2010 Plan Update #30: November/December 2003

2010 Plan's Objective: Enlisting the conference and its churches to reach new population groups for Jesus Christ.

Key Developments Since Last Update:

1. CHURCH MERGERS/POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS.
   
   • The five GARY UMC's are in the process of voting as to whether or not they wish to form a new congregation. Representatives have been meeting for over a year studying the possibility. The outcome should be known by March.
   • Six UMC's in MARION are voting in January as to whether or not to seriously consider forming a new congregation. Representatives from the churches have been in conversation about possible options for over a year.
   • Laity and clergy from eight UMC's in FORT WAYNE began a process to explore possible ministry strategies that range from forming partnerships to establishing a new congregation. The process is expected to take nine months.



2. OFF-SITE CONGREGATIONS.
   
   • Merrillville UMC received approval for a three-year $100,000 Church Development grant to develop a new congregation in the neighboring city of Schererville. The church is developing the details of its strategic plan.
   • Plymouth First UMC received approval for a three-year $30,000 Church Development grant to establish a new off-site congregation targeting unchurched persons 20 to 44 years of age.



3. NEW CONGREGATIONS.
   
   • South Bend Pathways UMC's steering committee approved a plan to expand the ministry beyond the Iris Hills apartment complex to additional sites. However, future funding for the ministry will depend on more progress being made by February.
   • Marion District Superintendent Dan Motto convened a group to determine whether or not the possibility of planting a new church in Green Township of Madison County is worthy of further study. The group unanimously agreed that a study committee should be formed to further explore the possibility.



4. REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
   The three-year Redevelopment Venture Process held its first of nine sessions on November 8th with teams from eleven churches in the conference participating. A team of seven people from the conference, who are being trained to lead the process in the future, also attended. In all, over 100 people attended.



5. HISPANIC PLAN.
   Another Module 1 training event to develop Lay Missioners and Pastor Mentors has been scheduled for the first three weekends of February. Sessions will be held at the South Wayne UMC in Fort Wayne. About 15-20 people are expected to be trained. The 20 who were trained in September are being deployed for ministry.

Prayer Concerns:

1. Pray for the projects and churches listed above, and those leading the efforts.
2. Pray for Rev. Dick Lyndon's full recovery from his respiratory illness. (Dick, senior pastor at Goshen First UMC, is a former NIC church planter and church development staff person. He also helped pioneer the second-campus model in our conference. Our 2010 Plan wouldn't have progressed as far as it has without his leadership.)
3. Pray for Rev. Kevin Buckley and Pathways UMC that further progress would be made.
4. Pray for one of our newer congregations, Southern Wells Community Church, and its pastor Rev. Dan Love as it experiences some turbulence, which many times happens when a church is five to six years old.
5. Pray that God would make our hearts--ache for the lost!