Church Planting & Revitalization

AC2012 Report

vision

Bringing Jesus to the North Central United States through planting and growing healthy congregations…

goal

Plant & revitalize 50 Spirit-filled, culturally relevant Free Methodist Churches by 2025.

strategy

Identify, recruit, train, deploy and resource boldly apostolic leaders connected to local communities with a heart for establishing and multiplying churches.

principles

• Nimble & accountable leadership decision making.

• Assess planters and/or provide planting interns.

• Peer group resourcing.• Planter coaching & training.• Financial support.

results

• 2007 LifePointe, Iowa City. 70.• 2007 Crossroads, DesMoines. 20.• 2007 Loop, Minneapolis. 12.• 2008 Agua de Vida, Minneapolis. Closed.• 2008 Betel, Austin MN. Closed.• 2008 Resolution, Chicagoland. 110.• 2008 Iglesia Immanuel, Albert Lea. 60.• 2009 Melrose Hispanic, Chicagoland. Closed

• 2010 Common Ground, Sioux Falls, SD. 90.• 2010 Main Street, Pella IA. 70 • 2010 Clearview, Monroe WI. 20.• 2010 Luz en tu Camino, Waukegan IL. Closed.• 2011 Catalyst, Eau Claire WI. 80.• 2011 ConneXion, Sioux Falls, SD. 50.• 2012 Monte Sinai, Austin MN. 20.• 2012 (tbd) Lanesboro, MN. (?) - Hopper• 2012 (tbd) Yorkville, IL. (?) - Ewaskowitz• 2012 (tbd) Council Bluffs, IA (?) - McGaffey• 2012 (tbd) Upstate, IL (?)

death and resurrection

birthing and growing

revitalization

NEW LIFE GRANT CONSULTING TEAM

turning it around

Leadership Essentials for Health and Growth in the Local Church

fearlessly identify reasons for decline

• Top Causes for Decline:– Poorly matched pastoral leadership– Inward focus (members come first)– Mission confused with tradition – Vision blind– Power struggles – Inadequate facilities

agree the church must change or die

• Key Changes for Turnaround:– Prayer renewal & Holy Spirit power– Resurrection based, hopeful atmosphere – Confront divisiveness & complacency– Forgiven & reconcile– Urgency for the lost– New vision– New pastor

a question for church leaders

What can we point to in our lives and in our church that shows evidence of the renewing work of the Holy Spirit?

church planting

The single most effective evangelism method

“Church planting is the single most effective method of evangelism strategy under Heaven.” – C Peter Wagner

What happened?

Here and there across the North American continent, fresh church planting projects arise and we now begin to see faster growth in the denomination. Some believe we can have a total of 2,000 Free Methodist churches by the year 2,000. Actually, that would mean an increase of only one and a half churches a year for each conference. And because new churches grow more rapidly than established ones, as a rule, this kind of increase could yield a very substantial advance in North American membership. Donald Demary Snaphsots

The Catalyst Church story

Scott and Lori Whiting Eau Claire, WI

Goals for 2012/2013

With few exceptions, those involved in church planting systems (assessment, basic training, and coaching) reach more unchurched people and grow more rapidly than those who are not.

The increased success rate of church plants in the last decade is directly correlated to the advent of assessment, training, and coaching incorporated into national and regional strategies.

Research from Viral Churches by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird

Goals for 2012/2013 cont.

1. Every planter: assessed, trained and coached2. Establish partnerships with church planting

networks: Forge Chicago3. Improve our church planting intern program.4. Identify viable assessment centers 5. Plant at least three churches: Lanesboro,

MN; Yorkville, IL; Monte Sinai in MN, Council Bluffs, IA; Upstate IL (tbd)

Together We Accomplish More

PRAYPARTNER

PLANT

PRAY THROUGH…

• Revitalization and Revival– What evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work my life

and our church can I thank God for today.

• Planting and Next Generation Movements– How can our church participate in the church

planting movement?