2010 Plan Update #43: January/February 2006

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

Key Developments Since Last Update:

1. SENDING OF SEVENTY. The Cabinet embraced Bishop Coyner's vision to send out 35 pairs of people from NIC churches to start new faith communities. The Cabinet, the Church Development Ministry Team and others prayed an hour each week of February for a clearer understanding as to how it should be lived out in the NIC.
2. CONGREGATIONAL ASSESSMENTS. Ed Fenstermacher recruited additional retired pastors to serve as consultants for churches interested in a congregational assessment. There are now ten pastors who have agreed to consult, and eight churches that are going through the process.
3. COURSE ON MULTI-SITE MINISTRY. Rev. Phil Abram help develop and lead a five-week course for Marion District Lay Speakers on developing multi-site ministries. By the end of the course, participants will have visited four multi-site UM churches.
4. NEW CONGREGATION UPDATES. Here are some of the latest developments...
   • Ft. Wayne Christ (Rev. Jill Wright) now has the largest Spanish-language service in the conference led by Janie and Sergio Reyes, averaging 70 people. The church also has a growing predominately African-American service averaging over 40 people.
   • Ft. Wayne Trinity (Rev. David Ballinger) is exploring the possibility of adopting a Hispanic congregation of between 30-50 people.
   • Hammond Hyde Park (Rev. Juanita Ramos) has started a bi-lingual worship service.
   • Hanfield (Rev. Tim Helm) has officially embraced the concept of developing satellite campuses and is in a coaching relationship with Jim Griffith.
   • Hartford City Grace's (Rev. Gary Hall) New Community congregation, which worships in the high school is now averaging 128, is using 100% indigenous leadership, and is now financially self supporting.
   • Hope (Rev. John Randall) Hispanic congregation has begun weekly worship.
   • Lapel Trinity (Rev. Evan Lash) has begun using its new facility on its 26-acre second-site campus.
   • Pendleton First (Rev. Tim Wilbur) has just brought on board the former superintendent of schools to lead the development of its South Madison Community Center at Ingalls.
   • Valparaiso First's (Revs. Dave Byrum & Kurt Nichols) new congregation, called New Song Fellowship, is launching weekly worship on Palm Sunday in the basement of a downtown bar. It has a core group of well over 100 people.

Prayer Concerns:

1. Pray for the Bishop's dream to send seventy out to start new faith communities.
2. Pray for the projects mentioned above and the churches and leaders working on them.
3. Pray for an April 5-7th conference consultation with Jim Griffith.
4. Pray that God would continue to raise up leaders and churches to start new congregations.
5. Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!