Democratic Republic of the Congo

Over a year ago, John Connor, Director of the Jesus Film Partnership (JFP), challenged our district to fund a Jesus Film team to the go to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for three years.  The Jesus Film has been one of the most fruitful, soul-winning and church-planting tools of all times.  

As usual, our district accepted the challenge.  Last year we sent $18k to the DRC for equipment and to get the team launched.  It was our prayer that, out of the three years, at least 10 churches would be planted and multiple souls find the Lord.  

I'm also including the first quarterly statistical report that comes to us in French.  Hopefully you'll be able to decipher it or find a translator in your area.  As I have looked over it, I've been thrilled with the number of people that have accepted Christ and the groups that have been established.  Let me encourage you to keep the funds flowing.  We have an $18K commitment for this year and, as of now, we have raised about $5k.

Below the report, you will also find photos of the training sessions.  

PROGRAMME DE TROIS MOIS

Trois premiers mois	Endroits spécifiques de production	Villages, Commune, Eglises, Peuples	Nombre de personnes prévues	Distance approximative partant du centre ville
Août 2012 Du 14 au 18 Du 19 au 21	District de Lubumbashi District de Lubumbashi	Commune Rwashi, Paroisse SILOE Commune Kenya, Paroisse Source de Lumière	1000 1000	18 km 5 km
Septembre 2012 Le 28 Le 29 Le 30	District de Likasi District de Likasi District de Likasi	Paroisse de KAPOLOWE Mission Paroisse de KANSALABWE Paroisse de NGUYA	500 200 200	120 km 120 km 120 km
Octobre 2012 Du 05 au 07 Du 12 au 14 Du 19 au 21 Du 26 au 28	District de Likasi District de Likasi District de Likasi District de Likasi	Paroisse de KATANGA Paroisse de KAPOLOWE gare Paroisse de MBALAKA Paroisse de TOYOTA	200 200 200 500	120 km 120 km 120 km 120 km

STATISTIQUES MENSUELLES

Date	Place	Nombre de personnes qui ont visualisé	Nombre de personnes qui ont reçu Christ	Nombre de groupes établis	Nombre de personnes par groupe
Août 2012 Du 14 au 18 Du 19 au 21	Commune RWASHI Paroisse SILOE Commune Kenya, Paroisse Source de Lumière	3340 750	121 123	7 8	12 10
Septembre 2012 Le 28 Le 29 Le 30	Paroisse de KAPOLOWE Mission Paroisse de KANSALABWE Paroisse de NGUYA	-         357 302	102 55	-         2 2	-         12 6

JFP Training Group

JFP Training Session

JFP Training Session

JFP Training Session

JFP Training Session

Furnace Brook DTP Consultation

This past weekend, Dr. Paul Borden, Dr. Mark Gorveatte, Rev. Skip Trembley and I conducted a DTP consultation in beautiful Vermont.  Joel Tate is the pastor.  Furnace Brook is the church.  The timing was amazing.  Furnace Brook is in the process of relocating, leaving a building that is over 150 years old, that is up on the mountain in a remote location.  The new location, a former furniture store, is on Highway 7, a major north-south corridor for the state of Vermont.  Pittsford is the closest village, although other population centers are nearby.  Here is a report that was presented to the congregation on September 30.

Furnace Brook Wesleyan Church, North Chittenden, VT

Rev. Joel Tate, pastor of Furnace Brook Wesleyan Church

Furnace Brook Congregation

Furnace Brook Wesleyan Church - New Building

Furnace Brook Wesleyan Church - New Building

       FURNACE BROOK WESLEYAN CHURCH CONSULTATION

                                    SEPTEMBER 28 – 30, 2012

STRENGTHS

1. Love and Acceptance:  The congregation demonstrates love and acceptance to each other and in general to most new people who attend.  They are not judgmental and value people as God’s created beings regardless of their situation in life.

2. Younger Congregation:  Compared with most congregations of its size, this congregation is populated by younger families.  The congregation has a bright future because of the children, teens and younger parents who attend.  It would be helpful if there were more older people present in order for them to share from their wisdom and experience.

3. Openness to Risk:  The congregation is on the precipice of stepping out in faith to fulfill its desire of reaching the county with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

4. Pastor and Congregational Growth:  The pastor over a period of nine years has led this congregation from being a small family cell congregation to a small church.  While still a large single cell entity the congregation is no longer made up of a family and friends of the one key family.  Such growth usually does not occur in villages like North Chittenden. 

5. Pastoral Growth:  A number commented on the growth and development of the pastor.  They value his leadership and his skill in preaching the Word of God.

CONCERNS

1. Mission/Vision/Agenda Harmony:  The congregation has no clear mission statement that governs all it does.  There is no clear vision related to a mission.  As a result there is no harmony on what the mission and vision of the congregation is to be.

2. Small/Large Congregation:  If the congregation continues to think and act like a small congregation, as opposed to a large congregation, there will not be the Great Commission health and growth required to fulfill the desire of reaching the county with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. Finances:  While being open to risk the congregation has not functioned wisely in preparing for the move financially.  Those leasing the property have acted in good faith, thereby creating a moral commitment on the part of the church.  Yet the church is not prepared to meet the financial commitments within a short time frame in order to have the building (tool) they need to fulfill a clear mission and vision.

4. Ministry Plan for the Move:  The leaders have not planned adequately for the move into the new facility.

5. Family:  The pastor and his family are facing strains related to the work commitment that comes with leading a growing congregation.  These strains will increase as the congregation moves to another level of congregational ministry.  If not addressed adequately these stresses and strains puts the emotional health of the pastor and his family at risk.

PRESCRIPTIONS

1. Mission/Vision/Agenda Harmony:  Upon the adoption of this report, should that be the case, the mission of Furnace Brook Wesleyan Church will be, that it exists to make more disciples for Jesus Christ.  The pastor will lead the ministry team to conduct an audit of all ministries to see how each one contributes to this mission statement.  Those ministries that do not conform must then be changed so they do or they can no longer exist.  This behavior will begin to produce alignment and agenda harmony.  The audit must be concluded by June 30, 2013.  The pastor in conjunction with his coach and the District Superintendent will craft the two key numbers that will produce a vision for the congregation.  This vision will be in place by January 1, 2013.  The congregation, once they move into the new building, will conduct a Sunday morning worship service of dedication.  This service will begin with prayers of confession for being inward in focus and not fulfilling the Great Commission.  People will pray asking God to break their hearts for lost people, while giving them a vision of how to reach their community.  Finally, prayers will be offered dedicating the building as a tool to be used in implementing the mission and achieving the vision.  This Sunday of Worship will occur before the end of 2012 and be led by the DS.

2. Small/Large Congregation:  The pastor will form a staff (volunteers) that comprise his ministry team.  This team will oversee the key ministries that help a congregation grow by reaching non-Christians.  Those ministries include Sunday morning worship, children’s ministries, assimilation and events designed to increase visitor flow.  The pastor will lead the ministry team to focus on these four ministries initially.  This means getting most current leaders who are involved in other things to suspend those ministries to help focus on evangelism growth.  Ministry team leaders who oversee specific ministries will be expected to set goals for their areas of responsibility.  These goals need to include evangelism, leadership development and growth.  The LBA will become a board of three who oversee the pastor and hold the pastor accountable for goals while protecting the pastor and the ministry team as they lead their ministries.  This structure will be in place by January 1, 2013.  The pastor will select three to five people who are not on the ministry team or LBA to begin to develop as leaders.  He will meet with them monthly. This group will begin meeting by March 1, 2013.  The pastor will have his office in the new building and communicate his regular office hours and schedule to the congregation by November 1, 2012.  Beginning January 1, 2013 the pastor will create a list of those in the community who are responsible for education, safety, welfare etc.  He will then begin to systematically visit these individuals finding out their needs and seeing how the congregation might be able to minister well in meeting some of the needs.  He will make a minimum of three visits a week.   

3. Finances:  The leaders of the congregation will raise $15,000 to $20,000.  This money is to be placed in the building fund for rent as needed throughout the next year.  The congregation will also borrow up to $25,000 to finish renovations in the new building.  Renovations and dates for their completion will be decided in conjunction with the DS, the District Building Group and the congregational leaders of Furnace Brook.  The congregation now has a moral commitment to move and needs to finish renovations of the building quickly in order to be ready to serve well, those whom God will send.  These decisions to act will be made within two weeks of adopting this report, should that be the case.

4. Ministry Plan for the Move:  The congregation will practice its key ministries that will help it get ready for the guests they are praying that God will send.  This practice will occur from the Sunday the congregation moves in until the last Sunday in December.  The three major ministries to be practiced are the Sunday worship service, serving children and assimilating new people.  During this period of time the pastor will be assembling and training his assimilation team.  He will help them become familiar with the teachings of Nelson Searcy and connect them with Fusion Community Church (the Wesleyan Congregation in Cobleskill, New York) in order to learn how to conduct assimilation well.  The congregation will design one event for guests during Christmas.  This will give the assimilation team a chance to practice with a larger group of guests.  The pastor will schedule regular luncheons with new people, for the purpose of introducing them to other new people, by January 1, 2013.  The pastor and leaders will plan for March 2013 being its Open House Month.   This will be a formal time to invite people to come and see the building and to experience the ministries offered by the congregation to serve the community.  During this month special Sunday worship services will be planned to increase the number of visitors, preparing for the final Sunday which is Easter. 

5. Family:  The pastor and his spouse, in consultation with the DS, will meet with a counselor.  The purpose is to help them deal with any emotional and spiritual tiredness that comes from leading a growing congregation and deal with the new challenges related to this new chapter in the life of the congregation.  The District will pay for this counseling up to $1000.00.  In addition a coach will be assigned to the pastor for the next twelve months.

THOSE WHO REGULARLY ATTEND THE CONGREGATION WILL VOTE TO EITHER ACCEPT OR REJECT THIS REPORT AND ITS PRESCRIPTIONS BY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2012.  IF ACCEPTED THE DISTRICT WILL DO ALL IN ITS POWER (WITH ITS LIMITED RESOURCES) TO HELP THE PASTOR AND CONGREGATION IMPLEMENT THE PRESCRIPTIONS.  IF REJECTED THE PROCESS IS OVER SINCE THE CONGREGATION HAS SPOKEN. 

Submitted by:

Dr. Paul D. Borden

Rev. Paul James

Dr. Mark Gorveatte

Rev. Skip Trembley 

Brandon Center Consultation Report

One of the amazing stories of our district has to do with our church at Brandon Center.  Located in a rural community of 600, this church has been impacting its community for Christ.  From a church of 25 just four years ago, Pastor Juanita Brooks has led this church to an average of 60+.  Last year 16 souls found Christ. 

The Brandon Center Wesleyan Church Congregation

The Brandon Center Wesleyan Church

Rev. Juanita Brooks

Recently, Dr. Borden, Andrew Fetter, Marc Watkins and I traveled to the North Country for their consultation weekend.  Here is the report.

Brandon Center Wesleyan Church Consultation - September 21-23, 2012

1.  Beloved Pastor:  Pastor Juanita Brooks is a leader who is committed to making disciples for Jesus Christ.  She is respected, admired and loved for her compassion, care, enthusiasm, energy and preaching.  According to one parishioner, "When Pastor Juanita walked into our church, the Holy Spirit came too."  This spiritual anointing, along with her 'get it done' attitude has led, what was once, a tiny congregation to a powerful moving force in the community.

2.  Ministry to the Community:  Under the pastor's leadership, the congregation is ministering effectively to the Brandon Center community.  The food pantry, the summer feeding program and Zumba are just examples of how this congregation is impacting the area.

3.  Evangelism:  The congregation is seeing many become new disciples of Jesus Christ.  Through conversations at the food pantry, in homes, in places of business or at the church, many are discovering that faith in Christ can lead to a personal relationship with Jesus.  This life change is being noted by families and friends throughout the area.

4.  Morale:  Because of the positive momentum that the congregation is experiencing, morale is high.  This church loves their pastor and one another.  The congregation values their time in God's house and are excited by the new believers and baptisms.  Our lead consultant says that rarely, in hundreds of consultations, has he seen a congregation with such a positive attitude.

5.  Worship:  The people report that the Sunday morning worship experience is the high point of their week.  If they miss the service, which many refer to as Mass, the rest of the week just doesn't go right.  The Spirit of the Lord is in the services, the pastor's messages are anointed, and the musical part of the experience is uplifting.

Concerns:

1.  Mission/Vision:  The vision revolves around too small a geographical area.  Although the mission is stated orally, succinct and clear mission and vision statements will bring clarity to the ongoing ministry of the BCWC.

2.  Space:  It is generally acknowledged that additional space is a must if the church is to continue its growth and ministry to an ever-expanding constituency.

3.  Staff:  If current growth and ministry is to continue, leadership development and a volunteer/paid staff must become a part of the strategic plan.

4.  Community Visibility:  Located at the very crossroads of, what historically was the geographic center, of the community the church must continue to be creative in developing ways to enhance this 'center point' of visibility in the community.

5.  Assimilation:  A system of assimilating new people into the body has not been clearly developed or implemented.  More intentionality is necessary in this area going forward.

Prescription:

1.  Mission/Vision:  The mission statement of the congregation will be, Brandon Center Wesleyan Church exists to honor God by making more disciples for Jesus Christ.  On the day that this report is accepted, this mission statement will be adopted.  All ministries and activities of the congregation will be evaluated in relation to this statement.

In addition, this vision of the church must become more regional, encompassing the areas where God has given the church favor with people.  This region will include many of the outlying villages where community food banks look to the BCWC as a source for supplies and leadership in bringing hope to this area.

The pastor, along with her coach and District Superintendent, will craft a statement to reflect such a regional vision by January 1, 2013.  The pastor and leaders will dream dreams of how God wants to leverage the favor He is giving this church.  Intentional ministries will be designed to help reach an ever growing group of people for Jesus.

2.  Space:  The congregation will borrow up to $25,000 from the Wesleyan Investment Foundation.  This will be used to add square footage for ministry.  This space, which is to provide the largest amount of room for the least amount of money, should be added as soon as possible.  Modular and portable buildings should be considered as well as stick-built alternatives.

It is noted that providing this space for Children's Ministry is vital.  Our observation is that young families and children must be a priority for the long-term health of the church.  New organized children's space (nursery, as well as Children's Church space, plus rest rooms) will greatly enhance the attractiveness of BCWC to the families of the area and will speak volumes that children are important.  The goal is to have enough space that the congregation (with two services) will see at least 150 in the a.m. worship service as an average attendance within the next five years.  The pastor, along with her coach and DS and District Building Committee, will make the key decisions for the funding and the initiation of this project by February 1, 2013.

3.  Staff:  The congregation will raise money to pay a part-time administrative assistant.  This person, who will work ten hours a week, will have the responsibilities of aiding the pastor with the myriad of details that surround a growing church.  By being relieved of the necessary, but time-consuming administrative chores, the pastor will be able to focus on the areas where she is extremely gifted, as well as to give quality time to her family.  As one of the consultants said, "The purpose of the administrative assistant is to free up the busy pastor to serve at max in her areas of expertise and effectiveness."

The DS will arrange for the pastor to spend time with another female pastor that has been successful.  Ongoing coaching with this individual is anticipated.  This trip will be funded by the BCWC.

In addition, a ministry team of paid and volunteer staff will be in place by May 1, 2013.  Attention will be given to recruiting to key areas of responsibilities--i.e. children, youth, nursery, worship and assimilation.  This staff will be seen as an extension of the pastor's ministry.  The leadership development class will begin by January 15, 2013.

4.  Community Visibility:  The pastor and administrative assistant will make a list of key community leaders with whom the pastor needs to meet.  These meetings are to explore opportunities for service to the communities.  Pastor Juanita will meet with civic, educational, medical, first response leaders, etc. on a regular basis.  The congregation will provide a fund so that she can 'pick up the tab' during many of these meetings.  This list and the initial visits will begin by January 30, 2013.

The pastor will lead the congregation to conduct four bridge events during 2013 that will follow the 'next date' training provided by the consultant.  Some of these events will focus on the immediate area, while others will focus on the outlying region. 

The pastor and staff will also continue to strategically plan ways that the new expanded facilities can be used to enhance the position of the church as the center focal point of the region.  The idea of an Internet Cafe that will give children a place to do their homework and folk to come who do not have access to high-speed internet, is brilliant.

5.  Assimilation:  The pastor will recruit and gather an assimilation team.  This team will create and begin implementing a system that intentionally connects people who are new to the congregation with the rest of the body.  The formation of this strategy should use Nelson Searcy's resources and prior DTP church leadership to help craft the assimilation for BCWC.  This team will be assembled and the system will be implemented by January 1, 2013.  The pastor will begin regular lunches with the new people in order to help them meet other new people.  These will begin by January 2013!

THE CONGREGATION THAT REGULARLY ATTENDS THE CHURCH WILL VOTE ON THIS REPORT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT IT.  THIS VOTE WILL OCCUR BY OCTOBER 28, 2012.  IF ACCEPTED, THE DISTRICT WILL DO ALL IT CAN (WITH ITS LIMITED RESOURCES) TO ASSIST THE PASTOR AND CONGREGATION IN IMPLEMENTING THE PRESCRIPTION.  IF REJECTED, THE PROCESS IS OVER SINCE THE CONGREGATION WILL HAVE SPOKEN.

Submitted by:

Dr. Paul D. Borden
Rev. Paul James
Rev. Marc Watkins
Rev. Andrew Fetter

Mini-Sabbatical

Imagine our surprise when the District Board suggested that we take the month of August as a mini-sabbatical.  Susan and I gratefully accepted.  For several days we pondered, "Where shall we go and what shall we do?"  We decided on the South American country of Ecuador.  Over the last decade, this country and its people have grown dear to us as we have regularly visited for missional work.  We knew that we could rest, experience a change of pace, test our skills of adapting to a different culture and language, engage in some mission work, and enlarge our network of friends.

Located at 9,300 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, the beautiful city of Quito, with a population of 2.5 million, was our home for 30 days.  We rented an apartment on a major avenue (7th floor) across from a modern mall.  Taxis were our mode of transportation; hand motions and our limited Spanish our means of communication.

7th-Floor Apartment

A View From Our 7th-Floor Apartment

Our Apartment Building

Our Friends, Tom & Lydia Hines and Susan in Our Apartment

A Sky-line View of Quito from Our Apartment

We would like to say, "Thank you," to our DBA and all of you who made this possible.  We arrived home on Labor Day ready to roll up our sleeves and resume the district transformation process.  In fact, Dr. Borden has been with us since last Thursday.  We have completed the consultation at Brandon Center, North Bangor, NY and this weekend we will be in Vermont at the Furnace Brook Wesleyan Church (formerly North Chittenden).  The next 75 days are packed full of opportunities to see revival come to churches.  The prescriptions for Brandon Center and Furnace Brook will be posted in the next few days, so please check back.

On September 14, the District Board, Ministry leaders and DTP pastors gathered at the district center for our annual retreat.  After a lovely picnic we spent two-and-a-half hours around a bonfire listening to reports of what God is doing in our churches.  I wish all of you could have been present.  It was awesome!

Ready for the DBA/Leadership Retreat - 9/14/12

DBA/Leadership Retreat Picnic - 9/14/12

DBA/Leadership Retreat Picnic - 9/14/12

DBA/Leadership Retreat Bonfire - 9/14/12

Cornerstone and CrossPointe Vote to Accept DTP Rx

The District Transformation Project continues to move forward.  Every week, the participating churches are either having Board meetings to learn about the process, are preparing for the consultation weekend, are in the midst of their weekend consultations, having Town Meetings to discuss the prescription and ask questions, or voting on the prescriptions.  These are exciting days in the district for sure and my calendar proves it!

On Sunday, May 20, CrossPointe (Catskill, NY) voted 45 to 8 to accept the DTP prescription, and on Sunday, June 3, Cornerstone (Heuvelton, NY) voted 53-10 to accept their prescription.

To read the DTP report on each of these churches, which includes the prescriptions, see the April 30 and May 7 blogs.