Message Name: 10-Year Vision Update
Short Summary: Pastor Todd Carter shares a pivotal transition in Pathway Church's leadership as he steps into a new role focusing on microcampus development, while Pastor Rodney Elliott becomes the next lead pastor. This vision weekend celebration reminds us that God has an assignment for each of us—not just for pastors or missionaries, but for every Christ follower. As Pathway pursues its 10-year vision of planting 100 churches, reaching 10,000 new believers, and impacting 100,000 lives, the question becomes personal: What assignment has God placed in your heart that you haven't fully stepped into yet?
ICEBREAKER QUESTION
If you could transition into a different role or season of life right now (work, ministry, hobby, family role), what would it be and why?
This question connects to the theme of transition and calling while allowing people to share dreams, longings, and perhaps unspoken assignments God has placed on their hearts.
REVIEW PREVIOUS WEEK'S "I WILL" STATEMENT
I will take one step to help the kid in my life discover community.
Reflection Questions:
- How did you live out last week's commitment in your daily life?
- What challenged you most about putting it into practice?
- Did you experience any moments where God showed up as you took that step of obedience?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Question 1: Understanding Your Assignment
In Acts 20:24, Paul says, "But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others the good news about the wonderful grace of God." What do you think God's specific assignment is for your life right now?
Context: Pastor Todd emphasized that this verse isn't just for pastors or missionaries, it's for every Christ follower. God has placed a specific assignment in each of our hearts.
Application Guidance: Share honestly about what you sense God calling you to do. It might be a conversation you've been avoiding, a ministry you've been hesitant to join, or a financial commitment that requires surrender. What's holding you back from stepping fully into that assignment? What would it look like to take one small step this week?
Question 2: Gratitude in Transition
Pastor Todd expressed deep gratitude and joy even in the midst of a major life transition. When have you experienced a significant transition (job change, move, relationship shift, new season) where you struggled to maintain gratitude? How did you navigate those emotions?
Context: Todd shared Philippians 1:3-5, expressing thankfulness for partnership in the gospel. Transitions, even good ones, can bring up complex emotions: grief, fear, excitement, uncertainty.
Application Guidance: Be vulnerable about the emotional reality of change. Gratitude doesn't mean denying hard feelings; it means choosing to see God's hand even when we can't see the full picture. How might practicing gratitude change how you approach current or upcoming transitions in your life?
Question 3: Humility and Surrender
Pastor Rodney mentioned that "so few people in this world give up platforms." Pastor Todd is stepping away from the lead pastor role to focus on microcampus development. When has God asked you to surrender something significant—a position, recognition, control, or comfort—for the sake of His mission... how did you respond?
Context: This transition demonstrates rare humility and trust. It's countercultural to willingly give up influence, title, or a prominent role. Yet Jesus modeled this perfectly (Philippians 2:5-8).
Application Guidance: Reflect honestly on areas where you might be holding too tightly to control, recognition, or comfort. Is there something God is asking you to surrender right now? What fears come up when you consider letting go? How can your group support you in taking that step of faith?
Question 4: Seeing What Others Can't See in Themselves
Rodney shared that Todd's "superpower" is seeing something inside people that they can't see for themselves, then calling it out and giving them confidence. Who has done that for you? And who might God be calling you to do that for?
Context: This is discipleship at its core... walking with someone, seeing their God-given potential, and encouraging them to step into it. Jesus did this with His disciples; Paul did it with Timothy; Todd did it with Rodney.
Application Guidance: Take time to remember and honor someone who believed in you before you believed in yourself. Then prayerfully consider: Is there someone in your life—a co-worker, neighbor, family member, or someone at church—whose potential you see but they don't? How might God be calling you to speak life and vision into them this week?
Question 5: Personal Response to the 10-Year Vision
Pathway's 10-year vision includes planting 100 churches, seeing 10,000 new followers of Jesus, and impacting 100,000 lives. So far, 46 churches have been planted and 499 people baptized. How do you see yourself personally contributing to this vision? What specific role might God be calling you to play?
Context: This vision isn't just about church leadership—it's about every person in the Pathway family stepping into their assignment. Whether it's serving at a microcampus, having faith-filled conversations, giving financially, or praying fervently, everyone has a part.
Application Guidance: Move from general enthusiasm to specific commitment. Share one concrete way you sense God inviting you to participate in this vision. It might be stepping into serving, inviting someone to church, supporting a church plant financially, or praying daily for the mission. What's your next step?
THIS WEEK'S "I WILL" STATEMENT
"I will identify one specific assignment God has placed on my heart and take one concrete step toward it this week."
Examples might include:
- Talking to someone about Jesus that you've been putting off
- Reaching out about serving at a microcampus
- Making a financial commitment that requires faith
- Praying specifically for someone God has placed on your heart
- Reaching out to encourage someone whose potential you see
PRAYER PROMPTS
Prompt 1: Personal Prayer Requests
Leader asks: "What specific needs or struggles can we pray for you about this week?"
Allow time for people to share openly. Write down requests so you can follow up.
Prompt 2: Praying for Assignments
Pray that each person in your group would have clarity about God's specific assignment for their life. Ask the Holy Spirit to give courage to step into what He's calling them to do, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain.
Encourage specific prayer: "Lord, show [name] the assignment You have for them. Give them boldness to take the next step."
Prompt 3: Praying for the 10-Year Vision and Valley Center Campus
Pray specifically for Pathway's 10-year vision—that God would continue to open doors for the 100 churches to be planted, for the 10,000 new believers, and for 100,000 lives to be impacted. Lift up the Valley Center campus, which has been without a building for over seven years, as they prepare to close on their property at 53rd and Meridian on June 30th. Pray for the land closing to go smoothly, for wisdom in the building process, and for the many people in Valley Center who will come to know Jesus through this campus.
Encourage the group to commit to praying for Valley Center throughout the week, especially leading up to and on June 30th. Pray that this property would become a beacon of hope and transformation in that community.
Prompt 4: Praying for Pastor Todd and Pastor Rodney in This Transition
Rob Dakin shared how his initial "knee-jerk" response changed as he began to pray. He realized there was wisdom in this transition that he couldn't see at first. Pray that our entire church family would have that same experience, that through prayer, we would see God's wisdom and heart in this transition. Pray for protection over Todd's and Rodney's families during this season of change, for unity in our church body, and for protection against spiritual attack as we step into this new chapter together.
Encourage the group to commit to praying regularly for both Todd and Rodney in the coming months, especially as January 2027 approaches.
REWATCH THE MESSAGE
Want to revisit this message or share it with someone? Watch it here:
Leader Note: Create space for authenticity by modeling vulnerability yourself. Not everyone will be ready to share deeply right away—that's okay. Trust is built over time. Celebrate even small steps of obedience and remind your group that we're all growing together.