Vision, Values and Strategy

St Leonard’s consists of one body of Christians worshipping at different times and in different styles united by common values and goals. 

Our aim is to see people and society transformed through the good news of Jesus Christ.

Our vision and dream is to see the kingdom of God come in the way Jesus described it in Luke 4:18-19.  That people would know the good news of Jesus Christ, bringing them near to God, experiencing the Spirit of God, who brings significant change to our lives. 

Knowing God brings freedom to live life in all it’s fullness. Together we can be an expression of a vibrant community of young and old, rich and poor, sharing in good times and bad, inviting others to join the adventure of the gospel. 

We believe God intends his church to be a place where : 
 

All are valued and involved in 
Becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, 
Creating Community by 
Doing Jesus’ stuff, thereby 
Encountering God and bringing 
Glory to Him.

We believe there is a unity and integrity at the heart of the Christian Gospel and that unity in the body of Christ is its strength and releases God's blessings.

We believe Christ died for the individual as well as the sins of whole world and the Great Commandment and the Great Commission call us to both personal and corporate response.

We believe a healthy church is three dimensional in its focus and strategy: Upward - Inward - Outward;

We believe that God intends us to help one another become more Christ-like in our daily lives especially in the areas of encouragement, grace, generosity and integrity.

Our strategy for developing the Church community which has these foundational values and goals is based upon

1. Vibrant small groups where relationships and personal development is strongly three dimensional, spiritual, pastoral and missional.

2. Corporate Sunday worship and prayer, draws together the small groups with a strong sense of unity and community and is a doorway into the life and worship of the church.

 Branch groups:

These provide a means by which people may experience a practical expression of genuine Christian community. Here we welcome the stranger, worship together, study the word of God and put it into practice providing support and encouragement for individual and corporate works, witness and wellbeing. These are key groups in the church’s strategy of valuing each individual, their person, spirituality and ministry, and the development of collaborative leadership and compassion based ministries and outreach.

Prayer Net groups:
These provide a means by which all members of the congregation may, if they wish, have friends who will pray, support and read the Bible together.

Sunday Services:
Times of collective worship that express a corporate faith and strengthen our community bonds. The variety of styles allows greater freedom of personal expression, targeted application of teaching and a variety of ways in for visitors, guests and those seeking God.

Key to all of our collective meetings and services is the integrity of the worship and our openness to receive and respond to God’s Word and Spirit. Secondly, our welcome and engagement with visitors. 

Surveys have shown that the atmosphere, relationships, behaviour and attitudes of the congregation are a stronger influence upon people’s joining or leaving a church community than the clergy, the preaching or the style of worship. It has been said that people come to church for a variety of reasons but they often stay for only one, relationship. This is why small groups are so important and are at the heart of our strategy for the church. 

Rev. Huw Davies and Rev. Jamie Murray