2010 Plan Update #28: July/August 2003
2010 Plan's Objective: Enlisting the conference and its churches to reach new population groups for Jesus Christ.
Key Developments Since Last Update:
- PROGRESS REPORT FOR CHURCH PLANTS & OFF-SITE CONGREGATIONS.
- Fort Wayne Good Shepherd’s Open Arms: Worshiping Sunday mornings in the former Epworth UMC facilities, Open Arms is averaging 60 in worship, about half of whom are African-Americans. In August, the ministry received nine new adult members, four of whom were baptized. None were from another church!
- Lapel Trinity UMC: Has just completed its three-year fund drive for its Trinity Life Center site raising over $700,000. Its 25-acre site is just north of I-69 on SR 13. One building has been erected and athletic fields have been developed. The church is beginning a second fund drive and hopes to break ground next spring on the first phase of its main building which will house a child care center.
- Merrillville UMC: The congregation has approved the development of a second site in Schererville to reach the area’s unchurched. Its pastor, Rev. Tim Prowse, has a team working on the project.
- Valparaiso First UMC: Rev. Kurt Nichols is has formed the first of many Life Groups (small groups), which will form the heart of First Church’s new off-site congregation. Families in the church have purchased 21 acres with an option on 18 more for a potential future site north of Valparaiso near SR 49.
- South Bend Pathways UMC: Rev. Kevin Buckley has four small groups with another one nearly ready to launch. Most all of the participants live in Irish Hills apartment complex. So far, 105 people have attended “fishing” events and 47 people have attended a small group at least once.
- EMERGING PROJECTS.
- Gary UMCs: Bishop White and Rev. David Schrader (Calumet DS) met with clergy-lay teams from the five Gary UM churches in August to continue the dialogue concerning the possibility of forming a new congregation.
- Huntertown UMC: The church has approved the purchase of 32 acres on SR 3 where it plans to develop a second campus. A campaign to raise funds is going on this fall.
- Plymouth First UMC: The church has begun a search for a staff person to help the church launch a second-site congregation.
- Warsaw First UMC: Rev. David Heim (senior pastor) and Rev. Steve Austin (associate) have been given the task of helping the church form a new off-site congregation. They met with Ed Fenstermacher to begin preliminary planning.
- Church Development: Has had nineteen churches indicate that it is “very likely” they will be requesting a grant in the next year to start a new worship service, an ethnic faith community, new off-site congregation, or to relocate.
- COACHING CHURCH PLANTERS.
Ed Fenstermacher attended a training event led by Jim Griffith to develop coaches for church planters. He hopes to get Jim to work with our conference.
- REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
Recruitment is presently going on for the three-year Redevelopment Venture Process (RVP) led by Dr. Colon Brown. The cost is $1,000 for participating churches. The goal is to have nine or more churches; three are already committed. A team of six people from the conference has also been recruited to be trained to lead the process in the future. RVP begins Nov. 8th at Columbia City First.
- HISPANIC PLAN.
Our conference is launching its own Lay Missioner/Pastor Mentor training. Nineteen lay and clergy persons from our conference will be trained the first three weekends of September. Leadership is being provided by a team of clergy from our conference, including Rev. Oscar Ramos, who have received national training. The hope is that the lay missioners will begin new faith communities.
Prayer Concerns:
- Pray for the projects and churches listed in numbers one and two above.
- Pray for the Gary UMC’s as they consider merging.
- Pray for the Redevelopment Venture Process beginning Nov. 8th.
- Pray for our Hispanic Plan and, specifically, the Lay Missioner/Pastor Mentor training.
- Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!
