2010 Plan Update #48: November/December 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. NEW OFF-SITE CONGREGATIONS.

   First UMC, Pendleton, whose senior pastor is Rev. Tim Wilbur, has been awarded a $33,333 Church Development grant for the development of a new congregation in the town of Ingalls. Jesse Flood has been brought on the church’s staff to lead the effort. A launch date for public worship has been set for October 2007.

   First UMC, Warsaw, whose senior pastor is Rev. David Heim, will be publicly launching its new worship service on January 14th at its second campus called The Connection. Rev. Steve Austin, who’s helping lead the project, reports that the new service will build on the church’s contemporary worship service which moved to the site this fall. It has been averaging around 100 people each Sunday, an increase of about 25 from when it was held at the church’s downtown campus.

   Trinity UMC, Lapel, pastored by Revs. Evan Lash and Dawn Cuthbert, publicly launched its new worship service at its Trinity Life Center campus on Nov. 5th with 110 people in attendance; about half were new to the church. The contemporary-style service meets Sunday mornings and attendance has mainly been between 80 and 100 people each week.

   First UMC, Valparaiso, whose senior pastor is Rev. David Byrum, publicly launched its off-site contemporary Sunday morning worship service, called New Song, Aug. 28th. Since then it has been averaging between 160 and 180 people each week. Rev. Kurt Nichols, who’s leading the project, reports that about two-thirds are new to the church.

   (All of the above churches have received conference Church Development grants to help fund their outreach efforts.)

2. BLACK CHURCH DEVELOPMENT.

   Anderson New Hope UMC, pastored by Rev. Reginald Lee, was awarded a $350,000 Church Development grant to help the church relocate to a new facility—presently under construction—in order to help it reach even more people in its community for Christ. Bishop Michael Coyner, Rev. Craig LaSuer, Marion District Superintendent, and Ed Fenstermacher, from Church Development, made the announcement to the church at a special December 31st worship service.

   The Strengthening the Black Church Team, which is a part of Church Development, voted in December to develop a plan to launch new Black UMCs in the North Indiana Conference. Rev. Jacob Williams, Jr., the team’s chair, is working with a task force to develop a preliminary plan.

3. CHURCH DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT. The Church Development Ministry Team invited the Bishop and reps from key conference partners—Ministry Development, Leadership Development, BOOM, CF&A, Laity, South Indiana Conference leadership, etc.—for a Dec. 12th meeting to discuss how they might more strategically work together for the revitalization of existing churches and the launching of new churches. The meeting’s input will help Church Development update its 2010 action plan.

Prayer Concerns:

1. Pray for Warsaw First UMC as it publicly launches its off-site worship service.
2. Pray for the efforts of the other churches mentioned above.
3. Pray for God to raise up more churches and leaders to start new congregations.
4. Pray for the development of a plan to start Black churches as well as the updating of the 2010 Plan.
5. Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!