Mission and the Local ChurchThe mission of God's commissioning of the church has not changed. The Church is a global enterprise with entities in nearly every country pursuing the same goal. The mission of the Church transcends time, change and culture. The mission is unchanged but the way it is achieved changes depending on culture and time. “Mission must be carried out by valuing culture, taking into account how the Gospel is proclaimed and reflected upon more deeply, and this in ways that recognize the prior presence of God's spirit among the people of the world (Bevans, 2013 page 8) .” First Wesleyan Church seeking to fulfill the mission of the church in the unique culture of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Analysis of First Wesleyan's mission and vision reveals strengths and weaknesses relative to the unchanging mission of the universal church. Mission of First Wesleyan Churches First Wesleyan Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma is located in the heart of the Bible Belt. Bartlesville, Oklahoma is a stagnant growth community with extreme wealth and poverty. According to First Wesleyan's website, “Our mission is defined by God, through the Holy Bible. In two very important biblical passages we find mission. Both biblical passages come from the words of Jesus Christ: Matthew 28:18-20 and Matthew 22:37-40. Our mission is to love God, love others, and help others know and love God (2015).” Mission is accomplished through three simple concepts: Come, Grow, and Go. First, Wesleyan wants people to know Christ and come to church. Second, they intend to help people grow in their relationship with Christ through worship services, discipleship training, and small groups. As people grow up, they will want to go and serve in the church, in the community...... middle of paper ......rm for First Wesleyan but there are few resources, training and opportunities offered that create a culture of service to all interior of the church. There are no consistent local mission opportunities offered, and the few mission trip opportunities are limited in number and are typically selected with much neglect of the church. Conclusion Analysis of First Wesleyan's mission and vision reveals strengths and weaknesses relative to the unchanging mission of the universal church. Early Wesleyan offers many ministries to reach the world for Christ, but does so from the comfort of the church. No church is perfect, and all could be better at fulfilling the mission of the church. Although the mission is immutable, the approach changes from culture to culture. First Wesleyan will continue to strive to best fulfill its mission in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and beyond.