2010 Plan Update #22: September 2002

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 CHURCH PLANTS. Valparaiso First UMC has submitted a plan to develop a new congregation (possibly a second ministry site) to the conference Committee on Church Development for funding. The plan includes the appointment of a church planter to develop the new congregation.
   
   Rev. Kevin Buckley reports that Pathways UM Church, Michiana District’s multi-housing mission, just multiplied its number of small groups and is working on developing its third group.



2. NEW MULTI-SITE ACTIVITY. Since the last update, Warsaw First UMC has indicated that it is exploring the possibility of developing a second ministry site.



3. CHURCH PLANTERS SELECTION. Ed Fenstermacher attended a church planter assessment training workshop with Jim Griffith. Marianne Chalstrom and Michelle Cobb also attended a church planting workshop with Jim Griffith. They have shared their learnings with the Cabinet.
   
   Also, the Cabinet is sending a pastor to Dr. Ridley to be screened October 10th.



4. LAITY INVOLVEMENT. Ed Fenstermacher has met with the conference Board of Laity as well as the lay leaders of the Lafayette District to discuss their key role in the fulfillment of the 2010 Plan.



5. TRAINING. The General Board of Global Ministries is sending a team of church developers—including Ed Fenstermacher—to the Philippines in October to learn how the United Methodist churches have created a church-planting movement there. Pray for Ed, that he might bring back ideas and principles that might help us in North Indiana.

Prayer Concerns:

1. Pray for Rev. Kevin Buckley and Pathways UMC.
2. Pray for possible new churches in Schererville, north Fort Wayne, and Valparaiso.
3. Pray for God to raise up leaders to assist those churches developing off-site congregations.
4. Pray for Rev. Oscar Ramos and our conference’s Hispanic faith communities.
5. Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!