The Westside Way

Thank you for being on the team at Westside. We believe we can move faster and have a bigger impact when we are all on the same page. That's why we've put these 5 videos together.

Each of the module includes a video and followed by some detail and a “personalize it” question designed to help you process what you are learning.

So grab a notepad and pen. Think through your answers to each of the questions to ensure you have a personalized understanding of what it means to minister at Westside.

Ready? Let's get started....

Module 1: Mission

Helping people find and follow Jesus.

Helping - We help people, everybody needs help coming to Jesus. That's why we (all of us) are here to help.

People - People are our work. It’s not about numbers or activities, it’s about people.

Find - We are here to introduce people to Jesus for the first time.

And - When somebody comes to faith in Jesus…it’s the beginning of something.

Follow - We love it when someone takes their spiritual next steps. Growing followers give us goose bumps.

Jesus - Jesus is the star of the show. We don’t really talk about peripheral issues if it distracts us from the most important thing…Jesus.

We are all on this mission, the babies in the nursery, the preschoolers, the middle schoolers, the...well....everybody.

Personalize It: How have you experienced this? Did you find your faith here? What spiritual next steps have you taken at Westside?

Module 2 : Vision

We want to move the needle.

1. Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) - To move the need in Portland.

That means the needle of faith moves. Noticeable, measurable improvement in the spiritual health and wellness of our city.

Imagine in 20 years that every single neighborhood had access to a vibrant loving church.We want to have 10 campuses across the city. We want to be a part of starting 1000 churches.

2. Our 2020 goal
We want to see our church have 4 campuses (locations) We want to plant 10 churches (regardless of form).
We are a part of something that is going to multiply. We are so excited to launch people on mission to move the needle of faith in the NorthWest!

Personalize It: What excites you most about the next few years?

Module 3 : Values

These are the values we use to make decisions:

WE refuse to pretend. We want to be real, we want to be authentic. When push comes to shove, we are going to tell the truth.

WE reproduce ourselves. We believe we should never do ministry alone and if we are going to have our greatest impact it will be by reproducing ourselves.

WE leave it better. We leave it better than we found it. Not only in the physical environment but also in relationships.

WE stick together. We come together. That means we have each other's backs. Publicly we support each other, privately we may talk about the issue, but we will never bash each other in public.

WE keep it simple. What's the simplest way we can accomplish our goal? We will take the simplest approach, with the least cost for the best results every time.

WE focus outward. We want to put a disproportionate focus on those who are not here yet.

Personalize It: Which value do you resonate with the most?

Module 4 : Team Culture

What makes people excel on a Westside team?

Humble - They think about other people first. They aren't just focused on themselves, they care about the rest of the team. (But if you are only humble, you may just be a pawn.)

Hungry - They aren't satisfied with where they are. The want to continue to increase their impact. (But if you are only hungry, you may just be a bulldozer.)

Smart - They are relationally intelligent. These are people who can tell when someone is hurting, when they have a need. They know when someone needs coaching and how to coach without offending. (But if you are only smart, you may just be a charmer.)

Personalize It: Which area would you like to grow in? Humble, hungry or smart?

Module 5 : How Westside Works

How do we roll at Westside?

We are:

Staff Directed This means that our staff takes responsibility to move the church forward. This removes lengthy processes that slow things down and keep us from getting things done (aka, no committees).

Trustee ProtectedThis a volunteer team designed to be the watchkeepers of our church. They serve as an advisory board to our Lead Pastor while they keep an eye on our financial planning, and our checks and balances and ensure a well-rounded approach to ministry.

Member ConnectedOur members are on the front lines of ministry. They are the ones touching lives and making an impact on our community. <--That's you! We want to be here to support you as you reach our city in Jesus name.

Personalize It: What is something new you learned about how Westside works that you didn't know before?