Core Actions
Prayer
Begin, continue and end every action with prayer. Prayer is a foundational part of each Stepping Stones Church. Each church prays not only for its own needs but also for the needs of all the other Stepping Stones Churches in the movement. Each church needs a prayer leader who will keep in contact with the prayer leaders from the other churches.
Worship
Worship should occur individually, corporately and collectively. Worship in its purist sense is loving God with all your heart. This should occur twenty four hours a day and seven days a week. Stepping Stones Churches set each Sunday as their primary day to corporately worship God. Once a quarter all the Stepping Stones Churches in a particular region join together on Sunday evening for a collective worship service
Evangelism
Evangelism is bringing the gospel to all people locally and around the world: every member and every church using every available means to share Jesus Christ with the lost. This is a daily activity. However, each Stepping Stones Church sets aside at least one time a month to corporately evangelize its Community. Once a quarter all the Stepping Stones Churches in a region band together to evangelize a new target location for a Stepping Stones Church.
Discipleship
Discipleship is the teaching and growing focus of every member and church. It is an important part of every Christian’s sanctification. Every member is encouraged to be in the word daily. Each church needs to provide weekly Bible study opportunities for its members. There is a bias toward a Sunday morning expression of Bible study for all ages as this aids in worship attendance. Many other opportunities for discipleship can occur throughout the week. Many churches use Wednesday evening as a midweek shot in the arm. Men’s and women’s bible studies can be used as well.
Ministry
Ministry in its simplest form is expressing love for your neighbor in a tangible way: feeding the hungry, visiting orphans and widows, building or rebuilding projects for the needy, etc. At least once a year all the Stepping Stones Churches in a region should plan to do some ministry project together.
Giving
Giving is part of God’s plan for every member and every church. The tithe is outlined as God’s way to provide for the needs of the local church. Each Stepping Stones Church leads by example by giving a minimum of 10% to missions. In Texas half of all missions giving goes to Stepping Stones Ministry to fund further evangelization and Church planting.
Fellowship
Fellowship is experienced by individual Christians and by the churches in the Stepping Stones Ministry Network as they participate in the above actions. Additionally, opportunities should arise regularly for Christians to get together not only in their own local church but with Christians from other Stepping Stones Churches. Baseball games, Christian concerts, potluck dinner, etc. can be fun outings for Christians. Each Stepping Stones Church should have someone to coordinate these activities within the church and the movement.
