2010 Plan Update #21: July/August 2002

2010 Plan's Objective: Enlisting the conference and its churches to reach new population groups for Jesus Christ.

Key Developments Since Last Update:

1. NEW CHURCH PLANT UPDATE.

   Pathways UM Church, Michiana District’s multi-housing mission led by Rev. Kevin Buckley, is up and running. This summer, Kevin has attended several additional training events, the ministry’s core team and district steering committee have been meeting, and small groups have been formed. For more on the new ministry, visit its website: www.gbgm-umc.org/pathwaysumc.

2. NEW MULTI-SITE ACTIVITY.

   Since the last update, three additional churches have indicated that they are considering the possibility of developing a second ministry site (or second campus). Please pray for Merrillville UMC, Fort Wayne Covenant UMC, and West Lafayette St. Andrews as they explore such a possibility.

   Huntertown UMC is purchasing land on SR 3 (north of Fort Wayne) with plans to develop a second campus. Angola First UMC has a team that is continuing to explore the possibility of starting a second ministry site targeting blue-collar families.

3. CHURCH PLANTER SELECTION PROCESS.

   Three Cabinet members, along with Ed Fenstermacher, worked on improving the selection/screening/training process for potential new-church planters. The Cabinet is considering modifying its existing process as a result of this group’s recommendations.

4. CHURCH PLANTERS.

   Two additional pastors have been initially screened. One of them seems to be an excellent candidate to plant a new church.

5. POTENTIAL CHURCH PLANTS.

   The Fort Wayne Strategy Committee held a meeting with its North Fort Wayne Cluster of churches to discuss the possibility of starting a new congregation in their area.

   Ed Fenstermacher and David Schrader have discussed plans to start a new congregation in the Schererville/St. Johns area. The search for a potential planter has begun.

6. LEADERSHIP TRAINING.

   Six people from the North Indiana Conference--including two of its district superintendents, Revs. Michelle Cobb and Marianne Chalstrom--attended the recent School of Congregational Development.

Prayer Concerns:

1. Pray for Rev. Kevin Buckley and the Michiana District new-church project—Pathways UMC.
2. Pray for the multi-site/second campus possibilities listed above and continue to pray for Fort Wayne Good Shepherd, Lapel Trinity, and Valparaiso First UMCs as they continue developing their second-site ministries.
3. Pray for potential new churches in the north side of Fort Wayne and Schererville (Calumet District), as well as other locations.
4. Pray for Rev. Oscar Ramos and our conference’s new and existing Hispanic faith communities—including Elkhart Trinity's Los Somos Unos, Frankfort El Mesias, Goshen La Sagrada Familia, and South Bend First's La Tierre Prometida.
5. Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!