Where We Are Going

We believe that God has a specific purpose for the Vineyard Church of Ithaca.

We believe that this church exists to:

  • reach people in the Ithaca area with the supernatural message of Jesus Christ through an intelligent, contemporary style;
  • provide a church home, which can meet the needs of people in the Ithaca area, particularly those who love God, but have not found a home in other church settings;
  • create a safe environment where people can grow into fully developing followers of Jesus Christ.

With this as our mission, we believe that by within 10 years our church will look like this:

  • We will be a multi-ethnic, multi-racial church. Diversity will be represented in the congregation as a whole, as well as on the leadership team and the pastoral staff;
  • We will have a Sunday morning attendance of 500 - 800 people. Of these people:
    • 50% will previously have had no regular church affiliation;
    • 75% will be involved in a kinship group;
    • 90% will be part of an ongoing ministry team;
  • We will have already planted 4 new churches, and will continue planting at least one new church every two years in Central New York, the Northeastern United States and beyond;
  • We will have a church facility that includes:
    • An auditorium that seats 600 people;
    • An internet café;
    • An indoor sports complex.
  • We will make our facility available to the larger church body in the Ithaca area whenever possible, as well as various other organizations from the Ithaca area;
  • We will run a learning/training center that will prepare people who are considering going into full-time ministry as well as those who simply want to serve their Lord, their church and their community by becoming more effective disciples.
  • We will have a children’s ministry that provides our children with the most excellent care and resources available to us including:
    • a solid Biblical education;
    • practical opportunities to discover their giftings and to minister to each other and the church as a whole;
  • We will encourage the arts, in all forms. We will give artists opportunities and resources to bless God, the church and our community with their gifts;
  • We will have an active ministry to the poor in our community.

As with any dream, this is not the whole picture and we aren't there yet...but we believe that this is where God is leading us. If this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, we invite you join us!