Wayfinding

To navigate effectively, ancient sailors could not rely on detailed maps or sophisticated equipment. Instead, they developed a deep and intimate knowledge of the movement of the stars. They also had to maintain an immediate, constant awareness of the shifting tides, currents, winds, waves, and weather. They then needed to bring these two skills together as they adapted their course to stay on track and reach their destination safely. The Polynesian people called this ancient art of navigation Wayfinding.

The Gift of Guidance or Wayfinding

Wayfinding provides us with a powerful image for finding our way in life and as the people of God. Indeed, the Bible uses the image of an ancient sea-going navigator to describe a gift of the Holy Spirit. That gift is more often translated guidance, leadership, administrations, or governments (1 Cor 12:28). However, the original word is helmsmanship or piloting. Other parts of the Bible also point to steering a ship as a word or picture for guidance and being led by the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 11:14 and 12:5; Acts 27:11). The gift of wayfinding or guidance enables us to orientate our direction around the life of Christ, who is the bright morning star (Rev 22:16). It helps us be sensitive to his prophetic message for our lives and our church (Rev 1:20). At the same time, it provides the skills we need to continually adapt to the winds, waves, and weather in life as God directs our ways and orders our steps (Proverbs 3:5-6; 16:9).

Our Fully Alive Vision

We have a clear vision as a church for the next few years. It is summarised in one sentence as “We see CityLife Church as a spirit-filled movement where each person is becoming fully alive in Christ so that every city overflows with Kingdom Life.” That vision is I believe a prophetic promise founded in God’s word that provides us with direction for the future. It can also help us navigate through the wind, waves, and weather as we seek to follow Christ’s purpose for our church.

Take One More Step Together

To help focus that vision in 2023, we have prayerfully identified a single initiative to help us navigate our journey and find our way towards God’s promise of fullness of life in Christ. The single initiative is --- TAKE ANOTHER STEP TOGETHER. It means each person taking at least one step towards becoming fully alive like Christ this year. Steps include any way-marker along our discipleship pathway. As I shared at the beginning of the year, if everyone participates, then in 12 months our church will have taken 10,000 more steps together.

Discovering Our Next Steps

Perhaps as you have sought to discover the step you will take this year you have needed to adapt and change. Maybe you have needed to use that spiritual gift of wayfinding. Possibly the step you initially planned at the beginning of the year didn’t work out, or God guided you to take a bigger step or more than one step. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see that as we have orientated our lives and ministries towards our Fully Alive vision, we have already taken over 4600 steps together this year. Each step is a significant story of someone finding their way to becoming fully alive in Christ.

Way Markers to Highlight Progress

The table below provides more detailed indicators or way markers on the various measurable steps people have taken at CityLife Church towards becoming Fully Alive in Christ so far this year. Steps are listed by vision focus-area. The table also shows the number steps taken in 2022, and some indicative targets in each area by the end of 2023.

Steps Taken by our CityLife Church Community

Focus Area to Rebuild	Step Taken	Full Year 2022	End of June 2023	Target for 2023
Spirit Life	First Time Decisions	87	103	237
	Recommitments	172	119	354
	Evangelism Training	7		165
	Water Baptism	165	103	281
	Visitors Looking for a Church Home	605	368	955
	Spiritual Health Check participants	2202	591	1557
	Participants during 24hr Prayer		236	300
	Gifts Inventory & SHAPE Interview		84	453
Shared Life	Alpha	49	58	580
	Life Tracks/Other Courses	428	640	1517
	Attender New	527	358	537
	First Time Camp Attenders		287	60
	New Life Group Members	502	424	460
	New Partners	119	94	260
	New Ministry Team Members	802	386	480
	New Leaders	68	88	318
Kingdom Life	Missional Stories	69	11	339
	New Community Team Members	6	52	33
	Going on a Short-Term Team		7	102
	Missional Community Residents		4	4
	Community Care New Clients		666	731
Overflowing Life	New Congregations	1		1
TOTAL STEPS		5829	4629	9844

The 4629 steps we have already taken in 2023 is getting close to the almost 6000 measurable steps we took together over the whole of last year. So, congratulations on the progress we have made in our Fully Alive adventure so far this year. 10,000 steps in a year seems possible if we encourage each other and do it together! But remember the numbers are just way markers to highlight our progress. The key outcome we want to see is each person taking at least one more step towards becoming fully alive in Christ!

Finding your next step.

So, what step have you already taken in 2023? What additional step could you take in the second half of the year to becoming fully alive in Christ? Earlier in the year we created a web-site tool for you to explore and discover what your next step in this Christian journey might be. Why not go to our website again this month, then scroll down until you see TAKE ANOTHER STEP TOGETHER. Click on an option as you exercise the skills of prayerful wayfinding. Start exploring your next step for the second half of 2023!