MILL-GREEN UMC MASTER PLAN FOR MINISTRY AND GROWTH 2016 2017 January 16, 2016; Page 1 LOVE JESUS KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS CHANGE THE WORLD
January 16, 2016; Page 2 The Mission for Mill-Green UMC Plan for Ministry and Growth This booklet contains the church s plan for church growth and ministry. It involves many different groups and its visions and therefore requires all of our attention as well as a call to get involved. As you examine this document know that it is a guideline for prompting faithful and productive ministry in the lives of those who attend as well as those seeking a place to worship and grow together. The ministry opportunities contained in this document have been prayerfully considered by each group, written down for everyone to view, pray about, and work to accomplish. Yet, it is also a static document that will have no value unless it is prayerfully implemented in the church. This plan does not measure ministry effectiveness, it does not share the spiritual climate of our congregation, nor does it guarantee that it will increase ministry or growth. What it does provide is avenues for us to take ownership in a particular ministry as we are led by the Holy Spirit; thereby, fulfilling our Vision to Love Jesus, Keep His Commandments, and Change the World. This plan for Ministry and Growth is being implemented to reach our community and world with the message of Jesus Christ s love and will find us assessing all facets of our ministry to be sure we are effective in sharing the gospel and loving others! This plan for ministry and Growth is being implemented so that we can grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ as we reach beyond our church doors. It is beyond our doors that we live a life of faith and demonstrate how a person can be saved from sin and transformed into a new creature by the Grace of God! This plan for Ministry and Growth is being implemented so that those who desire to know the saving work of the Cross can find opportunities for spiritual growth, a church family with whom they can be on the faith journey, and ways to reach out to others in the sharing of our faith story and God s amazing love! I am excitedly looking forward to how God is going to lead us! The opportunities contained in this document may be the catalyst for ministry not discussed in this plan but being made ready for a time in the not so distant future. We humbly begin with this plan and will prayerfully ask God to move us in directions that He is establishing and obediently follow through on what is presently before us in this plan for ministry. It is time to emerge from the shadows of effective ministry and be the change in the world we live. As always we receive encouragement from scripture as we hear God say, 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 Serving Jesus Christ Together, Pastor Bob
January 16, 2016; Page 3 Land Development Options Summary On March 28, 2014, a church-wide meeting was held for members to vote on options for land development, the Field of Faith and resource investment. The church congregation was presented with three options: 1. Develop a plan to build the new church within 7 years, maintain current ministry and only perform required maintenance to existing facilities. This option included development of a financial plan and timeline to support building the new church and to determine ways to increase donations to support the project. 2. Keep the Field of Faith for current use and possible future development. Continue Miracle Sunday, but use contributions for current ministries, programs and facilities. (It was added that 10% would go into an escrow account to use building a church). If this option was chosen, a committee was to be formed to develop a round of options for using the Field of Faith. Building would be revisited if 50% of construction costs was received. 3. Sell the Field of Faith. This included determining how proceeds from the sale would be used to support current programs and ministry options. There were 97 voting members and the results of the vote: 1. 24 for #1 2. 72 for #2 3. 1 for #3
January 16, 2016; Page 4 PURPOSE GROUP VISIONS WORSHIP Work to ensure that the Greenwood building has video capabilities by early 2016. Work to ensure that there is adequate training on the audio-visual equipment by Fall 2016. Maintain and support the administration of communion to shut-ins, currently done by Ruth Smith. Develop a process that will ensure accurate attendance records for the church worship services. Encourage all persons attending church to proactively invite non-church attenders to our services. Create inspiring worship experiences by implementing the work of a newly created Worship Design Team. Create a reasonable budget that facilitates the goals listed. Continue to pray and search for the right person to lead the Worship Purpose Group by early 2016. Increase the Mill-Green church attendance by 15 families presently not attending church of another denomination in 2016 and 2017. Work with the Pastor to provide meaningful, baptism, dedication, and reception of member experiences during the worship services in 2016. Support and conduct Confirmation classes on a yearly basis in 2017. Work with the Worship Design Team to include the Director of Youth Ministry and Director of Children s ministry in order to have our children and youth more visible in our worship services in 2016. Create a SOP (standard operating procedure) for the audio/visual equipment that can be helpful in troubleshooting minor setup and operational issues in 2016. Work with the Board of Trustees to relocate the sound system components from the front of the sanctuary to another location in 2016. Work with the Board of Trustees to finish the work in the old choir loft to open the space for the Praise Team by September 2016. Brainstorm ways to reach the unchurched or nominally churched with the gospel through alternative worship services (i.e., mid-week service, Saturday evening service, service and a meal, etc.) and development recommendations to implement in 2017. CHILDREN Increase attendance at the "Kids for Christ" program by five children in both 2016 and 2017. Acquire more volunteers to help with KFC. Four more volunteers are needed immediately and into 2016. Possibly provide a Junior Church program during the Daybreak Service by 2017. Note: We currently have children attending this service, but most are still too young for Junior Church. Bring into our congregation, through our KFC dinners and programs, two KFC families to worship. If the 2015 4:00pm Christmas Eve Service goes well, continue this Service in 2016 and incorporate KFC kids into the service. Provide a vibrant Vacation Bible School in 2016.
January 16, 2016; Page 5 Continue to brainstorm and try new ideas to bring unchurched kids to Sunday school in 2016 and 2017. YOUTH Facilitate the youth in becoming passionate about sharing their faith, in turn, encouraging other youth to attend. Create an atmosphere that is youth directed (planning, advertising, prayer, music, etc.) Provide the youth the opportunity to go on a mission trip Provide the youth an opportunity for the youth to be more active in the life of the church and to service the community Support Youth ministries through fundraising. MISSIONS Sponsor a Mission Fair in 2016 and 2017. Utilize all 5th Sunday" opportunities to bring a mission focus during the worship service. Feature a special speaker or review mission programs the church is sponsoring. Increase the Members of the Mission Purpose Group to 7 in 2016. During 2016 support and encourage congregational members to be active participants in a US or global mission trip. Provide assistance to mission teams as they prepare to travel. For example, pill packing or supply packing. In 2016 and 2017 sponsor Operation Christmas Child shoe box drive. In February 2016 and February 2017, engage in the Blanket Sunday Drive. Utilize all communications tools to increase mission awareness including the Church Newsletter, 5th Sunday mission moments, church bulletin inserts and the church web page. In 2016 and 2017 continue the Community Love Fund carnival stand the profits from which support the Millville Fire Company and local families in need. Encourage all congregational members to assist with the Community Love Fund carnival stand. Assist the community with the annual, free Thanksgiving Meal. PERSONAL GROWTH AND EDUCATION In 2016, investigate and possibly implement the Matthew 28 initiative for our church congregation. Create a "Lenten Devotionals" booklet based on input from our congregational members to be used for the dates of Ash Wednesday, February 10 through Easter, Sunday March 27. In 2016 and 2017 explore locally available or church conference available spiritual growth programs and offer one or two programs to the congregation in each year. CHURCH LIFE Organize community "Soup and Sandwich" meal. Coordinate this with the Mission Purpose Group to offer a free meal to the community and church family in mid-winter, 2016. In 2017, continue the Community "Soup and Sandwich meal through increased publicity. Increase attendance at the 2016 Easter Egg Hunt to 40 children from the church and community.
January 16, 2016; Page 6 Host the annual Easter Egg Hunt and increase attendance by ten children in 2017. Host and grow the attendance at the Women's Day Brunch in May 2016. Sustain the Women's Day Brunch program and seek to grow attendance in 2017. Initiate "Church Without Walls" Mission Sunday church service at the Field of Faith, followed by the congregation carrying out planned service mission within the community. Sponsor a bus trip for the congregation and community to Sight and Sound to see the production of "Sampson". Hold the annual "Community Block Party" and seek to grow community attendance in 2016. Organize and continue to expand the annual "Community Block Party" in 2017. Add a scarecrow contest open to church and community groups. Carry out the "Trunks O' Treats" outreach in October 2016 increasing the number of trucks by two. Plan and carry out "Harvest Home" food donations and collection in support of the Millville Area Food Cupboard. Expand donations to include lovingly used outer wear. Plan an Advent Tea. A "Dollar Tree" event will be organized with this tea. PURPOSE GROUP LEADERS AND MEMBERS VISION CHAIRS Christine Beishline, Lance Diehl, Bob Watts WORSHIP Group being formed. To volunteer, please contact Pastor Bob. Children Louise Strozyk (Children s Coordinator), Shirley Brito, Susan Laubach, Ginny Bower and Marie Reynolds Youth Adults: Colleen Temple (Youth Leader), Tara Holdren, Ryan Craig Youth: Jenn Meyers, Hannah Temple, Jackson Temple, Kelly Holdren, Will Holdren, Allie Diehl, Sydney Dilick, Sierra Serota, Emily Hippensteil, Lauren Comly, Greg Lyons, Jeff Lyons, Brooke Kremer, Zack Kremer, Megan Boyles, Arianna Bish, Brock Gordner, Caitlin Gordner, Sephie Brito, Anna Diettrick, Alissa Ringer, Caleb Temple, Caden Temple and Cole Dewald Missions Diane Rider (Chairperson), Jenn Myers, Sandra Lewis, Marie Reynolds, Mary Crawford, Ruth Ann Henry, Peggy Kelchner, Penny Bangs and Louise Bartholomew Personal Growth & Education Bob Burns (Chairperson), Steve Smith, Janet Grecsek, Peggy Holdren, Greg Laubach and Rick Reichner Church Life Joyce Harding (Chairperson), Ginny Bower, Brenda Wilcox, Cheryl Verstraeten, Dave Case, KayLou Case, Diane Rider, Don Rider, Janet Watts, Lynette Hock, Marie Reynolds, Marlene Eveland, Jessica Whitenight, Cindy Rider, Linda Titman and Sue Moore
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