In December, Bakers Mills Wesleyan Church had a DTP Consultation and the prescription report was posted. The update to that event is that a church vote was held on January 6, 2013. The result of the vote is that 33 accepted the report and 2 rejected it.
This past weekend the Wells Wesleyan Church also went through the consultation process. Below is the report.
Wells
Wesleyan Church Consultation
March 1-3, 2013
STRENGTHS
1. Pastor and Spouse: Pastor Rob Ketchum and his wife, Karen, are
highly regarded as sacrificial leaders in the local church and community. Repeatedly, the team heard that this couple
was sent by God to lead the Wells Wesleyan Church (WWC). Pastor Rob's preaching is anointed and is
applicable to life situations. Rarely
have we seen a church and pastor thrive like this!
2. Children's Ministry-Tuesday and Sunday: After years of struggle to have a viable
children's program, God has blessed the church with several dozen boys and
girls. The Tuesday Clubhouse/Release
Time Program and the Sunday School/Children's Church are making it possible for
the church to reach young families and precious kids with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ!
3. Positive Momentum/Growth: During the past eighteen months the church
has grown from an average morning worship attendance of 20 to an average of over
40 persons. In the winter month of
February, the average attendance was 51!!
The Law of the Big Mo is also seen in the children’s ministry and growth groups. The team believes that WWC is moving into a
new and exciting life cycle.
4. People/Relationships/Unity: We asked people
what the best thing was about their church and the congregants often replied,
"The people. We feel accepted and at home here.” The team sensed the unity that accompanied these authentic
statements.
5. High Participation and Interest in the
Consultation Process: The team was
impressed at the high percentage of newer folk who participated in the weekend. The focus group was filled with people who
have started to attend WWC in the last eighteen months and who are interested
in belonging to this transformation.
CONCERNS
1. Lack of clarity in vision and mission: For the past few years, survival has been the
focus of WWC rather than a clear and actionable vision/mission.
2. Aging of the facility: It is evident that the building is in need of
much upgrading if it is to be used as a tool to reach the community!
3. Strengthening several ministries: The worship ministry, while attracting new
participants, needs to be enhanced to help it reach the next level. Also, while youth ministry used to be a part
of WWC, it no longer exists. This needs to be corrected.
4. Lack of an assimilation system: An intentional system of connecting guests to
the church is needed. Informal methods
are now being used but these are insufficient for this important responsibility.
5. Inadequate structure for growth: WWC has functioned as a small church for
quite some time. Now, leadership must adapt to a new and different structure if
vision/mission is to be accomplished.
PRESCRIPTIONS
1. Clarity in Vision and Mission: Upon adoption of this report, and if it is indeed
implemented, the pastor will lead the congregation in a special vision service. The target area for which the church feels
responsibility will be defined. Also,
the two vision numbers will be introduced, i.e., the number of people led to
Christ during the next five years and the number of people touched with the
love of Christ during the next five years.
Following
the service, a prayer drive will occur throughout the target area. Stops will be made at strategic public places
and prayers offered, asking God to bring revival to this section of the
Adirondacks. This service will take
place by April 28, 2013. The pastor will
also lead the congregation in four bridge events in the next twelve
months. Attention will be given to the
"next date" concept that was taught to the leaders during the
training seminar. These events will be
completed by Easter 2014.
2. Upgrades to the Facilities: The basement will be filled in and
ventilation put in place to alleviate the mold problem that has plagued the church
for many years. This will be completed
by August 30, 2013. Outdoor and indoor signage will be put in place to make
clear to guests where to park and where to enter the sanctuary, pastor's
office, rest rooms, nursery, etc. The room that has been under construction for
the past five years will now be completed and the décor will keep the younger children in mind. Child-sized furniture, murals, etc. will make
this a cheerful place for these children to meet. This will be completed by April 30,
2013. A new handicapped ramp will be
added to the north entrance, a new door will be installed between the
fellowship hall and the sanctuary along the north wall, pews will be sold and
chairs ordered for the sanctuary, and the forty-five year old carpet will be replaced
and portable risers built to increase the flexibility of the platform
space. This will be accomplished by
October 1, 2013. The rest rooms will be
enlarged and modernized by December 1, 2013.
By January 1, 2014 plans and drawings for a new worship center and foyer
will be completed. A color rendition
will hang in the fellowship hall and fund raising options will be explored.
3. Ministry Upgrades: Understanding that a growing church must
continually be upgrading its worship and music, weekly worship practices will
be moved to an evening later in the week and instituted immediately . The worship team will schedule two field
trips to observe what is happening now in our Shokan and Cobleskill churches. A worship coach will be employed to meet quarterly
with the worship team. If this prescription
is adopted, the district will send a $750.00 check from the Vision Fund to be
used in the worship ministry, as the coach directs. These field trips will be completed by July
15, 2013 and the coach will be in place by April 15, 2013. A small corp. of youth now are the nucleus
for a dynamic youth ministry in the days to come. Therefore, a youth leader will be appointed and
youth meeting will be held at least twice monthly, beginning by July 1, 2013.
4. Assimilation: An assimilation team will be formed by May
15, 2013. Nelson Searcy's “The Assimilation Seminar”
model will be used to organize this team. Special attention will be given to
the "Pizza with the Pastor" component. A field trip to Fusion Community Church in Cobleskill
will take place by July 15, 2013. A new
fellowship time following morning worship will be instituted in the fellowship
hall. Dunkin Donuts coffee will be
served and the district will provide the first 40 lbs! This will begin immediately.
5. Inadequate structure for growth: To help the church move forward in this area,
the leaders of the church will read "Winning On Purpose" by John
Kaiser. His model for church governance
will be the goal that WWC will work toward.
A ministry team will be appointed and in place by May 1, 2013. This team will consist of ministry leaders.
Also, the pastor will select six individuals with leadership potential and begin
monthly leadership training sessions with them. The church will also employ a coach for the
pastor to help him implement these prescriptions. Coaching costs will be $100
per month for 12 months.
IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE PASTOR AND CHURCH LEADERS WILL
IMPLEMENT FUND RAISING TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE PROJECTS CALLED FOR IN THIS PRESCRIPTION.
BELIVING THAT MONEY FOLLOWS VISION, THE
TEAM PRAYERFULLY EXPECTS THAT EACH CHURCH FAMILY WILL RESPOND WITH GENEROUS
GIVING TO MAKE THE DREAM POSSIBLE. THOSE
WHO REGULARLY ATTEND THE CONGREGATION WILL VOTE TO EITHER ACCEPT OR REJECT THIS
REPORT AND ITS PRESCRIPTIONS ON SUNDAY MARCH 17, 2013. IF ACCEPTED, THE DISTRICT WILL DO ALL IN ITS
POWER (WITH ITS LIMITED RESOURCES) TO HELP THE PASTOR AND CONGREGATION
IMPLEMENT THIS PRESCRIPTION. IF REJECTED,
THE PROCESS WILL CONCLUDE SINCE THE CONGREGATION WILL HAVE SPOKEN.
Submitted
by:
Rev. Paul
James
Rev. Gary
Beers
Rev. Dean
Brown
Rev. Andy
McCutcheon
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