2010 Plan Update #47: September/October 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 THE 70. Bishop Coyner held two events to help enable his vision of sending out 70 in teams to start new faith communities. On Sept. 26th, he met with the pastors of 26 different churches, sharing his vision with them and challenging them to consider who within their congregations God might be calling to help start new faith communities. And on October 21st, over 40 people from 21 congregations attended the BISHOP’S BOOT CAMP, which was an initial training event to help those called to begin developing their action plans.

2. CHURCH DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. ANDERSON CROSS ROADS UMC received a $50,000 relocation Church Development loan/grant. The newly merged church has relocated to a visible six-acre site and is averaging around 250 in worship. FORT WAYNE SIMPSON, HAMMOND FIRST, HOPE, and PORTLAND ASBURY UMCs received $5,000 matching grants to help launch new worship services to reach new population groups. (Two are targeting Hispanic/Latinos.)

3. NEW CONGREGATION. FORT WAYNE ALDERSGATE UMC also received a $50,000 grant (for the first year) to help it launch an off-site congregation targeting Gen-Xers, those 25-43 years of age. A local sports bar is being considered as the group’s future meeting site.

4. NEW WINESKIN CHURCHES TRAINING SERIES. Initial information about this new five-session lay-clergy leadership training series, directed by Rev. Marianne Chalstrom, was distributed through Cross Points. The series, being done in cooperation with Ministry Development, will begin January 19-20th with a session entitled “Creating Dynamic and Effective Leadership Teams.” For more information contact Marianne at mchalstrom@sbcglobal.net or Ed Fenstermacher at ed@nicumc.org.

5. RVP STARTED. A new group of seven UMCs began the Redevelopment Venture Process September 16th. Church Development also has contracted with Rev. Heather Olson-Bunnell’s new Reach-Teach-Serve Ministries to help expand and train more RVP coaches so more churches can participate. So far four new coaches have been recruited.

Prayer Concerns:

1. Pray for those who attended the Bishop’s Boot Camp to start new faith communities.
2. Pray that the right churches and individuals take advantage of the New Wineskin Churches training series.
3. Pray for the recruitment and training of more RVP coaches.
4. Pray for Aldersgate & Cross Roads UMCs and other new-church initiatives.
5. Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!