Our Strategies
What are the West Hills strategies?
The following five broad areas of ministry serve as the primary means of accomplishing our purpose and vision:
WORSHIP - EXALTING GOD FOR WHO HE IS
Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Matthew 4:10
We were created for worship. Not just on Sunday mornings, but on every day of the week and with every part of our lives. Worship means to acknowledge the worth-ship of God. At West Hills, we want for people of all ages to discover and experience for themselves how truly wonderful God is, and for their worship to be the spontaneous overflow coming from their lives over the goodness and greatness of God.
There is no "correct style" of worship. At West Hills we enjoy a mixture of the many songs of praise that God is stirring up in the hearts of today's artists, along with the familiar hymns of the faith from the past. While worship is primarily for those people who have come into a personal relationship with God, we think that it should also be very intelligible and attractive to the person who is just embarking on their spiritual journey.
Components of Public and Private Worship
• Singing (Eph. 5:19)
• Praying (Psalm 95:6)
• Listening (Psalm 78:1)
• Repenting (Acts 3:19)
• Confessing sin (1 John 1:9)
• Raising hands (Psalm 63:4)
• Meditating (Psalm 77:12)
• Humbling (1 Peter 5:6)
• Celebrating (Psalm 145:7)
• Shouting (Psalm 66:1)
• Silence (Zeph. 1:7)
• Giving (2 Cor. 8:7)
• Obeying (1 Sam. 15:22)
• Reading & Preaching of God's Word (Josh. 8:34)
• Artistic expressions (2 Sam. 6:14; Ex. 35:35)
• Baptism (Acts 2:38)
• Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
EVANGELISM - BRINGING PEOPLE TO CHRIST
Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? Romans 10:13-14
Why the Church Must Never Stop Growing:
1. Because God loves people.
The Lord is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but wants everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
2. Because God commands us to reach out.
Go out into the country and urge anyone you find to
Come in so that my house will be full. Luke 14:23
You will be my witnesses. Acts 1:8
3. Because growth is God's will.
I will build my church. Matthew 16:18
DISCIPLESHIP - BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST
So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Hebrews 6:1
It would not be normal for a baby to still be in diapers and eating baby food when he is five years old, or for a child to still be in kindergarten when she turns ten. Physical, emotional and spiritual growth is both normal and expected.
Discipleship is important because we all need to grow in our relationship with God and become more like Christ. Here at West Hills we desire to see everyone grow in their faith, and we want to help make that happen. So we encourage all members and regular attenders to be involved in various opportunities to explore and grow deeper and stronger in their relationship with God and others.
FELLOWSHIP - BEING THE FAMILY OF GOD
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves...Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:10-13
God wants us to walk through life with others in solid relationships. If we are only involved in the large group settings of church worship, we will miss one of the best times of Christian relationship in smaller groups. It is in the small group setting that God more often meets with us and uses us to meet other's needs. The family atmosphere that develops in these groups can become one of the most important times in our Christian life
At West Hills, we call our small groups "life groups". They are comprised of 10 to 16 adults meeting in homes on a weekly basis in order to grow in their relationship with God and with one another. It is a place where personal growth can flourish as we get to know each other and begin to trust and share insights, love, laughter and tears, and where we can pray for each other's needs and carry each other's burdens. Life groups meet in various communities throughout the St. Louis area.
SERVICE - SHOWING GOD'S LOVE TO OTHERS
Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!' Matthew 25:34-40
The world is full of people who are hurting and in need of love. Christ assumes that his followers will have compassion for people we come in contact with who are in need. A definition of ministry is meeting needs with love. Some of these needs are physical, such as food, clothing and shelter. However some of the needs in an area like ours are less obvious - loneliness, depression, fear, broken relationships, fractured families, and painful marriages.
Our intention is for the people of West Hills to become involved in actively loving their communities by reaching out and touching people at their point of need.
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR STRATEGIES:
There are many ways we implement our strategies at West Hills, but they generally fall into three main categories:
LOVING GOD
Worship Services
Children's Worship
Adult Bible Fellowship Classes
Children's Bible Classes
Student Discipleship
Men's & Women's Bible Studies
LOVING EACH OTHER
Life Groups
Support Groups
Community Needs Fund
Church Retreats
Men's Monthly Breakfasts
Deaconess Ministry
LOVING THE WORLD
Neighbors Assisting Neighbors (NAN)
Christians in Action (CIA)
Generations (@ Delmar Gardens)
Annual Clothing Drive
Monthly Food Pantry Collection
Meals and Clothes for the Homeless
U.S. and Global Missions
World Relief Offerings
DoxaArts