2010 Plan Update #44: March/April 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. REDEVELOPMENT VENTURE PROCESS. The first group of NIC churches completed a pilot run of RVP. Eleven churches began the process and seven completed all three years. An improved RVP will begin September 16th. It will now be a two-year process, all churches will have coaches, and there’s a simple pre-assessment that can help a church determine whether RVP is the right next step.

   The eight RVP churches that completed Natural Church Development surveys at the beginning and near the end of the process collectively saw their scores increase by an average of 50 points each. On a scale of –3 to +3, the churches that completed RVP collectively gave a +2.24 rating to the statement: “The time we spent in RVP was well worth it.” A DVD with testimonies from these participating churches is being produced.

2. JIM GRIFFITH CONSULTATION. Nationally-known church planting coach and consultant, Jim Griffith, met with Church Development teams and five individual churches that are starting new congregations. One of the results of his consultation was Church Development’s decision to work with the Cabinet and refine the NIC’s plan. A CD-ROM of Jim’s presentation to the Church Development Ministry Team is available.

3. CHURCH DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. Christ UMC, Fort Wayne, received a $50,000 grant to help it to continue to develop its new Hispanic and African-American congregations. First UMC, Warsaw, received a $75,000 grant to help it establish a new congregation in a former school building, which the church is purchasing. St. Andrew UMC, West Lafayette, received a $50,000 loan to help the church relocate. This loan will revert to a grant if the church has a congregation worshiping weekly in a new facility at the new location within three years. Mongo UMC received a $5,000 worship matching grant to help it establish a new worship service to reach a new group of people.

4. LISTING OF CHURCH DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES. A comprehensive list of resources to help strengthen and multiple churches was distributed in Cross Points and is being made available at the conference’s website.

Prayer Concerns:

1. Pray for the Church Development Ministry Team and Cabinet as they refine their plan.
2. Pray for the projects mentioned above and the churches and leaders working on them.
3. Pray for the Bishop’s dream to send out 70 people in teams to start new faith communities.
4. Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!