Alexander Whyte was the great expositional preacher of St. George’s church, and a professor at New College, in Edinburgh during the early 20^th century. One of his contemporaries described him in the following way: “While others might defend Christianity by the weapons of the intellect; he did so by the evidence of an inspired personality - by vision, not by argument (G.F. Barbour, 304).”

There was something about the very presence of Alexander Whyte, his speech, personality, and actions, that enticed people to learn more about Jesus. He was this kind of man at the pulpit, and in the foyer, and on the sidewalk in front of church. The mere physical vision of the man told the viewer something about Christianity.  

Our church has been a vision of Christianity for longer than I have been a Christian. God has seen fit to call the Jones family to join in and embrace Covenant’s ministry of broadcasting our Lord and King in all that we do. Over this past year, nothing has stood out to me more than the delight that CPC finds in being a very vision of Christ and His work to others and to each other. 

On August 20, our elders approved a Mission Statement for our church. We want to advance, not our own mission, but the mission of our King. There is likely no better statement of the church’s mission than the one found in Matthew 28.19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Mark 16.15 is even more succinct, “...go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” 

Covenant Presbyterian Church exists to love God and our neighbors 

by making Christ known in all of life.   

This mission of CPC is a crystalline reflection of our King’s own mission for His church, which is why we’ve emphasized the action of loving through making known, revealing, and testifying to Jesus Christ, Himself, with all that we are.  

A Vision Statement is a picture of a local congregation. As one writer says, “a vision is like a person’s character or personality – something you have even when you aren’t trying to have one (MacNair, 195).” Visions get revised because they are always sin-flawed attempts to glorify God, when God persistently reminds us that the power of the church is not from us, but from God, Himself (2 Corinthians 4.7). In August, our elders approved the following Vision Statement: 

Covenant Presbyterian Church exists to love God and our neighbors by reverently and winsomely proclaiming the salvation we have received from Christ, the union we enjoy with Him, and the restoration He brings to all things.    

You should hear echoes of the Mission Statement. We wish to express love for God and others not as we see fit, but by making known God’s own love for us in His Son. There is an aspect of Christ’s ministry that is largely in the past. Our present salvation was secured before the foundation of the world. There is a present aspect of His ministry, in that we enjoy God’s presence not because of works or circumstances, but through our gracious and eternal union with Christ. Also, His ministry has a future aspect, in that every person is subject to the One who has the authority to restore all things according to His will and reign. A proclamation such as this is richly multi-textured, indeed! At CPC, we wish to make this proclamation, in all of life, with reverence and awe, along with gentleness and humility. 

You will see more of this Vision Statement over the next few months as Ministry Teams, Support Staff, Pastoral Staff, and Officers begin emphasizing elements of the vision in their various ministries. Please stay tuned. This Sunday, I’ll be preaching on the center of this vision, the proclamation of Christ, from the life of Paul in Acts 28.23-31.