2010 Plan Update #41: September/October 2005

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

Key Developments Since Last Update:

1. CHURCH ASSESSMENT PROGRAM. So far, six Fort Wayne District churches have committed to conducting a Congregational Assessment this fall. Churches outside the district interested in this new resource should contact their DS’s.
2. REDEVELOPMENT VENTURE PROCESS. The seventeen churches participating in the team-based, three-year church revitalization process continued the process. Churches are being recruited to participate in new RVP group that will begin March 4, 2006, and will last two years. Interested churches should contact their DS or Ed Fenstermacher.
3. LEADERSHIP TRAINING. A team designing a training program has identified the following core competencies for leaders of Church Development. They are a) self care and balanced living, b) effective planning skills, c) leadership skills, and d) the ability to build a leadership team. The team is developing a preliminary curriculum.
4. NEW WORSHIP SERVICES. Brook UMC and Anderson New Hope UMC received $5,000 matching grants from Church Development to help them establish new worship services to reach new population groups.
5. NEW CONGREGATION. Pendleton First received a grant to train a team to launch an off-site congregation at the nearby community of Ingalls. They also presented a preliminary plan for the new ministry to the Church Development Ministry Team.
6. LARGE-CHURCH PASTORS. Pastors from sixteen of the NIC’s largest churches met with Bishop Coyner in September to hear his thoughts regarding their role in Church Development (the 2010 Plan). Key roles included raising up and mentoring leaders, and reaching of new population groups for Christ by launching off-site congregations.
7. DIRECT SOURCE FOR DEMOGRAPHIC INFO. The Church Development Ministry Team has entered into an agreement (through the GBGM) with Claritas Corp., a secular provider of demographic information. This means immediate access to a vast amount of information. Churches can order $15 reports by requesting one from this web page. Custom reports are available.

Prayer Concerns:

1. Pray for the Church Development Ministry Team as it meets with the Bishop Nov. 30th to further develop the conference vision for Church Development.
2. Pray for the projects mentioned above and the churches working on them.
3. Pray for this fall’s conference-wide program to train more Hispanic lay missioners.
4. Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!