Continuing the "target group" conversation...

I read an interesting section from the Worldwide Perspectives textbook that I wanted to share with you guys. I think it speaks to our earlier conversation. This particular chapter is about putting the church plant into context with it's surroundings and then deciding who to serve in the surrounding community.

Different levels of society also call for different kinds of churches. This reality may be uncomfortable for cultures that think they are completely egalitarian. Perhaps an example will clarify these issues. A high-church Anglican congregation might not be a comfortable setting for a small farmer or a blue-collar worker. Good Anglicans would gladly allow and welcome either one into their church. However, a farmer might feel a greater sense of liberty in a group of people who are more like him...
Another way of understanding this situation would be to consider a whole group. Would a community of Christian plumbers look different thatn a community of Christian doctors? Yes. Would it be wrong for it to look different? No. In fact, this is why groups arise around social similarities. No one thinks it strange to have a Christian businessmen's club, Cowboys for Christ, or Athletes in Action. Similarly, the effective missionary will focus on a church movement not just for a specific people group but also for a specific level of society within that group.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this line of thinking? I know this particular quote verges on the ideals of a parachurch organization, but it should be viewed in terms of the vision and direction of a church rather than a strict guidline on how the church will function.

SPCF

Hey guys,

Recently I have been asked some questions that I had a hard time answering. Basically, Amy and I were asked what kind of involvement our organization (SPCF) has with our church plant (ie. how much money did they require that we raise, how much were they putting in, how often will they visit, will they coach us). Basically, I have heard varying answers on these questions from varying members of our board, but only when I have been proactive. I appreciate our board of directors, but it would help me if I had some of these answers.
I was wondering if you guys had any questions, also. I would like to ask these kind of questions to the board, and see what thier requirements for us are (even requirements we have already met). I think it would be useful to have all of that in writing so that our team and future teams will have more of a basis to go off of. I have also wondered if it would be beneficial to start some kind of partnership/discussion between SPCF and Stadia or Orchard Group or another group. Please take a look at Stadia's web site. They provide alot of oversight and help for thier church plants and the website outlines those. Perhaps we could suggest to our board that they come up with documentation that is similar.
Tell me what you think.

Joe

A Kingdom Kontact

The NMC was great. See my comments under Joe's post for more info on that.
Anyway, I had a conversation with Evan McBroom there, owner of Fishook Communications (a friend of Janie Mehaffey and Whitney). He gave me a contact for a Church of God (Anderson) church that is re-launching on the west side of Auckland this February. His church here in Indy supports this church. It could be a good contact for us. They went by the name of Auckland International Church, but their name will change next year. The lead planter is Chad Davenport. I have not made contact with him, so please feel free to use this connection as you sit fit, Hamish. Here is their website: http://www.chaddavenport.org. Thanks!

I am pumped right now. Things are going well. We have had 4 presentations since the assessment. We had one today that was really encouraging. We went to a new church plant on Long Island, it is the church that my mother, sister and brother and many people from my old church now attend. We gave a five minute presentation and the missions committee meets tomorrow. We know alot of the people on the missions committee, the pastor said that I was the "best preacher in the house" and there were a few good preachers there. I think it will be good.
Last night at my ordination service my home church gave us a check for $500 and told us that they would be supporting us monthly. They did not give us a monthly amount but specified that it would be a percentage of the budget, so lets hope the giving there goes wild. So now 7 churches have committed to us, two more have invited us to come speak with intent to support, and we are pumped. We don't know how much each of those churches (actually any) will give, but it is really encouraging.
When we were at the new church today we had alot of thoughts. It was great because people that were new told us stories of life change. After telling the story about the drunken and drugged youth in Christchurch, a 24 year old told us that hewas the same way a year ago, but because of this church plant he now wants to be a youth minister and he is on the worship team at the church. However, we felt like the church was basically the same as every other church. Most the people, it seemed, were from churched backgrounds. Amy and I really want to reach out to unchurched people. We want to rethink church and see how the needs, percieved needs and desires of the unchurched lost can intersect with the mission of God. I am not really interrested in having a regular church and hoping non-believers come.
Along these lines, last week our preacher said he does not believe in having a "target group" because he thinks all people should be our "target group," however because of this our church does not target anyone. I have some views on this but want to hear all of your ideas.
Tell me what you guys think.

Excitement backlash

Hey guys!

You know when you go to church camp and get on that high, and then you go back home and reality just hits you? Bit like that. I think that I was so excited with how things are going and with what we are going to do together in the future that I let the present slip away from me a bit!! Oh well, that's the curse of being a preacher! Anyway, I am settling back in now, and ready to get started on moving forward. Molly and I mentioned to our small group that we are going to start fundraising soon, and we already got one monthly supporter!! God is good. I look forward to being blown away by Him again and again in the years to come.
Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know that we haven't dissapeared. Just a little busy, that's all. I also have some ideas for us as a team to work on. I want to start studying and discussing some of the philosophical, methodological, and theological positions we are going to take with this church plant. These are things that we should determine before we get going. DOes this sound okay with you guys?

Just some thoughts!

Glad that you guys got to have a relaxing weekend. We took a long time to recover...still recovering! The first few days were really weird, we both kept dreaming that we still there! I would wake up in a panic thinking I had to find the team or had something to do! Joe said he felt the same way. Hamish and Molly did you guys make it back okay?
Hutchison’s- I'm really glad things went so well with your sr. minister. That had to be kinda scary-maybe now he'll really get on hiring that administrative person for you guys! As of right now we are counting on the May 29th date for the MTI. It might not be bad though for all of us to come "home" for a week in between that and getting started with fundraising, even if we go back out that direction. Those three weeks might be exhausting. It's exciting to get an actual date down for when we would be leaving Rochester. Every step makes things seem more definite! Last night I was overwhelmed with excitement for NZ! I had my small group stay the night b/c they didn’t have school today. It’s so cool because it has tripled in size this year and we had girls there that had never been to our house and girls there who have never been a part of church. I got so excited b/c this is what we will be doing in NZ…where there are not enough people doing it right now! Last week really energized me and got me thinking so much about NZ and different ways to minister there. YEAH! Anyway this is a random blog but you can always count on me for that! Hope everyone is having a great day/night! Just wanted to touch base!

Catching Our Breath

Wow. What a week that was, eh?! We were blessed to be there with all of you. Whitney and I had a good weekend with family. It was a good chance to catch our breath. Did everyone make it home safely?

Whitney and I talked to Keehner (our senior minister) yesterday and told him that we were definitely going to New Zealand. I was so nervous, but once I got the conversation started I felt better. He was super-supportive. He wants to tell the elders and the staff next week and then probably announce it to the congregation in January. That seems a bit soon to us, but the good news is that we can get started with fund-raising and selling our house much earlier than we thought. We told him that we would like to fase Whitney out in February as long as we have some sort of supplemental support by that time. It looks like our last Sunday here will be either May 20th or 27th.

Joe informed me about the Mission Training International program that he and Amy are thinking about attending from May 29th-June 15th in Colorado, which is a directive of SPCF for those going into a new culture. Joe, I read all about it on their website www.mti.org. It looks like a great program. I'm assuming that the SPLICE program is what we would be going through. This is definitely a possibility for Whitney and me. I may have a committment at a wedding in Indy the day after it is over - June 16th, so that might complicate our idea to start our fundraising "tour" with Hamish and Molly out there with some E. Richard contacts. Taylors, I don't think MTI would be a requirment for you guys since you are already living in the culture, but we are definitely open to you joining us. The cost is $1700 per person, though, and it lasts three weeks. I'm kind of excited about it.

I know you are all busy, but try to check in from time to time and let us know how things are going. Thanks for being such great people.