Vista Community Church - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Vista's membership process? 

2. Do I have to baptized to be a member?  When do you have baptisms?  Do you baptize children?

3. Is Vista looking for its own building?  Is there a timeline?

4. How can I get involved at Vista?

5. What is a Lifegroup?

6. Are there middle and high school ministries?

7. Does Vista have Elders or Deacons?  How are they selected and what is their role? 

8. What does it mean to be a non-denominational church?  Who governs or hold the church accountable?

9. What is the role of women (in leadership) in the church?

10. How did Vista get started?

11. Vista is a "church plant" - what does that mean? 

12. What missions opportunities are there at Vista?

13. Who takes care of our kids during the service? Do you do background checks?

14. What are parent equipping classes? 

15. What is a network and an outwork?

1.      What is Vista's membership process? 

Membership is a relational commitment, not an organizational contract.  There is no direct mention of church membership as we typically understand it in scripture, but there are many references to relational commitment and God's placement of people in the local church. In my experience, what people are looking for in membership is acceptance, belonging and commitment to mutual support. God's expectation of a church "member" is a commitment to active rather than passive participation. In other words, membership is best viewed as a mutual commitment to live with one another as Jesus demonstrated and to be closely involved with what the church is doing to advance the Kingdom of God in today's world. Our membership process is a simple one. Attend for a few months; express your commitment to Christ; attend "V³" (Vista Vision and Values luncheon); and defer to biblical values exemplified in Jesus.

2.       Do I have to baptized to be a member?  When do you have baptisms?  Do you baptize children?

Followers of Jesus follow his example and commands, and it was his clear command that we express our faith publically through baptism.  If you follow Jesus, but have not expressed your faith publically in baptism, you have an issue with Jesus, not the church per se. 

We program baptisms about twice per year at this point, but we've also baptized ones in a friend’s pool as needed!

As an outward expression of one’s conscious choice to follow Christ, and a lack of scriptural examples of infant baptism we tend to wait until it becomes clear that ones understand and confess their own faith before baptizing them. This moment is clear in some children's lives.  However, we do hold annual infant/child dedications (see details below). 

3.       Is Vista looking for its own building?  Is there a timeline?

For our weekly purposes of local church worship, etc we have a great working relationship with Dublin schools. For a fraction of the cost of leasing or building our own building, we can use our resources for ministry and missions work. Particularly during these rough economic times, we feel fortunate that God has provided a flexible, no-debt, more-than-sufficient space within which to meet. This arrangement also helps us promote the value that people are the church, and that church happens best Monday through Saturday as we rub elbows with those who need Jesus. 

FYI, we do have a building…its in Cambodia!  That's our fun and exciting answer to the question. We have directed our resources to originate an orphanage in Phnom Phen, Cambodia!  It houses 4 staff and 20 children! 

4.       How can I get involved at Vista?

First, take your time…decide if Vista is the people you want to make a commitment to.  Serving has more to do with common purpose, teamwork, togetherness and mutual support and respect than most anything else. It's how we serve the world together that glorifies God moreso than what we do.  That being said, there are numerous opportunities to serve – many ways to contribute to what God is uniquely doing here.  A good first step is to get involved where the people you've met are involved – let them introduce you and show you the ropes. Our Weekly Update frequnetly lists needs that you might consider meeting...

5.       What is a Lifegroup?

Simply, a Lifegroup is a safe place to process what God is doing and saying to you and others, and a place to be challenged to apply it all.  We don't do well alone – God didn't design us that way.  The first time you're hurting or need something and you are without a group of friends…then you'll know well the value of a Lifegroup.  We're made for connection and relationship – Lifegroups are a great way to find both.  Vista has Lifegroups in many homes throughout the week.  You can find detailed information on our current Lifegroups on our website under “Groups”. 

6.       Are there middle and high school ministries?

Middle School is coordinated by two Moms and includes a few young adults that love teaching and hanging out with our early-teen students.  They meet about twice per month during the Sunday morning Vista service.

Our High School student ministry is best described as a  combination of a Sunday night group and a partnership with Young Life leaders in the surrounding high schools. Our main goal apart from applicable and challenging Biblical teaching is to connect them with the other Christians in their schools – these relationships are crucial for navigating the difficult things that occur during these years.  See a more detailed explanation of our vision on our website at the Family Life page.

7.       Does Vista have Elders or Deacons?  How are they selected and what is their role? 

Potential elders are identifed by current elders and they carry the responsibility to oversee the direction and care of Vista.  The best overview we have of the role of elder is via a teaching by Pastor Mike on Oct 5^th, 2008 titled, Who’s in Charge?  You can find it at the Core Resources page. Although we don't use the term “deacon”, we assign men and women of deacon-qualifications to direct specific ministries.

8.       What does it mean to be a non-denominational church?  Who holds the church accountable?

Non-denominational is a term typically used to categorize protestant churches that are not directly affiliated with a traditional denomination like Baptist or Presbyterian.  They also tend to be contemporary in their style, and they also usually have an association to which they are accountable, which is the case with Vista.  We were originated by Heritage Christian Church in Westerville, OH to whom we hold close ties.  Both Heritage and Vista are elder-governed and have formal associations with The Great Commission Ministries Churches – a church planting movement with about 40 years of history.

9.       What is the role of women (in leadership) in the church?

Ministries, leadership capacities and most roles in the church are gift-based opportunities rather than gender-based. That is, the service to which the Holy Spirit calls one is dependant not on gender, but on gifting: God-given talent, experience and heart.  The only role that the Bible expressly designates gender is that of elder.  God calls all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, ages, genders, etc into particular roles within the local church, we follow His lead and look for confirmation within the local church that He is building.

10.     How did Vista get started?

Vista began as a “church plant” (see FAQ #11) out of Heritage Christian Church in Westerville, OH.  The concept originated as we considered what God wanted us to do with the unprecedented growth at Heritage – it seemed as though we should do as we’ve taught our children – share. Additionally, there were quite a few folks from the northwest side of town that were making their way across town to attend Heritage.  It seemed to make sense that we might start a gathering of folks in their own neck of the woods. We started with a group of nearly a hundred from Heritage, but our first service (Jan 21^st, 2007) had over 200 in attendance. Those came mostly as a result of the personal connections the Vista team had here in town. And now look  – who’d a thunk it?

11.     Vista is a "church plant" - what does that mean? 

Contrary to a destructive church split, a church plant is a positive and healthy strategy for evangelism… Transplant is a more descriptive word, since church planting usually involves a segment or group of people from the planting church, transplanted to another location to grow and develop.  Some church plants share resources and retain an administrative connection to the planting church, but others originate an entirely new structure upon which to grow.

12.     What missions opportunities are there at Vista?

Well, that depends on your definition of missions. It’s usually interpreted as “overseas” or and least “across borders."  And we do that – missions is at the heart of God.  John Piper, Baptist pastor and author said, “Missions exists because worship does not,” meaning, that God is all about reaching the world, so that the chief end of Man can be accomplished: Worshipping Him.  So, we do missions so that we can have all the nations worshipping!  You can check our website for details, but we have and support ministries in Africa, Cambodia, and Central Asia.  Our primary efforts go toward Cambodia and the orphanage we originated there in February, 2008. Our Orphanage currently houses 4 staff and 20 children, and we have and intend to continue to send short-term mission trips there.

13.     Who takes care of our kids during the service? Do you do background checks?

Vista Kids Community has one staff member in every room that has had his/her background checked. We use paid staff to create a consistent and secure environment for children in a building that we do not own. Volunteers that serve once a month have background checks also.

Vista parents are encouraged to volunteer once a month in the classrooms of their kids to stimulate community and spiritual growth within families. Vista Community Church attenders are encouraged to serve as volunteers once a quarter to create a multi-generational environment where adults and children point each other toward Christ. 

14.     What are Parent Equipping classes?

Many studies have shown the home to be the most important spiritual growth factor.  Parent Equipping classes are taught by Vista parents and staff using resources that help families follow Christ together.  Every stage of child development brings new challenges to parenting.  Parents attend one class per child annually during the service with other parents of children in their stage.  Our desire is to encourage discussion and community between parents while teaching applicable information about their child’s spiritual, physical, social and emotional development. The list of resources and monthly schedule of classes can be found on the website at the Family Life page and the Life Support/Parenting tab.