Serving with
Purpose
Advancing the Kingdom Through Compassionate Action
Vision 2026
Mark 10:45
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The S.E.R.V.E. Anagram
To keep our focus intentional and balanced throughout 2026, we will adopt the anagram S.E.R.V.E. as a framework to guide our monthly teaching, ministry focus and congregational engagement.
Serve: Offering our hearts, hands, and time to the Lord’s work and to the service of others with humility and joy.
Empower: Building capacity in others to discover and use their God-given gifts for Kingdom purposes.
Respond: Acting with compassion and obedience to the Holy Spirit’s promptings, meeting needs where they arise.
Value: Honouring all people as created in God’s image and worthy of respect and love.
Engage: Reaching beyond the church walls to demonstrate God’s love in action through outreach and community service.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, NIV) “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13, KJV) “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:23 NLT)
Introduction and Context:
As we enter 2026, our focus as the New Testament Church of God Leeds is drawn to the divine call to service. Service is not merely an act, but a posture of the heart. The life and ministry of Jesus Christ demonstrate that greatness in the Kingdom of God is measured not by our titles, position or prestige, but by the willingness to serve others in humility and love. Our annual theme, “Serving with Purpose” - “Advancing the Kingdom through Compassionate Action,” calls us to embrace a lifestyle of intentional and Spirit-led service that transforms lives and communities.
The Church of God has always been called to serve: to serve God faithfully, to serve one another lovingly and to serve our communities compassionately. True service flows from a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit and rooted in Christ’s example. As Jesus Himself declared, “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27, NIV). This year’s theme invites us to embody this Christlike posture of servanthood, demonstrating God’s love in tangible and transformational ways.
Theological Foundation:
Service lies at the very heart of the Gospel. The cross of Christ represents the ultimate act of divine service the self-giving love of God extended for the redemption of humanity. The Apostle Paul reminds us that every believer is called to “by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). Through service, we participate in God’s redemptive mission, becoming instruments of His grace and vessels of His compassion to a broken world.
Application for Church Life and Ministry:
This year’s theme challenges us to see service as both worship and witness. When we serve, we reflect the heart of Christ and reveal His Kingdom to the world. As a local church, we are called to nurture a culture of service that strengthens the body of Christ, equips leaders, and engages our city with compassion.
Service will be expressed through discipleship, outreach, mentoring, evangelism, and acts of compassion within the community. Each department, ministry area, and auxiliary is encouraged to prayerfully consider how they might embody this call to “serve with purpose.”
Through our collective obedience and faithfulness, we believe that 2026 will be a year of Kingdom advancement, where the love of God is made visible through the service of His people.
Bishop Tony Parry