Pastor Evan Rose -- Worship -- 7/20/2025
Where We’re Headed: The Vision of Lake Hills Baptist Church
A thriving, diverse, gospel-centered church helping all people find and follow Jesus.
A thriving, diverse, gospel-centered church helping all people find and follow Jesus.
Mission tells us what we do. Vision paints a picture of what it looks like when we do it faithfully over time.
At Lake Hills, our mission is to help all people from all nations find and follow Jesus. That mission never changes. But our vision answers this question: What kind of church will we become if we live that out together?
Our vision is to be a thriving, diverse, gospel-centered church helping all people find and follow Jesus.
Let’s break that down together—and see how Scripture shapes the kind of church we long to be.
A Thriving Church
Thriving doesn’t mean flashy. It doesn’t mean crowded pews or polished programs. A thriving church is a faithful church.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” —Acts 2:42 (CSB)
We thrive when we stay rooted in God’s Word, when we love one another deeply, and when we grow together in prayer and obedience. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit” (John 15:5). Thriving happens when we remain in Him—not when we chase trends.
At Lake Hills, we want to grow deeper in discipleship, not just wider in attendance. We want to be a church where lives are changed, families are strengthened, and God is glorified—whether there are 50 people or 500 in the room.
A Diverse Church
We’re located in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the region—and we thank God that our church is beginning to reflect that. But we’re not done.
“After this I looked and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” —Revelation 7:9 (CSB)
God’s kingdom is multiethnic, multicultural, and multigenerational—and our church should reflect that reality. We don’t want to just be in our neighborhood; we want to reach our neighborhood. That means learning to listen, love, and welcome people from all backgrounds, just as Christ has welcomed us (Romans 15:7).
Being a diverse church doesn’t just make us look more like heaven—it helps us learn more about the heart of God.
A Gospel-Centered Church
There are a lot of things that can center a church: good causes, strong personalities, impressive programs. But only one thing can give life: the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day.” —1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (CSB)
The gospel is not just the doorway into Christianity—it’s the foundation for all of life. At Lake Hills, we want the gospel to shape how we worship, how we forgive, how we serve, and how we speak. Without the gospel, church becomes performance. With the gospel, church becomes family.
To be gospel-centered means we don’t pretend to be perfect—we point to Jesus, who is. It means we’re not here to promote ourselves—we’re here to proclaim Christ.
Grounded in God’s Word
As we envision the future, we’re not trying to be “cutting edge”—we’re trying to be rooted.
“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” —Psalm 1:3 (CSB)
Every thriving, gospel-centered church stands on Scripture. God’s Word gives us wisdom for today and hope for tomorrow. We want to be a church that listens to God’s voice above all others—and helps others do the same.
With Local and Global Impact
We don’t just exist for ourselves. We exist for others—for Bellevue, for the Northwest, and for the nations.
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” —Acts 1:8 (CSB)
That means we pray for our neighbors, invite them in, and go out to serve. It means we give generously, support missionaries, and send people across borders and cultures to make Jesus known.
We’re called to be salt and light here and now—but always with a heart that beats for the world.
This is our vision. This is where we’re going.
A church that thrives in faithfulness. A church that welcomes all peoples. A church built on the gospel. A church rooted in Scripture. A church reaching both its city and the world.
Let’s walk toward that vision together—with open hands, open hearts, and eyes fixed on Jesus.