Blueprint: Pastor Tyler Groff
The following blog was written using responses by Tyler Groff, our Lead Pastor
Becoming the Church God Is Forming Us to Be
I am excited about the opportunity this year gives us to grow in clarity about who God has called Orangewood to be.
Construction will make this a highly visible season of change on our campus, but the most important work will not be what is happening with steel, concrete, and classrooms. It will be the work God is doing in his people.
As we move toward our 2030 Vision, we want to become more deeply Gospel-Grounded, Formation-Focused, and Mission-Moved. This ministry year, we will give particular attention to three priorities that are essential to becoming that kind of church: Generosity, Community, and Service.
Generosity reminds us that everything we have is a gift from God and invites us to respond to his grace with open hands. Community helps us become known, encouraged, challenged, and formed alongside others. Service moves us beyond ourselves as we use our gifts to strengthen the church and bless our neighbors.
I am excited to see how these priorities take shape throughout the life of Orangewood and help people move from simply attending church to belonging, growing, serving, and participating in God’s mission.
Formed Into the People God Has Called Us to Be
My prayer is that God would deepen our life together and form us into the people he has called us to be.
I hope we will become more deeply Gospel-Grounded, finding our identity and security in what Jesus has accomplished for us rather than in our performance. I pray that the generosity of God toward us in Christ will increasingly produce generosity through us as we freely offer our time, abilities, resources, and lives for the sake of others.
I hope we will become more intentionally Formation-Focused by developing relationships, practices, and rhythms through which the Holy Spirit shapes us into the likeness of Jesus. Community is essential to that formation. We need places where we can be known, encouraged, prayed for, challenged, and reminded of the grace of God. My prayer is that every person at Orangewood will take a meaningful step toward deeper connection and belonging this year.
Finally, I hope we will become increasingly Mission-Moved. God has placed us in particular homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and relationships for a purpose. Through service, we have the opportunity to use the gifts God has given us to care for one another, strengthen the church, and participate in his work throughout our community.
My prayer is that Generosity, Community, and Service will become more than ministry initiatives. I hope they will become natural expressions of the kind of church God is forming us to be.
From Attending to Belonging
One of the most encouraging highlights of the past year has been watching people move from simply attending Orangewood to becoming known, connected, and involved in the life of the church.
Through Discovering Orangewood and many personal conversations, I have heard people share how God brought them to Orangewood during an important season in their lives. Some were searching for a church home, some were returning to church after time away, and others were seeking a deeper understanding of the gospel and Christian community.
It has been meaningful to watch people ask honest questions, build relationships, become members, join groups, begin serving, and grow in generosity. Each of these steps reflects something important about the church we are becoming. People are discovering that following Jesus is not a solitary journey and that God has given them gifts, relationships, and resources that can be used for the good of others.
Those moments remind me that ministry is not ultimately about programs or events. It is about people being welcomed into a community where they can be grounded in the grace of Jesus, formed alongside others, and moved into God’s mission.
Taking a Meaningful Next Step
Discovering Orangewood will continue to be an important opportunity for anyone who wants to learn more about our church. It is a place to hear about Orangewood’s beliefs, history, vision, ministries, and membership process while meeting pastors, leaders, and others who are exploring the church membership.
Throughout the year, we will also invite everyone at Orangewood to consider a meaningful next step in Generosity, Community, and Service.
For some, that may mean growing in regular and joyful giving. For others, it may mean joining a group or becoming more intentional about relationships within the church. Others may take a first step toward serving by using their gifts within one of Orangewood’s ministries or alongside one of our community partners.
These are not simply activities to add to an already busy schedule. They are opportunities to participate more fully in the life of the church and to grow toward our vision of becoming Gospel-Grounded, Formation-Focused, and Mission-Moved.
This year, we’re inviting people to take a meaningful next step in Generosity, Community, and Service as we become more deeply Gospel-Grounded, Formation-Focused, and Mission-Moved together.