Below is the link to the latest Mission Message. I’m going through the book of Exodus in these 2x a week 5 minute clips. We send it to everyone in our group and they send it to friends to tell about their pastor and the new church.

Watch clips on YouTube:

Mission Message 1
Mission Message 2

Category:Gathering Ideas

EVANGELISM

You can grow the launch team through reaching out to the un-churched.  There is a growing population of individuals who have disconnected from the church for one reason or another or have never been a part of the church.  You will be most effective in reaching them through intentional relationship building.  The biggest potential place to find launch team is by focusing on evangelism from the very first day.  Studies show that the majority of the population across the country do not profess a faith in Jesus Christ, yet are open to discussions about spiritual things.  If they are captivated by the mission and vision as they see your church in action in the community they decide to join you in serving, giving and loving. They may be willing to join the launch team even while they are still exploring what it means to be a follower of Christ. 

Gathering Strategies for the Planting Pastor

•  If you are married, pastor, you and your spouse give you a launch team of 2.  If you have children you’ve just grown your launch team accordingly.

•  You will want to exhaust every personal network you and your family have at the beginning.
    o   Contact all your friends, co-workers, family, and neighbors and share the vision with them.
    o   Make a list of 50 people that you know who you can share the vision for this new church with.
    o   One pastor suggests utilizing the 3/5 rule.  This means 5 contacts a day until you get 3 meetings or sit downs to share the vision of the church.
    o   You can’t plant a church sitting behind a desk or working on the computer, you need to be out in the community.  Ask people to join you as fellow missionaries to your community.

“Pastors who network their communities, especially in the first year of a pastorate, may end up knowing that community better than any other person.  This upfront investment of time should pay rich dividends and provide the opportunity to help people…”  Ray Bakke
(The Expanded Mission of City Center Churches, pp 53-54)

•  Who should you meet with next?
    o   Local Influencers:
After you’ve run out of personal contacts, a good next step is to begin to meet with city officials, school leadership, and business leaders in your community to share with them the vision for this new church and to ask for their help in identifying the critical needs in your community.

David Hesselgrave writes, “Research in the areas of anthropology, sociology and communication underscores the importance of the roles of formal leaders, sponsors and mediators in society.  Depending upon the particular societal arrangements that appertain, the newcomer may find it all but impossible to gain acceptance apart from proper approach to such persons.  Even in western societies that emphasize egalitarianism, an initial contact with those who fill these roles will usually enhance the missionary cause.” (Planting Churches Cross-Culturally: A Guide for Home and Foreign Missions, pg 167)

    o   Get involved in community organizations: 
Serve on community boards, work with the Boy or Girl Scouts, serve on the PTA, coach youth sports, etc.  Be a part of organizations that have the heart of the community. You’ll begin to understand the heart-beat and needs.  Plus, you’ll have a lot of allies and friends and influencers who will help you.

    o   New Residents:
Another point of contact can be the new residents in your community.  Intentionally contact those who are new to your community.  They won’t be connected with another church so the risk is low that you will infringe on another church’s turf.  For new resident info go to: www.newmovers.org Make sure you follow up with the information you receive in a timely fashion since others will no doubt be contacting them as well.  You can occasionally purchase new resident contact info from local utility companies in your area.

    o   Everywhere that people gather:
Look for every opportunity to begin building new relationships at the coffee shop, the library, schools, day care, health clubs, sports leagues, etc.  You might even choose to go door to door in your neighborhood and encourage those who are joining you to do the same in theirs.  As pastor, you must begin to model personal witness to those who are coming to form your launch team.  Build into the DNA of this young church from the very beginning a heart and passion for those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Gathering Strategies for the Launch Team

•  Tap into the new networks of those who are coming alongside you by asking them to share the vision with those they know.  Ask each person on the growing launch team to make a list of 10 individuals that they will commit to share the vision of this new church with.

•  Provide the launch team with tools to use as they meet with people.  Create invite cards that the growing launch team can give to those they meet.

•  Get On-Line.
    o   A quality website is important since 77% of the people you talk to will check out the new church via the web before they commit to attend an event.
    o   E-vites are another way that you can equip people in their efforts to reach others.  Or design neat posters that can be placed on your website and easily emailed to contacts.
    o   One new church encouraged their people to invite friends (and anyone else interested in a new spiritual community) via a social-networking site like “Face-book.”
•  Host gathering events that will provide an entry point for new people to meet the church planter and the growing launch team where they will hear a little about what God is calling this church to become.  This also provides an initial connectional point for the new people that are gathering.  These gathering events are social gatherings that allow you to begin to build relationships and begin to share about this new church.  Those who gather will be invited by the current launch team members so they know that this is an event sponsored by the new church.

Gathering Event Suggestions

1.  Many Covenant church plants have used Vision Desserts very effectively.  Plan for a 90 minute time frame with the event hosted at someone’s home.  It may be that several members of the launch team will invite their neighbors to their homes as you host a number of these evening gatherings.  Begin the evening with dessert and coffee.  This allows for late arrivals to not miss the presentation.  They begin the presentation 15 minutes after everyone has gathered.  The church planter and their spouse present for 50-60 minutes.  And then answer questions for the remainder of the time. 

Vision Dessert requirements:
•  Someone’s home
•  A Projector
•  Portable screen (although a blank wall works well)
•  Laptop computer
•  And of course, people to attend.

Develop a Power-point that contains:
•  30-40 slides which they moved through quickly
•  Utilize numerous slides from Dave Olson’s church attendance research.
•  Transition from the demographics to why you are planting this new church.
•  Present the vision, scriptural basis, and talk lots about the “preferred future” they were praying for.
•  Close the evening by asking people to prayerfully consider joining this vision.
•  Close in prayer.
•  Mention that the ECC is great at church planting.
•  Deflect doctrinal questions (there are usually very few) until after the meeting.  Focus primarily on the Message and Mission of Jesus.
•  It doesn’t matter if there are 2 or 20 in attendance; this seems to be an effective way of sharing the vision for the new plant.

2.  Open Houses are a way to allow people to hear more about this new church that God is growing.  Open houses can be hosted at a restaurant or other public venue, or they can be hosted in a parent church, or in individual homes.  The content and format will be similar to vision desserts.

3.  Neighborhood picnics/barbeques.  Have the launch team invite friends to a home or park where there will be good food and a straightforward presentation about this new plant.  Make sure that people know what they’re being invited to attend.  Avoid the bait and switch. 

4.  Initiate a Service project in the community like Habitat for Humanity, serving meals at a shelter in your area, providing labor for a local school project, or some other activity that allows people to get their hands dirty while connecting with the growing launch team.  It should be communicated to the group that gathers that this is precisely the kind of thing this new church desires to continue to do in the community.  Hand out contact information and follow up with any who express interest.
Engage the growing launch team in serving the community.  Serving must become a part of the DNA of this new church from the very beginning.  People will want to know why you are loving, giving, and serving – so be prepared to answer them.  Be a church that lives out the Gospel!

For ideas on servant evangelism projects go to: www.servantevangelism.com

For more information go to: Chapter 6 - Roots

Category:Gathering Ideas

A PARENTING CHURCH

The preferred way to begin gathering a launch team is to have a strong PARENTING CHURCH.  Often a parenting church and pastor will allow the church planter to begin to gather a launch team from within the parent church.  As the vision for the new church is presented God will begin to gather those who feel a call to this new work.  It’s not unusual for a parent church to tithe from its regular attenders to help the new church plant get off to a good start.  This will certainly allow for a faster start to the new church, provide committed believers to staff key ministry areas, and provide immediate support for the planting pastor.  The assumption may be that the bigger the group that joins the launch team from the parent     church the better, but too large a group (usually over 60 adults) can actually hinder the future growth and may diminish the urgency to engage in evangelism right from the start.  Often a large group coming from another church will also have their own agenda that may not be in harmony with the vision for this new church. Agenda harmony issues will need to be addressed in the launch team meetings.  Like Gideon, you may have to whittle the group down to only those who are indeed called to this new work, rather than the larger group consisting of the curious or disgruntled who may also want to join the launch team of this new church. 

PARTNERING CHURCHES and STRATEGIC NETWORKS

 
It may be possible to have a parent church send out a group to help in growing the launch team of the new church, but in many contexts there may not be a strong parenting church available.  In cases where there is not a parent church it may be possible to develop relationships with a number of partnering churches who may choose to release people, give resources, provide meeting space, or provide some ministry muscle.  The development of partnering church networks allows even the smallest church to be involved in the start of a new church.  Every congregation can be a church-planting church. 

Example: The Covenant recently planted The Compass Covenant Church in East St. Paul, MN with Pastor Terrance Rollerson.  This was in many ways a pioneering work.  There wasn’t a strong parenting church that was sending out Pastor Terrance with the beginnings of a launch team.  He began his launch team development with just his immediate family.  Terrance was very intentional about contacting many Covenant and non-Covenant churches in the area.  He met with the pastors, mission teams, and preached at many of these churches.  As he developed relationships, shared the vision of The Compass, and met with strategic ministry teams, some of these churches were captivated by this new work.  Several of these churches gave permission to their attendees to go with Terrance to plant if they felt God was calling them to be a part of this new work.  Several of these churches also pledged financial support, interim leadership, worship support, and meeting space.  This is in many ways a more time consuming and difficult way to begin a new church, but it also has many advantages.  This form of root development brings people from many different backgrounds, often provides a broader base of support, and may open up strategic ministry partnerships.

For more information go to: Chapter 6 - Roots

Category:Gathering Ideas

Posted June 02, 2008, Gary Rohrmayer at “Your Journey Blog” http://garyrohrmayer.typepad.com/yourjourneyblog/2008/06/sowing-mentality.html

Developing a Sowing Mentality - Part 1

Why is it that some missional leaders see growth in their church every year?  Why is it that some can crash through growth barrier after growth barrier?  There are multiple issues around this subject but one thing rings true in every leader I know who hasn’t settled on a plateau.  Each of these leaders possesses what I like to call a “sowing mentality.”  They are constantly and liberally sowing seeds to uncover receptive hearts to the gospel.  It may often come about through increasing their ability to get into more spiritual conversations, loving their community with incarnational service, engaging people through random acts of kindness or saturating their community with captivating marketing images.  These leaders do whatever it takes to discover those who possess that “good soil” Jesus spoke about which will produce a yield a hundred fold.

King Solomon offers some wisdom on the subject of sowing in the book of Ecclesiastes, “Sow your seed in the morning and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” (Ecclesiastes 11:6)  This verse speaks volumes to those who are serious about making connections with those who are disconnected from your people and know nothing about your church.

1. Those with a “sowing mentality” know it is a 24 hour job. “Sow your seed in the morning and at evening let not your hands be idle…”

Sowing is a “morning and evening” job.  Missional leaders understand the God’s redemptive flow is never turned off.  As one leader put it, “leaders understand that the opportunity monitor is never off.” Missional leaders realize that opportunities abound all around them all the time and frequently when it isn’t convenient. I have become a fan of the television show “24” in recent days.  I am always amazed what Jack Bauer can accomplish in a twenty-four hour period! 

Can you think of a DAY that changed the life of your church? The day for me was July 17, 1991. It happened after 2 ½ years of sowing seeds into the community and we had planned and prepared for a Friend’s Day in the middle of the summer.  At the being of the summer we were averaging 65 people…by the fall we averaged 165!  We saw more people cross the line of faith that year than in the previous 2 years. A year later we broke the 200 hundred barrier!  We reaped a harvest though constantly and creatively sowing seeds into our community.

2. Those with a “sowing mentality” know that it involves hard work, “…let not your hands be idle…”

Missional leadership is not for the faint of heart. It is for those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and push themselves out in the harvest field.  It is for those who resist idleness.  One thing I am grateful for in my childhood is that my father, who was raised on a farm, imparted to me a farmer’s mentality towards work.  Farming is a 24/7 job.  Idleness is not in the vocabulary of a farmer as well as a successful church planters I heard Darrin Patrick say at a recent church planting conference that many young church planters enter church planting out of a sense of laziness because they are tired of a senior leader holding them accountable for their performance and results. These are the guys the start churches that never grow over 65.

At first I was taken back by the observation but as a coach I see too many young leaders and those new to full-time ministry struggle with the issue of time management and putting in a hard days work!  Time gets wasted and squandered resulting in lost opportunities.  The lack of diligence in planning, preparing and cultivating your community is one of the key factors to an ineffective outreach. The old writer Sam Ewig said it best, “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.”

Category:Gathering Ideas

First and Second Years in a Church Plant
From “Church Planting Landmines” by Tom Nebel and Gary Rohrmayer

Principles:
Because you don’t know who really buys into you and into the specific vision of the church plant and because you don’t know the character or spiritual leadership of your growing core team, here are key principles:

1. Multiple leadership phases are recommended before the official leaders are elected.  (We don’t want the “cement to set” too early – we want to continue to mix in new people.  Or, to change the metaphor, we want to keep more lives developing and feeding new life to the growth of the church.)
2. Church-sounding nomenclature should be avoided.
3. Titles which imply permanence (such as “board”) should be avoided.  Don’t give titles, instead invite people to get involved in ministry.
4. A clear purpose and time-frame for each phase must exist.
5. A changing of the guard must occur at each phase.  Many new leaders will come with future growth.  They’re not all there at the start.
   a.  You can find some leaders from outside your core in the first two phases.  This is particularly helpful if you don’t have many leaders to choose from at the outset.  Some of these outside leaders (or advisors) could be a trusted friend of the planter, another church planter or pastor in the area, missional leaders from the parent/partner churches.
   b.  The multi-phase approach can allow middle adopters to get into leadership; since they often will not be willing in the earliest stage.
   
6. Be looking for spiritual fruit and specific giftedness from individuals at each phase.  Use an annual evaluation of leaders to help determine fruitfulness and help them know what is expected.  (see end)  Don’t be hasty in the laying of hands…  I Timothy 5:22

Phase I: PAT – the Pastor’s Advisory Team

• to help the planter make key decisions up until the Launch of the Church (phase 4 of the 4-stage launch)
• included in this group is someone who will work as the financial assistant to write checks and make financial reports.
• included also is someone who will tally the offerings (with another volunteer) and make deposits.

Phase II: TLT – the Transitional Leadership Team

• After the Launch of the church, the PAT meets one more time to celebrate and be dissolved.
• The planter will prayerfully consider a new TLT to continue to help the planter with big decisions, prepare the church for receiving members and getting ready to approve the Leadership Team constitution.  Some from the PAT will be invited onto the TLT, but others will step aside to make room for new leaders.

Phase III: LT – the Leadership Team

• When the church receives their first members and adopts the Leadership Team constitution, the TLT members will meet once more to celebrate progress.  At the church business meeting where the new leaders are elected, the TLT members will be thanked.
• The duties of the LT are spelled out in the LT constitution of the ECC.

Evaluation and Annual Check-up of Leaders:
The Church Planter needs to work with their leaders and evaluate them in 4 areas.  Give each leader the following list and then meet with them one-on-one to evaluate the past year and to set goals for the upcoming year:

1. Who am I?  What is my role on the team?  What is God calling me to do?  AND, how am I contributing to the team?
2. Who are we?  As a church, what is our unique calling?  AND, how am I helping or hindering the church in this unique calling?
3. Who is coming along?  How am I developing as a leader?  What do I need from the point leader to do better?  Am I developing at least one other leader – and what am I doing to help them grow as a leader?
4. Where are we going?  What is our primary destination?  What should be the result?  AND, how am I helping us get to our goal(s)?
5. How are we going to get there?  What specific methods and processes will be use?  AND, what is my unique contribution?

Category:Governance
Category:Phase 2 - Monthly Preview Services

Church planting means hard work in the harvest field. Like planting an orchard, it means preparing the planter, having a compelling vision of what you want the orchard to look like, getting others to help so you’re not doing it all by yourself, discerning the type of soil, and then working step-by-step and stage-by-stage to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, tend the growth…in anticipation for the harvest.

Many church planters are desperate for resources for each stage of a church plant. Too often, training centers and boot camps provide material that is too far in the future. You need help NOW with the stage you’re at.

This online Church Planting Resource Center is designed to help you prepare for church planting and guide you through the first twelve months of a typical plant. There are some additional resources available as well for subsequent years and more.

Overview of the Categories

Church Planting Resource Manual

Seeding - Preparation for Church Planting
      Assessment
      Scriptural and Theological Basis for Church Planting
      Spiritual Foundation for Planting
      Your Mission Field’s Unique Needs
      Attractional and Incarnational Evangelism
      Mission and Vision
      Strategic Ministry Plans
Phase 1 - Launch Team Development
Phase 2 - Monthly Preview Services
Phase 3 - Preparatory Worship & Developing Systems
Phase 4 - Launch & Grand Opening
Fruitfulness - Years 2-3
Development - Tools for Growth & Administrative Systems
      Pastor and Staff Development
      Lay Leadership and Volunteers
      Governance
      Administration
      Strategies and Systems
      Fund-Raising
Interconnectedness - Coaching & Counsel
Parenting - Churches Planting Churches

Additional Resources
      African-American
      Hispanic
      Multi-Ethnic
      Urban
      Technology
      Videos - Church Planting
      Evangelical Covenant Resources
      Book Recommendations
      Gathering Ideas
      Blogs - Links to Church Planting Discussions

Contact Us - Helpful contact info

May God BLESS you as you plant a healthy, MISSIONAL church!

Download MSWord Document:
File:Renovate Ministry Plan draft 9-06.doc

Dave Diller
3815 Henry St.
Muskegon, MI 49441
(231) 578-7924 cell
ddiller@renovatechurch.com

9-2006 v1.0

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Our Story   4
1.2 Our Vision   5
1.3 Our Mission   5
1.4 Our Values   5
1.5 Finding a Voice   5
2.0 Church Summary  
2.1 Legal Entity   6
2.2 Denominational Affiliation   6
2.3 Church Membership   6
2.4 Partnering Churches   6
2.5 Current Church Location and Facility   7
3.0 Philosophy of Ministry  
3.1 the Church
3.2 Weekend Gathering   8
3.3 Spiritual Formation   8
3.4 Leading Culture   9
3.5 Families and Children   9
3.6 Church Planting   9
4.0 Launch Community  
4.1 Muskegon County and Western MI Culture   10
4.2 Grand Rapids Area by Denominational Family   10
4.3 Trends   10
5.0 Strategic Launch Plan  
5.1 Strategic Alliances   11
5.2 Launch Phases   11
5.2.1 Stage 1 – Launch Team Development   11
5.2.2 Stage 2 – Preview Services   11
5.2.3 Stage 3 – Preparatory Worship   12
5.2.4 Stage 4 – Grand Opening   12
5.3 Branding   12
5.4 Promotion Strategy   12
6.0 Management Summary  
6.1 Organizational Structure   13
6.2 Management Team   13
7.0 Financial Plan  
7.1 External Funding – Appropriation and Sources   14
7.2 Launch Budget   14
7.3 “Hit The Mark” Funding   15

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Our Story

In the summer of 2003, after three years of serving his home church as Pastor of Student Ministries, Dave Diller began to sense that his time there was coming to a close.  Dave was a part of a healthy church that had strong family ministries and worship services, yet he began to feel out of place.  This feeling was a result of a paradigm shift taking place within Dave that caused him to ask many questions about church, how we understand church, and how we practice the Christian faith.

Having grown up in the church, Dave was not ready to walk away from his faith, yet he slowly found himself speaking a different language than the church expressions around him.  It was also during this time that Forest Park Covenant Church (in Muskegon, MI) began taking a notice of the cultural change around them.

For over 125 years FPCC has acted missionally within Western Michigan, stepping out in faith to meet the ever shifting culture.  FPCC found that while they have dynamic youth, family, adult, and worship ministries, there was a segment of people missing in their twenties and thirties.

The gap that FPCC felt in this area led them to develop and call someone as Pastor of Emerging Ministries.  For FPCC, their goal was to develop a position that was “out of the box”.  As such, the focus was placed not on developing a thorough job description, but finding the right person.  After many interviews, Dave and his wife Misty answered the call to serve FPCC in this position.

Working with an empty canvas, Dave and his volunteer leaders developed Renovate, and expression of FPCC that gives a voice to those who felt out of place in the traditional church setting.  Since January of 2006, Renovate gathers weekly for worship and has various groups that meet throughout the week.  With between 35-60 at a worship gathering and over 150 people on their contact list, Renovate has already struck a chord with their target audience.

Renovate has found that the message they are giving, one of loving God and loving others, is resonating with people beyond an age demographic, to more of a mindset; an emerging culture of post-Christian people that are on the increase in Western Michigan.  As a result, Dave Diller and both the FPCC and Renovate Leadership sense that the Holy Spirit is beginning a new life in Renovate as a daughter church of a healthy FPCC parent. 

Renovate believes that people have a voice…something unique waiting to be heard.  Not only are we listening, but so is God.

I’m going to give this city a thorough renovation, working true healing inside and out.
I’m going to show them life whole, life brimming with blessings.  I’ll restore everything that was lost to Judah and Jerusalem.  I’ll build everything back as good as new.

Excerpt taken from Jeremiah The Message Remix p. 1428

To restore after deterioration
(to make new);
to give life or energy
(to revive);

enliven; renovate

1.2 Our Vision

We want to see people learn and embody what it means to be the church dispersed, that they would think and act missionally in their own setting.  In doing so, we want to see people become leaders of cultural transformation.

1.3   Our Mission

Loving God and loving people in the way of Jesus

1.4 Our Values

1.  Joy.  The resulting expression of what God has done for us
    (Psalm 4:7).  Joy is consistent regardless of our situation,
    reminding us that God is faithful and present (James 1:2-4). 
2.  Vulnerability.  God has displayed His vulnerability in
    creating free beings (Gen. 6:5-8), giving Israel an earthly
    king (1 Sam. 8), sending Jesus as an infant (Lk. 2:10-15),
    relying on His followers to establish the Church (Mt. 16:18). 
    Vulnerability is not weakness; rather it is a sign of strength. 
    It communicates that one is willing to serve before being
    served (1 Jn. 3:16) and listen before speaking (Prov. 15:1).
3.  Communication.  God is always speaking; through His
    creation (Rom 1:20), through His Word (Heb. 4:12), and
    through others.  We need to keep these lines of
    communication open so that we might deepen in our relationship
    with God and that others might see and hear of God’s goodness.
4.  Others.  People matter to God regardless of age, gender,
    social economic status, or creed (Lk. 18:13; Gal. 3:28).  In
    the same way people matter to us.  In considering others
    before ourselves we strive for true community in which we
    give people opportunity to belong before they believe.   
    Community can not be made, planned, implemented, or
    programmed…it must be cultivated; encouraged. 
5.  Creativity.  We serve an infinite creative God, one who is
    beyond our understanding (Ps. 8; Ex. 3:1-15; Col. 3:15-17). 
    Because of this we must find new and fresh ways to
    communicate God to this world.
6.  Participation.  When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God
    he illustrated it as something that was near, coming, to be
    revealed, for us to enter into, something for us to participate
    in.  Following Jesus is not about sitting back and consuming
    what God has for us.  We are called to participate in God’s
    redemptive work in our own lives (Phil.2:12) and the world
    around us (Acts 1:8).

7.  Mercy.  Jesus favored the “Mercy Code” over the “Holiness
    Code” in his interaction with people; caring for those whom
    society and the religious had given up on.  God shows
    incredible mercy to us (Rom. 5:8).  It is that same mercy
    that we are to give to others (Hos. 6:6; Mic. 6:8). 

1.5 Finding a Voice

Our heart beats for the de-churched/post-Christian.  Those to whom the very word “Christian” or “church” comes with all sorts of baggage and varied meaning.  People who have “been there, done that” with church, Christianity, and maybe even given up on God.  This is an audience who feels spoken for and is yearning to express their voice, especially in how they relate to God.  The ability to connect with this audience is strengthened by these factors:
1.  A parent in Forest Park Covenant Church.  For over 125 years FPCC has missionally lived out the call to be the church.  FPCC is no stranger to change and is well versed at leading after God’s call.
2.  A Western Michigan setting that is culturally Christian is fertile soil for a growing post-Christian culture.
3.  Church planter, Dave Diller, is a Covenant Pastor who personally resonates with this emerging post-Christian community.
4.  For over a year, Renovate has gathered as a ministry of
        FPCC and has found that the message God has given
        them is embraced by the target community.

2.0 Church Summary

2.1 Legal Entity

Our articles of incorporation application to become a non-profit organization in Michigan was submitted to the appropriate State department on Month Day, Year, with the help of the legal services department of the Evangelical Covenant Church of America.  Upon favorable outcome of our application, this church will be named Renovate, An Evangelical Covenant Church.

2.2 Denominational Affiliation

This church plant is affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of America (www.covchurch.org) and a member of the Great Lakes Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church of America.  It is also a member of the Willow Creek Association (www.willowcreek.com). 

2.3 Church Membership

This portion is still in development.  Renovate is working at discovering what membership means and looks like for the people that call us their home.  Renovate affirms the ability to “belong before you believe”, wanting participants to be changed by their experience with an authentic body of Christ.

2.4 Partnering Churches

Forest Park Covenant Church
3815 Henry St.  Muskegon, MI 49441
Phone: 231.780.4784
Website: http://www.forestparkcov.org

2.5 Current Church Location and Facility

•  Renovate Currently gathers for worship on Sunday nights, 6 pm, at Forest Park Covenant Church.

•  We currently have 3 small groups that meet in various homes throughout the week.

•  The Renovate Leadership Team meets every other week.

•  Sunday night planning team that meets monthly.

3.0 Philosophy of Ministry

3.1 the Church
We recognize that we were not designed to walk the earth alone.  At the beginning of time humanity was designed to be in communication, fellowship, a relationship with God.  Not much has changed since then.  Our world is still made up of people that need connection, support, and encouragement.  We believe that God’s plan for this connection comes by way of the church.  Not the church in terms of a building, place, time, or denomination, but rather the Church.  A community of people that pace life with one another with the purpose of discovering and honoring God.

At times the church fails to live up to its divine purpose.  Yet at its best the church: is hopeful and encouraging (Acts 2:42-47), useful and generous (Acts 6:1-4; 2cor. 8:1-15; 1John 3:16-18), values unity over diversity (Acts 15; 1cor. 1:10-17; 1Cor. 3; Eph. 4:1-6), mercy over religion (Amos 5:21-24), and is guided by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).

It is with these things in mind that Renovate desires to be a church; each one of us participating in the missional Body of Christ.  At times we too will fail, but we move forward knowing that there will also be times in which the church is embodied in such a way that the goodness of God is illuminated.

3.2 Weekend Gathering

This is an important time for Renovate as a church community to gather, give witness to God’s presence in our world, and to be shaped by the Holy Spirit.  Our gathering is not about a “style” but giving God His due honor.
•  Reflection.  We believe that worship should in many ways be about reflection, rest, and pause.  In those moments we find ourselves in God’s story; we come to terms with whom we are, and who He is, and then see where He meets us.
•  Scripture.  We practice a humble hermeneutic.  One that asks the questions:  “what is the text saying to the original readers?” and “what then is the text saying to us today?”  Our audience is hungry to hear all of Scripture.  In teaching stories from obscure passages to retelling familiar texts, we affirm the totality of God’s Word as it affirms God’s restorative work through Jesus.

The grace of God is dangerous.  It’s lavish, excessive, outrageous, and scandalous.  God’s grace is ridiculously inclusive.  Apparently God doesn’t care who He loves.  He is not very careful about the people He calls His friends or the people He calls His church.

-Mike Yaconelli

•  Response.  Meeting God always begs one for a response.  A response to who God is, what He has done, and what He is doing.
•  Open.  An open posture (with God and with others) allows people to “come as you are” and be changed by “what He might do”.
•  Simple.  We believe the church is at its best when it gets out of the way and allows God to speak.  All that we do is done that it might lift high the Glory of God.
•  Ancient Future.  We fuse ancient/traditional elements of worship with where we find ourselves today.  This means the use of hymns, praise songs, ancient prayers, new liturgies, spoken word, visual media, and reflective silence.

3.3 Spiritual Formation
We are all formed and shaped by something.  In fact there are many factors that make us who we are today.  Some of these factors are pleasant; like the time you were accepted into a university, or the day your first child was born.  Yet other factors that shape us are not so pleasant; the time your parents said that they were splitting up, or the day your doctor told you that you were sick.  Yet all of these elements, good and bad, play a part in shaping us into the people we are today.  While we cannot always control the factors that have a part in shaping our lives, we do have an opportunity to allow these elements to be forming for the better, or forming for the worse.

As a community, Renovate affirms that God is at work in each one of our lives; forming us.  We believe that God is our Creator and knows each one of us intimately (Gen. 1:27; Psalm 139).  We recognize that God’s forming work is done in an effort to make us more like His Son, Jesus (Phil. 2:1-11).  It is our character and heart that God is after and so the process of formation continues.  We also believe that this is not on God’s shoulders alone but calls us to play a part in our own formation (Col. 3:1-17; Rom. 12:1-3).

The hope is that one day we will become individuals and a people who’s very character reflects the heart and character of God; that we would be shaped in such a way as to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8).

One of the first steps in the formation process is the realization that God is indeed present.  We invite you to take a look around and see that in things both big and small, and in situations both good and bad God is always present, always at work…trying to make us and his world into a reflection of Him.

Our spiritual formation is not a segmented program, but woven in the fabric of all we do: weekly worship gatherings, regular life groups, and our involvement in social justice.

You cannot meet the Creator of the universe and remain the same.  If the God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present comes to dwell within your soul, you would expect at least some minor disruption.
-Erwin McManus

It is unlikely that we will deepen our relationship with God in a casual or haphazard manner.  There will be a need for some intentional commitment and some reorganization in our own lives.  But there is nothing that will enrich our lives more than a deeper and clearer perception of God’s presence in the routine of daily living.
-William O. Paulsell

3.4 Leading Culture

3.?  Life Groups

Life Groups serve as a way for the church body to continue to operate through the week even when away from the weekend worship gathering.  These groups (which range in size from 8-15) exist with the purpose of “pacing life” with one another.  Life Groups serve as smaller congregations in which fellow participants provide pastoral care as well as develop opportunities for service within their local setting.  In these groups accountability takes place by walking life with each other (providing Biblical support and guidance) along the way.  In this setting participants experience what it means to “be the church”.

3.5 Families and Children

We place a high value on families.  We believe it is our responsibility to help equip moms and dads to spiritually raise and nurture their family.  We also believe that raising and developing spiritually healthy kids and families is not the sole job of the church.  Rather it is our aim to come along side families and foster a congruent growth of the entire family (both parents and kids).  Because of this, we will be intentional at developing opportunities from moms and dads to grow and to learn how to spiritually care for their family.  Our ministry to families will reflect the high value we have on seeing all families operate in a manner of loving God and loving others.

3.6 Church Planting

Living, breathing organisms grow and multiply.  The Church is no different.  In our desire to be living and healthy we affirm that one of the natural outcomes of Renovate is to give birth to other churches.  Planting new churches is not about carrying on the “Renovate” name, but about spreading the name of Jesus further.  This is a process we are committed to because we are serious about being a healthy body.

4.0 Launch Community

4.1 Muskegon County and surrounding Western MI Culture

This corridor is a fast growing, formerly rural area of southwest Grand Rapids.  With its roots in farming, this conservative area has experienced tremendous growth in housing construction and new businesses.  The area is predominately politically conservative and tends to be an area where families stay for generations. 

4.2 Grand Rapids Area by Denominational Family

This area is predominately Reformed, by denominational family, with a breakdown as follows:
Reformed 37%; Catholic 21%; Other 14%; Baptists 10% 
(Year 2000)

4.3 Trends

Though Western Michigan has a conservative religious history, it seems to be making the same journey towards becoming as irreligious as the rest of the country.  This is most notable in the decline in the percentage of those worshipping from 1990-2000. 

5.0 Strategic Launch Plan

Timeline

Stage 1:
Launch Team Development
Jun - Sept 2006

Stage 2:
Preview Services
Oct – Dec 2006

Stage 3:
Preparatory Worship
Jan – Mar 2007

Stage 4:
Grand Opening
Mar 25 2007

5.1 Strategic Alliances

Our strategic alliances include: West Michigan Covenant Churches, other churches in the community.

5.2 Launch Phases—4 Stage Launch Process

5.21 Stage 1 – Launch Team Development
(Foundation building)
Primary target – churched Christians – housing development with just a contractor’s trailer. 
•  Identify & hire church planter.
•  Develop committed Launch Team that understands the vision, passion, and values.
•  Grow through reaching other Christians who have a similar vision.
Time Frame: 4 months.
GOAL: Double in size.
This is “House to House” ministry – intimate relationships.
How do we gather people to be a part of this Launch Team?
What events can we do to bring people to hear the vision? 

Launch Team Meetings
Purposes:
1.  Teach Mission & Values.
2.  Personal spiritual growth of the Launch Team.
3.  Team cohesion and fellowship.
4.  Set clear agenda – agenda harmony.
5.  Figure out what God is wanting to do.
6.  Low level decision making can be turned over to the team.
7.  Model spirit of hospitality that you want to see publicly. 

5.22 Stage 2 – Preview Services
(Frame up exterior)
Primary target – Christians – model houses in a development
•  Do a “once a month” preview service that models what our church will look like.
•  Grow through inviting from network and select advertising.
•  Assimilate new people into launch team.
Time Frame: 3 months
GOAL: Double in size
Utilize F.R.A.N.C. Method of inviting people (Friends, Relatives Acquaintances, Neighbors, Co-workers)
Begin Temple Court ministry—once a month. 
5.23 Stage 3 – Preparatory Worship
(Build sub-systems – plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc.)
•  Meet on Sunday mornings & develop excellence in each area of ministry.
•  Develop word of mouth flow as attendees invite friends.
•  Grow through reaching unchurched Christians.
Mainly work on:
  - Worship
  - Children’s ministry
  - Assimilation
  - Small Groups
Time Frame: 3-4 months
GOAL: Double in size

5.24 Stage 4 – Grand Opening
Unchurched non-Christians
•  Use multiple strategies to get a large crowd of receptive people.
•  Word of mouth strategy, direct mail, newspaper, & radio.
•  Reach de-churched non-Christians seeking spiritual meaning in life. 
Time Frame: 3-4 months
GOAL: Double in size

5.3 Branding

Branding will be completed upon approval by the State of Michigan of our name.

5.4 Promotion Strategy

Our primary strategy is to use a well designed plan including word of mouth, loving our neighbors, mass mailing, website and
creative ways to love others.

Within the context of this strategy, we will specifically attempt to fill needs of the typical family with young children

6.0 Management Summary

6.1 Organizational Structure

We are currently operating with a Transitional Leadership Team.  This model will be used as we work toward the Covenant’s Leadership Team model.

7.0 Financial Plan

7.1 External Funding – Appropriation and sources

Total Covenant Appropriations   ECC & GLC   3rd Stream   Thornapple Cov.
1st 12 months   51,334   34,667   6,667   10,000
2nd 12 months   32,000   15,333   6,667   10,000
3rd 12 months   16,666   0   6,666   10,000
TOTALS   100,000   50,000   20,000   30,000

7.2 Launch Budget

Preliminary First Year Budget
Giving Projections  
Core Group   $40,000
New Attendees   $17,000
Appropriations   $52,000
Special Gifts   $11,500
  $120,500
 
 
Expenses  
Salary   $45,024
FICA (employer’s half=6.2% of salary)  $2976
Health Insurance   $14,000
Pension   $6,000
Auto Allowance   $4,450
Office Equipment   $1,000
Office Rent   $5,000
Utilities   $1,000
Facility Rental   $11,000
CE & Children’s Ministries   $1000
Music   $1400
Launch Expenses   $15,000
Office Supplies   $600
Pastor’s Continuing Education   $1,000
Pastor’s Conferences   $1,000
Pastor’s Ministry Expenses   $1,200
Missions – Evangelical Covenant Church   $5,700
Missions – Great Lakes Conference   $3,150
  $120,500.00

Appropriations the first year is roughly the salary portion.
2nd year, the church needs to support 1/3 of the pastor’s salary.
3rd year, the church needs to support 2/3 of the pastor’s salary.

7.3 Hit The Mark Funding

Additional funding will be sought to meet the demands of our substantial ministry goals.  We believe that God has given us a compelling, workable vision and the initial people resources to begin fulfilling that vision.  However, addition funding will be needed to allow us to obtain equipment and fill critical staff positions.  We feel that strategic hiring and the appropriate tools for ministry will help us achieve the desired growth and momentum for future, long-term Kingdom success.

Category:Seeding - Preparation for Church Planting
Category:Your Mission Field’s Unique Needs
Category:Strategic Ministry Plans

Church Planting Strategic Plan 2006-08

Luke 4:18

Esperanza Covenant Church
Hispanic Ministries
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Great Lakes Conference

“Give an opportunity to make new friends in Jesus”

Vision Statement
Transform individuals, families and communities in Grand Rapids by making them agents of change to the world and expanding God’s kingdom

Mission Statement
“Preach the Gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, preach deliverance to captives, recovering of sight to the blind and set liberty them that are bruised”

Values
God’s power to transform
Prayer’s power to restore
Friendship to connect
Love’s power to forgive
Discipleship to Empower
Worship to rejoice

SWOT Analysis

Internal Strengths
•  ECC has 4 months history
•  Collocated with FCC, Union High School, Hispanic community
•  Focused Christian core team
•  FCC and Thornapple support
•  Experienced and gifted leadership
•  Equipped facilities, office, gym and classrooms
•  Bilingual core team/volunteers
•  Temporal worship band
•  Temporal communication material  

External Opportunities
•  Schools partnerships expansion/volunteers
•  Spectrum Health Clinic & Family Outreach
•  FCC and Thronapple connections
•  Markets, rstaurants, factories
•  Spectrum Health Collaborative Task Force
•  Outreach programs as Backpack distribution, TGP, “Navidad en el vecindario”, marriage seminaries, parenting classes and family support groups.
•  Open community/ audience to hear about Esperanza vision/mission

Internal Weaknesses
•  In need of more core team members
•  In need of more worshipers members
•  The final Esperanza LOGO design and print
•  Website and CD promo for fundraising purposes  

External Threats
•  Anti-immigrant climate
•  Economic crisis, no jobs
•  Building of trust on the neighbors/neighborhoods
•  Family orientation programs needed
•  Lack of resources/mentoring/tutoring for children

1st Phase 2006

Goal #1
Contact and share the love of God with 150 Hispanic families in Grand Rapids between July 2006 and June 2007.

Objective
Testify about the existence of Jesus, and share through personal experiences God’s power to change and restore our lives.

Strategies

➢  Visit the neighborhoods and make contact with Hispanic families with the help of the members of the Anglo congregation, also through schools, referrals, and others.

➢  Distribution of school supplies for elementary school students during the third week of September and reach to the first 100 families (each gift will have the donor’s name).  Saturday September 9th from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

➢  Promote and organize a Thanksgiving lunch or dinner and distribute at least 50-60 grocery baskets and make contact with another 100 families.

➢  Give away 150 toys for children within the Hispanic community.  This would be families that have already participated in previous events and other new families referral by them.

➢  Promote and organize a Christmas dinner for the community using the existing database.

➢  Select a group of 10 couples (believers and non-believers) to participate in a “Couples Seminar” (February) using PAIRS/PREP.

➢  Advertise and organize three more events to testify and to outreach (Mother’s Day, Father’ Day, and 4th of July).

Activities

•  Visit families and individuals referred to this ministry.

•  Network and develop a survey system to gather information about the needs of the community.

•  Each event will be planned beforehand and any changes will be adjusted only in case of need of the strategy.

•    The school supplies, toys, and grocery baskets will be collected and donated voluntarily.

•  Every week there will be contact with a new family from the community or with members from both churches that are interested in participating with Esperanza Covenant Church, also there will be contact with the outreaches from the first four months.

•  Brochures and flyers will be accessible at the first activity in September 9th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., snacks will be available, and a short (5-7 minutes) message to testify and bless will be shared.  Each participant will fill out a registration form to be part of our database.  Gym.

•  The Thanksgiving lunch and basket distribution will be on November 18th at 10 a.m.  Only 60 baskets (depends on the donations) will be distributed.

•  Christmas Toys distribution will be Saturday 17th at 10 a.m., refreshments will be served.

•  Share message on December 31st, about God’s provisions and blessings (special New Year’s dinner).

•  Family support groups, marriage retreat and trainings

•  Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Independence Day BBQs will take place in parks or other facilities. 

•  Preview services November 5th, December 10th, January 7th, February 11st.

Goal #2
Develop a support group of 40 people, 20 Anglos and 20 Hispanics.

Objective
Provide organizational, logistical, and financial support, as well as planning, and leadership with the help of spiritual gifts/talents, to building the foundation of Esperanza Covenant Church working jointly with the pastor in the expansion of God’s kingdom in Grand Rapids.

Strategies

➢  Make presentations to share the vision and mission of ECC and invite FCC members and non-members to become part of this challenge of faith.

➢  The group will get together at least every two weeks once the church planting begins, to plan, organize, and discuss how to improve each event.  In each meeting there will be worship, prayer and a meditation on God’s word.

➢  Maintain communication permanently with the pastor and within group members.

➢  Responsibilities will be distributed accordingly to spiritual gifts, abilities, and talents.

➢  Have once a month during the first moths a prayer and planning retreat, and work with the areas mentioned in this document. (October 28 or November 14)

Activities
•  Make presentations to individuals, families or to group of friends about the development of Esperanza Covenant Church’s vision, mission, values and action plan.

Goal #3
Begin a discipleship process with at least 10-12 people during the first year.

Objective
Teach the biblical foundation to edify and strengthen a new life in Jesus Christ, establishing a relationship with the Holy Spirit; also teach a life with prayer and a solid leadership to multiply the kingdom of God.

Strategies

➢  The first 10-12 people that give their lives to Christ will be referred to a discipleship class for 6-9 month, these classes include inner healing and devotional retreat (including baptism).

➢  After this first stage, they will be directed to a 3 to 4-month leadership class and to begin working in any of the church’s ministries.

➢  Identify and provide at least two home-based bible studies in the neighborhood.

➢  Identify and define the methodology and resources that will be used in the discipleship process and in the home-based bible studies.

Activities

•  The discipleship classes will be once a week for 60 minutes (an hour), and the curriculum consists on teaching the basic foundations of the bible, prayer, stewardship, and a close relationship with Jesus.

•  The meeting place will be decided based on the need.

•  The core group members that are already believers would have a series of classes/sessions to strengthen their commitment with Jesus and to the church (this will include the church’s history and doctrine).  There will be at least 5 meetings to consolidate.

Goal #4

Advertise Esperanza Covenant Church in the five main sectors of the Grand Rapids community; at the Hispanic community, school districts, community-based organizations, corporations and businesses.

Objective
Communicate to the community and to the different social, public, and religious sectors of the Esperanza’s vision, mission, values, goals and objectives.

Strategies

➢  Development of the communications tools; brochures, newsletters, flyers, letters of introduction, business cards, website, an official logo to make the church known.  (Including activities, events, counseling services, bible studies)

➢  Make presentations and participate jointly with other pastors, business people like the Chamber of Commerce, non-profit organizations, elected officials and members from the city council, school districts, and community centers.

➢  Keep informed local Covenant congregations about our activities, as well as our needs.

Activities

•  Contact Hispanic families on the streets, public places, like markets and restaurants, first established friendships and then recognize their needs.

•  Contact professional designers inside and out of the church to collaborate and donate their time in the logo’s design, proof, and print, as well as for the other communication tools.

•  Make an official introduction of myself to the community leaders of Grand Rapids, presenting them Esperanza Covenant Church’s vision and mission, and the expectation of the ministry’s complete (holistic) development in the community.

Goal #5

Have a prayer group of at least 10 people from First Covenant Church, also the prayer group from the core group.

Objective
Keep prayer as a priority within the group, and at the same time develop intercession and warfare.  Increase group prayer periodically and experience God’s gracefulness and power through the Holy Spirit.

Strategies/Activities

➢  Facilitate and train members of the core group on the prayer dynamics to be implemented.

➢  Start prayer group according to the needs and petitions of the church.
➢  Have prayer meetings everyone together at least once a week for an hour, worshiping and sharing the word of God.

➢  Pray before starting each event, meeting, service, visitation or any other activity relating to the church.

Goal #6
Recruit at least two people responsible to lead the following ministries: children, worship, family counseling, prayer, family groups, communications, outreach and finances.

Objective
Train and develop spiritual gifts and talents within the support group to serve Jesus on this primary stage of church planting.

Strategies
➢  Identify spiritual gifts and talents within the support group through the assignment of responsibilities according to their integral availability.

➢  Each ministry will be implemented according to each month’s existent need.

➢  Develop local strategies for the first stages of church planting along with child care provided during services.

Activities
•  The development of each ministry will be planned accordingly to the needs.

•  Plan jointly with the pastor, and define the goals, objectives, and the desired outcomes of each activity.

•  Each ministry will be able to meet in groups or individually with the pastor, and each activity or meeting will have a time of prayer.

Goal #7
Along with the core group ministry at least 3 worshipers will be included as part of Esperanza Covenant Church’s worship team.

Objective
Recruit worshipers that can be used by the Holy Spirit, and be instruments of praise within the faith community.

Strategies

➢  Make contacts of believers that have those spiritual gifts through First Covenant and Thornapple members.

➢  Make contacts of believers through friends and other members of the ministry group, that wish to serve God within the worship ministry during the first two years, also that are willing to train others at the time of the planting. 

Activities

•  Conduct special prayer meetings and present Esperanza Covenant Church’s Plan.

•  Emphasized in each ministry group meeting to pray for the worshipers.

Expectations/Outcomes

a)  In the first service have at least 150 people assisting
b)  Have a support group of at least 40 people
c)  Have accomplished all of the arranged events (80%)
d)  Have a database with at least 150 families
e)  Have the communication tools ready (business cards, brochures, flyers)
f)  Have connections with al least 40% of the mentioned sectors in Goal #4
g)  Have at least one bible study established
h)  Have the prayer group meeting weekly
i)  Have the leaders of each ministry getting together weekly
j)  A fiscal/financial system of the church functioning on a regular basis
k)  Obtain the religious organization incorporation 501 (c) 3
l)  Have at least three musicians serving in the Worship ministry

Evaluations
•  Revise with the support group every two months the methodology, strategies and outcomes (redefine strategies if necessary).
•  There will be evaluations completed by the pastor and his ministry coach, Larry Sherman.

2nd Phase 2007

Goal #1
Make contact and share God’s love with at least 200 families from July 2007 – June 2008 in Grand Rapids.

Goal #2
Maintain the initial support group with 20 Anglos and increase to 35-40 Hispanics.

Goal #3
Continue and conclude the discipleship process of the first 10-12 people and then start a second group.

Goal #4
Maintain and continue the development of the network with the four sectors reached during the first year; Hispanic Community, schools, community center, business, and politicians.

Goal #5
Maintain and increase from 5-10 Hispanics, the membership of the prayer group.

Goal #6
Each one of the ministries; children, worship, family counseling, prayer, family groups, communications, and finances, will have on going activities during the week, as well as, Sunday school and Leadership Development School.

Goal #7
Have at least 80-100 people in attendance for each service.

Goal #8
Increase the number of in-home bible studies from 1-3.

Category:Hispanic
Category:Seeding - Preparation for Church Planting
Category:Strategic Ministry Plans
Category:Your Mission Field’s Unique Needs