Central Texas Conference Journal 2012 CENTER FOR EVANGELISM AND CHURCH GROWTH REPORT 1 The Center for Evangelism and Church Growth continues evolving and living into the Exodus Project adopted last year. This has been a year of deep changes as we strive to fulfill our mission of “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” by “energizing and equipping local churches.” During the past year we have been: • Establishing the Center Executive Team. Team members include Armando Alvarado; Susan Briles; Ed George; Rick Jenkins; Leanne Johnston; Jeff Jones; Casey Langley; Gary Lindley; Andrew Nunley; Joel Robbins and Carl Stenger. • Hiring New Staff, Leanne Johnston is the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries; Jeff Jones is the Director of Operations; Susan Briles, Center Administrator; and Ed George, Facilitator of Healthy Church Initiative and Cluster Groups. • Equipping the new staff to operate within a new paradigm of working directly with local churches to learn about their unique mission fields and to equip G them to make disciples of Jesus Christ. • Launching the Healthy Church Initiative. HCI is a process, not a program, of transformation for local congregations. Components include continuing learning groups for clergy and laity, leadership development, coaching, and consultation. We launched in February in the West and Central Districts with four Small Church Learning Groups, four Pastor Leadership Development Groups, and four Laity Leadership Development Groups. In April, we began accepting applications of our September groups which we will launch conference wide. Dr. Ed George will be identifying and training facilitators and coaches and assisting in the development of continuous learning groups. • Supporting new church starts across the conference. This includes starting one new church in Robinson, Texas and continuing to support four other new start congregations. New Day Church in Mansfield closed in April. Rev. Shelia Fiorella worked diligently; however, the congregation was unable to meet the benchmarks for continued support. This was a difficult decision. At the same time we know that the Parachute Model of starting new churches is extremely risky. This is the reason we are moving away from Parachute Drops to the Mother/Daughter model of new church starts. • Encouraging Senior Pastors and congregations to become “mother” congregations by helping birth new congregations and/or adopt established ones. • Introducing the General Conference “Vital Congregations” ministry. Nearly 100% of our congregations have set goals for 2012. As of April 1, congregations began to report their “vital signs” weekly via email. • Partnering with the Center for Mission Support and La Trinidad United Methodist Church in developing a new ministry at the Diamond Hill property in north Fort Worth. We have also partnered with First Cleburne to develop a Reports ministry at the St. Paul property in Cleburne. • Traveling around the conference visiting local congregations, listening to their needs and offering support. ~ 151 ~ Central Texas Conference Journal 2012 • Helping clergy to discern a call to be a new church start pastor. Anyone who is interested in starting a new church is required to attend the New Church Leadership Institute offered in October and January. • Strengthening our witness to youth and young by working directly with local churches, clusters and districts. Leanne Johnston addresses the ministry with youth and young adults in Report 2. It has been a year of growing transitioning and changing. We are just beginning to live into the Exodus Project and the Center for Evangelism and Church Growth team is looking forward to the year ahead. YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY LEANNE JOHNSTON REPORT 2 In the midst of transitions at the district and conference level and the birth of my first child, ministry happened in the lives of youth and young adults in the Central Texas Conference this year. I am thrilled to be in ministry with youth, youth workers, young G adults, clergy, and laity across the Central Texas Conference. I spent the first few months following Annual Conference 2011 in research, prayer and getting to know people. I was out in local churches meeting with leaders from Eastland to Ferris, Bedford to Cedar Park and lots of places in between. I have enjoyed Back to School events, visiting youth groups, and worshipping across the conference. I am on the road a lot and make the local coffee shop my office more often than not! I always bring with me encouragement, support, a sounding board, and resources that span far beyond our meetings. In October, I began accepting applications for our Conference Council on Youth Ministries. Marianne Brown, former SLT president, describes CCYM as “being in the business of changing hearts.” Andrew Trigg, chairperson for the Hospitality/Publicity team agreed and has chosen that as the theme for the year. At a recent meeting students described this committee as their family. These student leaders are prepared to go into their districts and churches to serve using their gifts and strengths in the areas of missions, worship, organization, and publicity. They will continue to receive intentional leadership training and spiritual growth development to be effective ministers. Our Mid-Winter Planning Committee planned and executed two very successful Mid- Winter Retreats at Glen Lake Camp in February with 473 participants. Participants experienced small groups and meaningful worship about being nourished in the spirit of God. Kevin Gregory, junior from FUMC Mineral Wells heard the call to youth ministry last year and is able to serve on CCYM this year as president. He says Mid- Winter Retreats have “changed my life not just faith-based, but in every way possible. I’ve made so many new friends and thanks to the connection of the United Methodist Church we’ve all managed to remain extremely close to each other and to help one another when we’re struggling.” I enjoy having the opportunity to meet with youth workers, young adults, and pastors in their church settings to resource and equip them in ministry. Each district has several ~ 152 ~ Reports Central Texas Conference Journal 2012 youth worker gatherings scheduled for each month. Gatherings are scheduled throughout each district for coffee, lunch, or dinner in hopes to reach the greatest number of youth workers. There is a lot of laughter at these gatherings and my prayer is that youth workers go back into their local churches feeling refreshed and equipped. Youth workers share curriculum ideas, conflict management solutions, and ways to recruit quality adult leaders over coffee, sandwiches, and ice cream. I love sharing how the conference can provide resources in the local church to strengthen ministry. Some resources I’ve been able to provide are curriculum, book suggestions, and funding to attend conferences. While our conference is wide geographically, we use technology to bring people together. Virtual gatherings, conference calls, and Facebook groups connect youth, youth workers, and young adults from churches from the North to the South. We are also offering Vital Youth ministries resources for youth workers to state and track their goals. We are always expanding ways to gather for fellowship, training, and sharing resources. PARTNERS IN MINISTRY SHARE PROGRAM REPORT 3 G Is your church listed below? Did the number of SHARES for your church increase in 2011? Did your congregation give its members an opportunity in 2011to become Partners In Ministry? Will your congregation commit to presenting the Partners in Ministry SHARE Program in 2012? A Partner in Ministry is a person who believes in the mission of the United Methodist Church and who commits annually to SHARE in the cost of starting a new church. Partners in Ministry recognize that starting a new church provides one of the best avenues for first –time Christians and the un-churched to experience the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ Most Partners in Ministry purchase at least one or more shares at $60 a SHARE. Some choose to purchase a ½ a SHARE or a ¼ of a SHARE. Together Partners in Ministry provided $200,000 in 2011 to help start new churches. Every one of our Partners is important. We desperately need more members of the Central Texas Conference to Partner with us. If you are not a Partner in Ministry then Become a Partner today! If you are a Partner, Increase your SHARES by at least one! CENTRAL TEXAS CONFERENCE CHURCHES SHARE SUPPORT Dollars Shares Reports Acton $2,150.00 35.83 Aledo $720.00 12 Alvarado: First $342.50 5.71 Annetta $180.00 3 ~ 153 ~ Central Texas Conference Journal 2012 Arlington: Aldersgate $490.00 8.17 Arlington: Covenant $450.00 7.5 Arlington: Epworth $100.00 1.67 Arlington: First $5,190.00 86.5 Arlington: Good Shepherd $470.00 7.83 Arlington: New World $3,925.00 65.42 Arlington: St. Andrews $1,200.00 20 Arlington: St. Barnabas $1,540.00 25.67 Arlington: St. John the Apostle $180.00 3 Arlington: St. Stephen $180.00 3 Arlington: Trinity $7,915.00 131.92 Azle: First $1,000.00 16.67 Ballinger: First $425.00 7.08 Bangs $100.00 1.67 Bedford: First $180.00 3 Belton: First $1,050.00 17.5 Blanket $720.00 12 Blooming Grove $120.00 2 G Bluff Dale $400.00 6.67 Blum $60.00 1 Bosqueville $260.00 4.33 Breckenridge: Eolian $60.00 1 Breckenridge: St. Paul $380.00 6.33 Breckenridge: First $1,200.00 20 Bristol $90.00 1.5 Brock $525.00 8.75 Brownwood: Central $320.00 5.33 Brownwood: First $675.50 11.26 Bruceville-Eddy $1,605.00 26.75 Cahill $180.00 3 China Spring $200.00 3.33 Cisco $360.00 6 Cleburne: First $1,685.00 28.08 Cleburne: St.