Vision

Dear Church Family,

In 2004 the church commissioned us to prayerfully present a long-range plan for Olive’s future ministry direction. The following is an outline of our work. It contains seven recommendations.

The process our team has been through has been much longer than anticipated. Olive is not the same church it was when it began. Northwest Florida has changed dramatically during our time of work. Hurricanes came and a new landscape developed in our region. The work of ministry has evolved as the community around us has changed. The 2020 Vision Task Force has been on an amazing journey. Early on we looked at a rather traditional approach to new ministry. That included the consideration of satellite campuses as well as the formation of a K-12 school. In time we determined these were not the directions we should take. Ministry evangelism has come to dominate the current ministry mindset of our team. We believe that is the Lord’s leading. We invite you to join us in prayer as you look over the recommendations we are making. The 2020 Vision Task Force looks forward to sharing the dream and vision with the Olive family.

Chuck Walthall (Chairman), Danielle Fryman, Jim Harris,
Steve Harrod, Stan Lollar, Renee Miller, Greg Price,
Arlan Scarborough, Paul Talley, Mindy Wells

2020 Report and Recommendations

The 2020 Vision Team was assigned the task of looking into the future and charting a course for OBC to follow for the upcoming thirteen years. The aim of this report is to be an extension of the Pastor's vision for Olive. The mission objectives are:

  • Every Olive member is to be a missionary
  • Every Olive home is to be an outpost for evangelism and fellowship
  • Every church is to be a missions-sending center

Recommendation 1

We recommend Olive continue to develop its ministry with an Acts 1:8 mindset, keeping in mind we will balance our work with a global focus and an emphasis on church planting in the following:

  1. Regional Missions
    In our first-mile ministry we will develop a strategy to reach into the apartments springing up all around us. Equipping our membership to be on mission is key to touching our local region with the Gospel.
  2. National Missions
    We recommend that strategic partnerships be developed that will help Olive extend the Kingdom of God in America. We will work with NAMB and others in planting churches in major cities across the country.
  3. International Missions
    We recommend that strategic partnerships and mission trip efforts be developed that will extend the Kingdom of God around the world. We will work with the IMB and a mission network of like-minded churches to reach global urban centers with the Gospel.

Recommendation 2

We recommend Olive's ministry philosophy be to reproduce followers of Jesus who are equipped to effectively engage people in our world with the Gospel

  1. Every member should be trained as a witness
  2. Every member should be involved in a small group
  3. Every member should continue to be a catalyst in building unity among people of every race and ethnic background.

Recommendation 3

We recommend Olive pursue the development of a ministry-evangelism strategy that includes on-campus and off-campus work.

  1. We recommend Pastor and the Committee on Committees appoint a task force to oversee implementation of this work.
  2. Our conviction is that Olive should seek to touch our area with ministry-based outreach.
  3. We recommend the ministry-evangelism strategy include a ministry village on campus that provides a medical clinic, shelters for men and women, drug and alcohol recovery ministry and other ministries as needed.

Recommendation 4

We recommend that the two white buildings on campus be removed to make room for future expansion.

Recommendation 5

We recommend Olive pursue the construction of a recreational complex that includes but is not limited to the following:

  1. Fields for softball and soccer
  2. Stand-alone Community Recreation Outreach Center which would include a gym
  3. Outdoor walking track
  4. Pavilion
  5. Children's park

Recommendation 6

We recommend the present ROC be converted to a fellowship/dining facility that could also be used as educational space.

Recommendation 7

We recommend that a high priority be placed on the ministry of strengthening and sustaining the family unit. Our recommendation is that a full-time director of men's ministry and a person to oversee a counseling ministry be first tier considerations for future staff positions.