We are currently in a church plant or “simple church” phase: Small (15-30), simple and aiming at being sustainable. And by now you should have figured out that NLV has been called out to doing the stuff in a new skin wine.

We believe that we have been called to start afresh: To get things done right (God’s way) from the start. We have been building the church from the bottom up as it had seemed to us that God is more interested that we get the essentials right, and to focus on who we are becoming. We have been working on the foundations all this while after we had felt God is saying to us, “I am in the business of multiplication. Are the right values and processes in place? Are you ready and prepared to give thanks for what you have got, and ask for multiplication?”

Entirely by God’s grace, he has drawn to us students in tertiary institutions; young working adults, people who looking for a safe yet somewhat challenging place, which meet their needs. He has also attracted to us expatriates and people from the Vineyard network looking for a home church in Singapore. The fellowship is also comprised of older adults who welcome the opportunity to have significant input into the ministries of the fellowship. You could also say that these are our target people groups! (We hope that people will come and stay because they share our vision, are excited about what we are building and appreciate our values.)

The next fellowship phase is gathering and multiplication, to an initial target of about 60-80 as this number can be accommodated on our present premises. We envisage planning more outreach/gathering activities, making available ministry opportunities, and re-starting small groups to facilitate the process. More structure like affirming leaders to ministries and to lead small groups will be likely too, including more explicit corporate governance procedures. Training and equipping in the simple church phase is largely through preaching and by modelling (teaching by example) and this shall be supplemented by short courses in classes. Like Vineyard 101 on getting to know New Life Vineyard.

The sending church phase should start when we are at about 400-500. By this time we shall have developed the specialised ministries and will have made our ministries cutting edge to display to all the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:8-11). Discipleship/leadership and internship programs to affirm, nurture leaders and pastors for service in NLV and the Kingdom of God shall also be in place. By this the fellowship shall have the resources to consider engaging pastors on a full time basis and have a proactive church planting program.