Ultimately, each individual believer is responsible to God for the development of his or her spiritual life. The church, which is made up of believers, is God's vehicle to assist people in growing toward Christ-like maturity. In that vein, Peachtree Community Church exists to develop people into Christ-followers.
Since becoming a devoted Christ-follower is a growth process, the goals that accomplish the mission in people's lives can be visualized in the form of a growing tree. They are:
Stage 1. Preparing the Soil (Cultivation)
Goal: To build relationships and remove obstacles keeping people from Christ
Stage 2. Planted in Christ (Conversion)
Goal: To lead people to Christ and active involvement in church
Stage 3. Growing in Christ (Growth)
Goal: To grow believers toward spiritual maturity
Stage 4. Producing in Christ (Ministry)
Goal: To equip believers for and involve them in ministry and missions
Stage 5. Reproducing in Christ (Leadership)
Goal: To train leaders who lead others toward spiritual maturity

Just as the tree is totally dependent on the sun, water, and soil for its growth, so each of the stages of growth of a disciple are dependent on God.
The appropriate question in establishing a strategy to assist people in becoming devoted followers of Christ is: "What does a devoted Christ-follower look like?" While specifics will vary from person to person because everyone is uniquely designed by God, the following biblical traits are common and basic to devoted Christ followers.
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