The Path Ahead
Board Discussion
Growing, Connecting, Loving
Mission: Raise up radically inclusive followers of Jesus who invite others to do the same. Vision: Spark the largest and most inclusive Jesus-centered movement our region has seen.
Purpose & Mantra
Purpose: Because no one's seat at the table should cost someone else their seat.
Mantra: Growing Deep, Reaching Wide.
Core Promises
Show up and stick around
See you, know you, and hear you
Hold space for your healing
Welcome you fully, without exception
Help you walk with God at your own pace
Lead with honesty and grace
Methodology
Grounded in congregational and staff input, plus informal benchmarking:
- Interviews (~25)
- Interactive planning session (~80 participants)
- Staff discussions
- Informal benchmarking of other churches
Core Focus Areas (2026-2028)
Maintain Excellence in Worship
Message & music excellence; innovate for in-person capacity & aesthetics; invest in online reach.
Foster Care & Connections Among Members
New member connections; expand groups; signature all-church events; care & prayer team; focused outreach.
Grow Services for Kids/Youth (0-18)
Improve Sunday experience; partner for youth group; host summer VBS.
Care & Connection - 2026 Target Metrics
| Metric | Measurement | Target (End 2026) | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discover attendance | Count (4/yr) | 15 per session / 60 total | 10 per session |
| Trail attendance | Count (3/yr) | 20 per session / 60 total | 20 per session |
| Members in Small Groups | Count (≥ once/mo) | 100 | 50 |
| Members in Affinity Groups | Count | 25 | n/a |
| All-Church events | Count | 2 | 0 |
| Metric | Measurement | Target (End 2026) | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care & Prayer team members | Count | 12 | 0 |
| Welcome team members | Count | 20 | 20 |
| Outreach events | Count | 5 | 6 |
Kids & Youth - 2026 Target Metrics
| Metric | Measurement | Target (End 2026) | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday School | Weekly count | 40 kids/week | 15 kids/week |
| Youth group (regular) | Weekly count | 20 youth/week | 10 youth/week |
| VBS | Attendance | 50 kids (total) | n/a |
Building the Infrastructure (2026-2028)
Develop & Nurture Staff
Fair pay/benefits; annual growth plans; add 1-2 staff by end of 2026.
Create Structures for Member Engagement
Grow board; establish committees to spread work and diversify input.
Grow Our Financial Base
Coordinated funding plan; increase member participation in fundraising; pursue grants.
Formalize Strategic Partnerships
Joint youth activities, outreach events, signature worship, space capacity solutions.
Staff - 2026 Target Metrics
| Metric | Measurement | Target (End 2026) | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair pay standard | Pay vs benchmark | 9/10 | 9.2 |
| Staff retention | Annual count | 100% | 100% |
| Development plans | Count | 100% | 100% |
| Staff additions | Count | 2 | 0 |
Member Structures - 2026 Target Metrics
| Metric | Measurement | Target (End 2026) | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active board members | Count | 13-15 | ? |
| Members engaged in leadership | Count | 60 | 7 |
| Standing committees | Count | 5 | ? |
Financial Base - 2026 Target Metrics
| Metric | Measurement | Target (End 2026) | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding plan | Completion | Complete | n/a |
| Members in fundraising | Count | 20 | n/a |
| Grants submitted | Count | 5 | ? |
Our BIG Goal (2030)
By 2030, The Well will triple its impact: growing from ~130 to 400+ in weekly worship, engaging 300+ people in our pathway (Well Groups, Discover, and The Trail), and serving 1,000+ kids and youth (Well Kids, Student Ministry, and Youth In Need). We will raise up 60+ everyday leaders with resources to sustain the movement.
Wildly Important Goals (WIGs)
Lag outcomes are what we aim to achieve; lead measures are predictive actions we influence weekly to get there.
WIG 1 - Grow Weekly Worship
Creating space for connection.
Lag Measure (Goal)
Grow to 500+ in weekly worship (2030 trajectory; interim: 200+ by 2026; 300+ by 2028).
Current: ~130Target 2030: 500+
WIG 2 - Engage Our Pathway
Well Groups • Discover • The Trail.
Lag Measure (Goal)
300+ people actively engaged in our pathway (2030; interim: 125+ by 2026; 200+ by 2028).
Current: baselineTarget 2030: 300+
WIG 3 - Serve the Next Generation
Well Kids • Student Ministry • Youth In Need.
Lag Measure (Goal)
1,000+ kids & youth knowing they belong (2030; interim: 350+ by 2026; 700+ by 2028).
Current: baselineTarget 2030: 1,000+
WIG 4 - Develop Leaders & Resources
Empowering everyday leaders; sustaining the movement.
Lag Measure (Goal)
60+ everyday leaders raised with sustainable resources (2030; interim: ~25 by 2026; ~45 by 2028).
Current: baselineTarget 2030: 60+
Understanding Lead vs Lag Measures
Lag Measures
The ultimate goals we are trying to achieve. These are results we track but cannot directly control.
Lead Measures
Predictive, influenceable actions we can take this week that will move our lag measures over time.