2010 Plan Update #45: May/June 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. At the North Indiana Conference’s annual session, Bishop Coyner shared his vision for the conference to send out pairs of people from its churches to start new faith communities. The Church Development Ministry Team also shared via video the stories of three churches that are reaching new population groups for Christ.

2. NEW GRANT PROCESS. As a result of recommendations by Jim Griffith and input from the Bishop and Cabinet, the Church Development Ministry Team has modified its grant application process. The new process will require all projects receiving more than $5,000 to have a consultant who will serve as a coach. It also requires that the projects set “benchmarks” by which the project’s progress can be measured. These changes are to help the projects succeed even more.

3. HISPANIC/LATINO FAITH COMMUNITIES. Trinity UMC, in Fort Wayne, welcomed a fledgling Hispanic/Latino faith community, Templo Evangelico Prinicipe De Paz, into its building, and the two congregations agreed to explore the possibility of it being adopted by Trinity. Hammond First UMC is developing a plan to launch a new Hispanic/Latino faith community this fall. The church has brought on its staff Joe Ramirez to lead the project.

   A Hispanic Plan Module One training event will be held in October at First UMC, LaPorte, to train lay missioners and pastor-mentors as they develop new Hispanic/Latino faith communities.

Prayer Concerns:

1. Pray for the projects mentioned above and the churches and leaders working on them.
2. Pray for the Bishop’s dream to send out 70 people in teams to start new faith communities.
3. Pray for churches as they consider joining the new Redevelopment Venture Process (RVP) beginning September 16th.
4. Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!