2010 Plan Update #26: March/April 2003
2010 Plan's Objective: Enlisting the conference and its churches to reach new population groups for Jesus Christ.
Key Developments Since Last Update:
- SCHERERVILLE PROJECT.
David Schrader, Calumet DS, called together leaders of the UM churches surrounding the Schererville area to discuss the possibility of Rev. Tim Prowse and the Merrillville UMC developing a second campus on U.S. 30 that targets the area’s unchurched. The group gave Merrillville UMC the go ahead to pursue it.
- FORT WAYNE PROJECTS.
Larry Ray called together the Fort Wayne District’s Strategy Committee to discuss emerging projects. After months of study, it appears as though the district will rely on its existing churches to reach the growing population on Fort Wayne’s north side. Leo UMC has just completed an expansion. And two other churches—Huntertown and Covenant—have plans to expand, both looking at developing second campuses.
The Strategy Committee also heard a proposal to launch a new church on the city’s south side targeting unchurched blue-collar families. The proposal is in the conceptual stage and needs to be explored along with other options by the south side UM church leaders.
- OTHER PROJECTS.
Ed Fenstermacher met with Revs. Evan Lash and Dawn Cuthbert at the Lapel Trinity UMC’s second campus that’s being developed at SR 13 and SR 38. He also met with Rev. Phil Emerson to get an update of Fort Wayne Good Shepherd UMC’s Open Arms ministry, which is located on the south side of Fort Wayne. Both churches are envisioning the eventual establishment of satellite congregations that average over 200 people in weekly worship.
Middlebury UMC, which had considered developing a second campus, has decided to relocate its facilities instead. Though years away, the congregation is now beginning to work out its relocation plan.
- CHURCH DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.
The Committee on Church Development granted $10,000 to the Michiana District’s Multi-Housing Mission, also known as Pathways UMC, for the last six months of 2003. Pathways is the new-church plant, led by Rev. Kevin Buckley, that is targeting primarily those living in a 1,200-unit apartment complex on South Bend’s south side.
Fort Wayne Covenant UMC was given a $5,000 matching grant to launch a new worship service called The Connection at 5:42pm Sundays. This new service is targeting unchurched people who prefer a contemporary-style of music and worship.
- HISPANIC PLAN.
Enough North Indiana Conference leaders have now been trained in the National Hispanic Plan that the conference now can hold its own training workshops for lay missioners. Lay missioners provide the initial leadership for new Hispanic faith communities. The first such training is being planned.
Prayer Concerns:
- Pray for Rev. Kevin Buckley, Rev. Kurt Nichols, and Rev. Tim Prowse and the South Bend, Valparaiso, and Merrillville/Schererville projects respectively.
- Pray for West Lafayette St. Andrew as it determines whether to expand its existing site, develop a second campus, or relocate.
- Pray for the Calumet and Fort Wayne districts as they continue to discern God’s will.
- Pray for Rev. Oscar Ramos and our conference’s Hispanic faith communities.
- Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!
