

A disciple-making church in every community in the Pacific Northwest.

As we reflect on those two ideas, it’s natural to ask another question:

What kind of people will it take to accomplish something like that?

I’m convinced that every church, every ministry, and every organization develops a culture. Some cultures are intentional. Others simply happen. But every culture is ultimately shaped by the values its people choose to live by.

In fact, you can usually tell what an organization truly values, not by what’s written on the wall, but by what is consistently practiced day after day.

As our staff spent time praying and seeking God’s direction over the past year, we realized that if we’re going to faithfully pursue the vision God has given us, then how we accomplish the mission matters just as much as what we accomplish.

That’s why we spent considerable time identifying the values that we want to shape our culture, not simply as an organization, but as servants of Christ working alongside His churches.

At the Northwest Baptist Convention, we aspire to be people who:

Grow in Christ by the power of the Spirit
Put the mission before ourselves
Lead collaboratively
Build trust through integrity and dependability
Remain curious and adaptable
Serve humbly and relationally

These aren’t just statements we hope people remember. They’re commitments we’re asking God to continually develop in us because the truth is, strategy alone doesn’t accomplish God’s work. Programs have their place, but they don’t transform lives. Jesus works through people whose hearts are surrendered to Him.

My prayer is that these values won’t simply shape the culture of the Northwest Baptist Convention. I hope they’ll encourage all of us as pastors and ministry leaders to become the kind of people God can use to accomplish His purposes through our churches and throughout the Northwest.

The next few weeks, I plan to unpack these values and share why each one has become so important to us. Until then, thank you for faithfully serving where God has placed you. Lisa and I are grateful to be part of this family of churches and to serve alongside you.

by Faith,