Our Mission

Mission Statement

“Knowing and Sharing the Joy of Salvation through Jesus Christ”

OBJECTIVES 2023

From the stable ground of God’s Word:

We will enhance our local outreach.
We will develop and support our small group life.

2023 Ministry Priorities Below:

Build on What is God doing in our Church family?
Reaching New People
What is He calling us to do?

God continues to add members to our church. We will strengthen their assimilation into our church family.

God has given us appreciation for the current worship / liturgical style. We will introduce new liturgies, as well as begin offering the Lord’s Supper more frequently.

God has given us an approach for receiving offerings beyond “passing the plate.” We will develop opportunities to celebrate “offering moments” in the worship service and provide other opportunities to increase understanding of a holistic view of stewardship.

God has given us families who are interested in ministries for children and young adults, as well as children who are on our campus weekly through the Neighborhood Outreach Connection (NOC). Through conversations with and among these families, we will establish various avenues of discipleship (e.g., Sunday School, Social events, etc.)

God continues to bring us more worshippers. We will prayerfully explore new worship opportunities, to include another venue. “Knowing and Sharing the Joy of Salvation through Jesus Christ”

God has given our ILC family new ways to be engaged in the gift of prayer. We will seek to increase opportunities for prayer, both among individuals and collectively as a church family.

God is bringing more people to use our current building; we will renovate all six bathrooms in the building, as well as establish a ministry team whose responsibility will include creating a list of deferred maintenance items.

Personalize Missions
What is God doing in our missions?
What is He calling us to be doing?

God has given the ILC family it’s mission. We will grow in our understanding of the current mission statement and its value for daily living, while also considering whether the current ILC mission statement needs to be modified.

God has given ILC two LCMS missionaries with whom we have multi-year relationships and a first-year deaconess student at Concordia Seminary. We will increase opportunities for relational connections with these “missionaries,” while also looking into new mission relationships through our LC-MS church body. As such, we have hosted newly elected, President Harmen and his wife for a ministry weekend in which he will preach and share his vision.

God has given our ILC family financially generous members who are eager to support missions and relief projects. We will look for ways to strengthen members understanding and commitment to personal, daily mission work, with special focus on: God’s heart, the Spirit’s Fruit and Gifts, and His work through fellow Christians.

God has given us members who are inviting their friends to worship. We will continue to provide support for those inviting through various means. (e.g., an up-to-date website, written materials, etc.).

God continues to raise up new ministries at ILC and bring us guests. We will host at least one Welcome Friends Sunday. This event will include a celebratory worship service which is especially focused on introducing guests to ILC, as well as a Ministry Fair during the Bible class hour which will increase knowledge of ILC ministries.

God is growing the ILC church family, not only with additional people and ministries, but in breadth and complexity of ministry. We will prayerfully seek to call a deaconess, who will support our current ministries, as well as help in the preparation for new ministries in Bluffton and on the Island. Specific areas of focus for the deaconess will include: women’s ministries, outreach ministries, and family ministries.

God is blessing our current mission partnerships and community work in many ways; we will install at least two digital message boards in the narthex and/or the Fellowship Hall on which we will highlight what God is doing through Island Lutheran.

God is opening doors for our church family to bless workers in the harvest; we will look into partnering with a benefactor couple who own a condo on the Island and have a heart to bless church workers and are already providing discounted stays at their condo.

Strengthen Leaders & Organizational Structures
What is God doing in our current leadership and organizational structures?

God has given ILC two years in the Executive Management governing structure. We will, after seeking counsel and interviewing LC MS governance coaches, transition to Policy Governance and make the needed changes to the Constitution/By-laws, as well as to the organizational chart and position descriptions.

God is raising up new ILC leaders and ministries. We will strengthen our leaders as individuals and collectively, as well as work toward a united commitment to helping ILC fulfill its congregationally approved mission, objectives, and priorities. Identifiable markers will include: common meeting protocols, ministry department/budget oversight, heralding of the ILC mission statement, communication and collaboration between ministries, and the use of CCB and other ministry tools.

God has given us members who are excited about starting new ministries, as well as developing current ministries. Areas include: local missions, women’s ministries, and Bible Studies. We will create Leadership Teams, which will be supported by the pastors and staff, who will build ministry teams to accomplish the work.

Examples of Ministry Teams include:

- - Missions Ministry
  - Women’s Ministry
  - Campus Care Ministry
  - Online Community Ministry
  - Dinner For 8 Ministry

God has given ILC new systems for connectivity and communication, namely Church Community Builder (CCB) and the ILC website. We will continue providing education for CCB usage and develop interaction between the website and CCB, as well as increase usage of CCB by leaders, staff, and members.

God is giving ILC the opportunity to engage leaders within the LC-MS, especially the Southeastern District, as well as local leaders in Bluffton and Hilton Head. We will seek ways to be more meaningfully engaged with leaders, ministries, and local agencies.

God has given ILC a dedicated group of Elders, half of whom have less than two years’ experience as Elders, we will look for ways for the Elders to grow in cohesion and commitment to their roles, as well as prayerfully look for new Elders.

Engage Younger Generations
What is God doing in our current ministry among “younger generations?”

Ministering among children and young adults. Examples of partnership opportunities may include: Sunday morning gatherings (i.e., Sunday School), as well as social and serving events.

God has brought our ILC family young- who are growing in their relationship with the Lord and the ILC family through ministry engagement within worship (e.g., readers, vocalists). We will look for further engagement of young-adults in ILC ministry.

God has given us opportunity to create a new nursery in support of families coming to worship. We will communicate with parents about other ways to enhance their children’s worship experience (e.g., Busy Bags, etc.).

God has placed us near a fast-growing community which is attracting younger families in need of childcare and preschool options, as well as other child-oriented ministries. We will call a deaconess who will work collaboratively with us in considering ministry opportunities in Bluffton.

Strengthen ILC Newly Established Small Group Structure
What is God doing in our current ministry?

God has given us a new Small Group structure based upon three types of groups: Social, Service, and Study. We will continue education within the ILC family and beyond through written materials, website development, and at least one
Ministry Fair.

God is increasing interest in Bible Study groups among members of ILC. We are also blessed with numerous members who are involved in community Bible classes. We will provide more Bible Study options, both in homes and on the ILC campus. These Bible classes will be supported by ILC’s pastors and, God willing, our future Deaconess.

God has raised up a new Social Ministry Group- Dinner For 8. We will continue to roll out this new ministry and make adjustments based upon feedback and evaluation.