Following a yearlong strategic planning process and full endorsement by the ministry’s Board of Directors, Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) introduced new vision and mission statements designed to guide the organization forward.
Our Vision: We empower all we serve to experience life to the fullest.
Our Mission: We equip children, youth and families to flourish by offering hope through Christ-centered relationships, services and support.
“Our vision describes our ultimate goal; the big picture of what we see ourselves accomplishing through our daily tasks and in all that we do,” said Trey Oakley, president of MCH. “It is not our job to fix every problem, but it is our goal to empower, strengthen, provide the tools, and walk alongside those we serve to be all God has called them to be.”
Oakley pointed out the phrase “all we serve” in the vision statement goes beyond children, youth and families served by MCH to include employees and others as well.
“Children, youth and families are such a clear part of our mission statement, just as in the previous statement,” Oakley said. “While that is our focus, we impact so many others. For example, the experiences I have at MCH make me a better person, a better husband and father, a better friend, and a better member of my own church and community. This is descriptive of the impact of this ministry.”
The final phrase of the vision statement, “experience life to the fullest,” comes from John 10:10 in the Bible, Oakley explained.
“Jesus tells his disciples in this passage that the world comes to offer something that is ultimately hollow, but through a true relationship with Christ, true meaning is found,” he said. “Living as Christ intended truly enables us to then love our neighbors and live life to the fullest.”
While the vision statement describes the ultimate goal of the ministry, the mission statement is what drives MCH toward that goal.
“Our mission statement is our ‘why;’ our ‘how-to,’” Oakley said. “It is the measurement we use whenever we decide to implement a new program, pursue a new collaboration or conduct our daily operations.”
Oakley said the planning committee initially considered keeping the previous mission statement but “through discussions, feedback from employees and our examination of what we really needed to achieve our vision, we came up with a new mission statement to push us forward,” he said.
“We emphasize children, youth and families in our mission statement because this is the area to which we are called,” he said. “Through that focus we impact a larger part of our community, our states and world.”
The new mission statement also keeps the phrase “offering hope” because “hope has become synonymous with the ministries of Methodist Children’s Home,” Oakley said. “This is offered through Christ-centered relationships, services and support – our programs, our daily activities and what our employees do day-in and day-out.”
Through MCH programs and services, it is another goal “to help people get to a place where they can flourish,” Oakley said. “This idea of flourishing is a powerful part of the new mission statement. When people flourish they can achieve great things, see things they have never seen before, and have a recognition and appreciation for who God has called them to be.”
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