The New Year naturally brings a sense of reset. As a church, it’s a great moment to pause, pray, and clarify what God is calling you to focus on in the year ahead. One of the best ways to start fresh is by (re)writing or refining your church mission statement.
A strong mission statement is more than a line on your website—it’s a tool that inspires, leads, and unifies your church. It helps every volunteer, staff member, and new visitor instantly understand what your church is about.
But if you’ve never written one before, or if yours feels outdated, this guide—and the fill-in-the-blank template below—will help you start this year with clarity and purpose.
What exactly is a mission statement?
The term “mission statement” gets thrown around a lot. Is it a tagline, an essay, what should a mission statemen look like?
Your mission statement takes what your church does and distills it into one or two concise sentences. It’s short, clear, memorable. While some churches include the “why,” the key is that it communicates your calling in a way anyone can grasp quickly.
A great mission statement serves as a reminder—to you, your team, and your congregation—of why you show up.
Four essential parts of a strong mission statement
To make your mission statement meaningful and effective, include these four elements:
1. Value
What value does your church add to the people you serve?
2. Motivational
Does it inspire people to be part of the mission?
3. Specific
Is it clear, simple, and easy to understand?
4. Grounded
Is it rooted in prayer, Scripture, and realistic obedience?
When these four ingredients work together, people walk away knowing exactly what your church is about—and they’re moved to join in.
How to write Your mission statement this new year
1. Prayer & reflection
It probably goes without sayting that this isn’t just a strategic exercise—it’s a spiritual one. There’s no need to rush, take your time.
Answer the three foundational questions:
- What does your church do?
- How do you do it?
- Why do you do it?
Answer through the lens of your congregation, your community, and your leadership team. Use the four elements (Value, Motivational, Specific, Grounded) to guide your responses.
This step reconnects you with the heart of your church and clarifies your unique purpose.
2. Hold a brainstorming session
You can do this alone or with a team. This part should feel fun and creative—not pressured.
- Share your answers to the 3 questions.
- Ask everyone to throw out keywords, phrases, imagery, or ideas.
- Everything goes—no filtering yet.
- Capture everything on a whiteboard or doc.
The goal is possibility, not perfection.
3. Narrow it down
Now choose the keywords or phrases that best reflect your church.
This may be a solo decision, or you may bring in trusted voices for feedback.
Look for words that:
- capture your heart
- speak to your community
- align with Scripture
- feel clear and simple
4. Write a first draft
Using your best words and phrases, begin forming one or two sentences.
Keep checking your draft against:
- the 3 key questions
- the 4 essential elements
- your prayerful sense of calling
Avoid paragraphs—brevity is power.
5. Refine
Step away for a bit, then revisit your draft with fresh eyes.
Ask yourself:
- Can any wording be tightened?
- Are there vague or “fluffy” words?
- Is it in the present tense?
- Does it clearly reflect your mission?
Your mission statement doesn’t need to be perfect—it needs to be true.
Spirit-Led
Your mission statement may change over time, and that’s okay. Churches grow, communities shift, and God guides us in new directions.
At the end of the day, you’re simply putting into words the mission God has already set before you.
Think of this statement as your anchor for this season, while still remaining open and sensitive to His leading.
Mission Statment Template
As a graphic designer I’m very familiar with blank page paralysis. Staring at an empty space is not very inspiring. In fact, it can be daunting.
If you find yourself needing a little bit of prompting, this free template is for you.
I’ve put together a few questions and sample templates to help get the ball rolling as you invest in this important project. Simply download the PDF below.
