New Beginnings Introduction
Process began with the Assessment report in January 2015
Report included demographic, financial, facility information on ourCongregationCommunity
House Meetings/Small Groups
Four Groups met for 6 sessions: Session 1 – Vitality and Discipleship Session 2- Interpreting the New Beginnings Assessment Report Session 3 – Examining our Community Session 4 – Our Church in God’s Mission Session 5 – Discovering our Options Session 6 – Navigating Change
Meetings were not meant to solve problems, but engage in conversation
What did we learn in small groups?
Vital congregations Marks of the vital congregations
• Compelling sense of mission that is driven by the gospel
• Contextual relevance
• Passion and energy
• Resources that are mobilized for a common mission
Resource Engines at Llanerch Presbyterian Church
• Great things can happen when passion, best-at, and resources align.– Love the mission– Do it well– Have the resources
• Our Views and the data from the New Beginnings Assessment– Where do we have passion and energy?– At what do we need to be best?– What resources do we have to drive our mission?
Current TrendsMembership and Worship Attendance
Current TrendsAdult Baptisms and New Members
Current TrendsTotal Giving
Participant Tenure
Outlook
Based on current financial and membership trends, we will only be able to operate for another 3-5 years, if we make no changes to how we think about or act towards church.
Resources•Church building•Membership
•Giving/endowments
Building Use
Who uses our resources• Boy Scouts
• Alcoholics Anonymous• Nursery School
Financial Outlook
Mission and Discipleship• VBS•Music•Worship
• Connect By Night• Community Meals/Outreach
Our Mission Field
Matthew 28:18-2018 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Our Church in the CommunityOur Location
Most congregation members live in the community (Within a 7 minute drive to the church).
Our Church in the CommunityOur Neighbors
• Looking at social, economic, age, and ethic background• Differences and similarities across the congregation and the
neighborhood.
Mission Directed Churches
Luke 13:6-96 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Mission Directed Churches
What would it look like for our church to “bear fruit”?
• God is on a mission and we are to join God in that mission.
• Score ourselves (Low, Medium, or High)– Passion– Best At– Resource Engine– Relevance to the Community
Our Options and ConstraintsStatus Assessment
• Positives–We have things at which we are best– We have a great building, which is in
good shape.• Challenges –We have limited financial and human
resources
Our Options and ConstraintsOptions Review
• Staying the same will lead to further decline, reduced financial and human resources and eventual closure.• Closing now was not attractive to any of
the small groups.• The small groups considered other options.• Each of the small groups wanted to attempt
redefining our mission.
Redefining Our MissionWhat Might that Mean?
• Seeking our gospel mission
• Matching that mission to us
• Inspiring our passion and energy
• Focusing all of our resources for that shared mission
Seeking Our Gospel MissionStarting Today and Continuing
• Prepare ourselves– Look, Imagine, Study, Plan, and Pray
• Share with each other– Talk, Listen, and Show
• Act boldly together
Beginning today and in the following weeks Share your ideas after the services
Contact the small group leaders, who will work to assemble ideas and individuals as we seek our gospel mission at Llanerch.
Like Being a Disciple of Christ
• Exciting and daunting
• Empowered by the Holy Spirit
