Business Leadership consultant, Simon Sinek, wrote “Start With Why.” In this book, he argues every organization knows “what” they do. A select few know “how” they do it, and only a handful of top executives can articulate “why” an organization does what it does.
According to Sinek, the best organizations flip this paradigm and train their stakeholders on “why” they do what they do. Starting with why inevitably informs your “how” and aligns your “what.” It puts into the DNA of the organization the motivational factors for gathering and working.
Using this paradigm, First Baptist, in 2019, restructured it’s Mission and Vision to “start with why.” Below is the corresponding work that was approved by the congregation at the May 2019 Business Meeting articulated by our 2020 Check-Up Ad Hoc Committee following three listening sessions from the congregation.
Mission (The Why)
The mission of First Baptist Waynesboro is to do, love, and walk like Christ in the world.
Vision (The How)
The vision of First Baptist Waynesboro is to practice worship, education, fellowship, prayer, and missions in the community and the world.
Fulfilling the Vision (The What)
In response to the call of God, we fulfill the vision of First Baptist Waynesboro by being a family of believers who proclaim the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.
Values Statement
First Baptist Waynesboro values being a place of warmth, caring, innovation, and missional involvement with a strong commitment to worship. We also value our long and rich history as a dedicated Virginia Baptist church who partners with the Baptist General Association of Virginia as well as the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Our core Baptist values include:
Soul Freedom – We believe in the priesthood of all believers. We affirm the freedom and responsibility of every person to relate directly to God without the imposition of creed or the control of clergy or government.
Bible Freedom – We believe in the authority of Scripture. We believe the Bible, under the Lordship of Christ, is central to the life of the individual and the church. We affirm the freedom and right of every Christian to interpret and apply scripture under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
Church Freedom – We believe in the autonomy of every local church; that churches are free, under the Lordship of Christ, to determine their membership and leadership, to order their worship and work, to ordain whomever they perceive as gifted for ministry, and to participate as they deem appropriate in the larger Body of Christ.
Religious Freedom – We believe in freedom of religion, freedom for religion, and freedom from religion. We support the separation of church and state.