2010 Plan Update #35: September/October 2004
2010 Plan's Objective: Enlisting the conference and its churches to reach new population groups for Jesus Christ.
Key Developments Since Last Update:
- REDVELOPMENT.
Sept. 25th, clergy-laity teams from seven churches began the three-year Redevelopment Venture Process (RVP). They join eleven other congregations that began the process last year. Thanks to a Church Development grant, RVP coaches will be meeting these teams between each session to assist them in the process.
- NEW CONGREGATIONS.
Hartford City Grace UMC, pastored by Rev. Gary Hall, successfully launched a new congregation Sept. 12th at the Blackford High School. Over 200 attended the initial Sunday morning service. Since then it has averaged around 100 adults, plus dozens of children, most of whom were previously unchurched. Four churches in Marion—Grace New Hope, Swayzee St., and Trinity UMCs--voted to form a new congregation to begin meeting November 28th. Gary Christ UMC, pastored by Rev. James Anyike, the merger of Delaney and Grace UMCs, has averaged around 120 people in weekly Sunday worship.
- OFF-SITE/NEW CHURCH NETWORK.
Valparaiso First UMC hosted the new Off-site Ministry Network in September, sharing their planting model which is based on developing healthy small groups. Ten NIC churches that are working on developing off-site congregations attended along, with others interested in church planting.
- NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT CHAIR.
Rev. Herb Buwalda, pastor of South Bend Clay UMC, has agreed to chair the new NIC Church Development Ministry Team. He and Ed Fenstermacher met with Bishop Mike Coyner to begin preliminary planning.
Chairs of the six new task teams under Church Development include: Rev. Stan Buck, New Church Planting; Rev. Dean Fager, Church Revitalization; Rev. Jacob Williams, Black Church Development; Dixie Arter, Hispanic Ministries; Phil Ford, Church Facilities; and Milt Ashby, Church Development Funding.
- NEW WORSHIP SERVICES.
The Committee on Church Development provided the following churches with $5,000 matching grants to assist them in launching new worship services to reach new groups of people: Chesterton First, Herbst, Muncie College Avenue, and Munster Ridge UMCs.
Prayer Concerns:
- Pray for the new Church Development Ministry Team as it begins functioning.
- Pray for our Bishop and conference leaders as they refine and carry out our 2010 vision.
- Pray for the churches mentioned above as they reach out to others.
- Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!
