Our Four Year Plan

 

In 2009, Peace United Methodist Church embarked on a four-year plan to help us use our strengths to improve areas where we were not quite as strong as we would like to be. We used a survey developed through a program called Natural Church Development to help us identify our strengths and weaknesses.

 

As a result of that process, we decided to tackle three areas: improving the passion in our spirituality, developing holistic small groups, and improving our gift-based ministry.

 

Here are the specific goals we set out to accomplish in 2009 and our progress in doing so.

 

We’re a spiritual group, but our Natural Church Development survey found that the passion in our spirituality had room for improvement. Our NCD score in this area was 46, the lowest of all eight areas assessed. NCD recommends that no score for any category fall below 65.

What follows is a look at the details of our church plan in this area for 2009 along with information regarding the status of our progress.

 

1. Increase our Natural Church Development Score in this area to at least 50.

STATUS: The church plan calls for a new NCD survey to be completed in April 2010.

 

1. Conduct a Spiritual Gifts Inventory.

STATUS: Completed in October/November 2009.

2. Match members and their gifts with ministries at Peace (See Gift-based Ministry strategies.)

STATUS: Ongoing.

3. Use NOW testaments to have members share how their passionate spirituality has impacted their lives.

STATUS: Accomplished and ongoing. One Peace member used a NOW testament to talk about her Walk to Emmaus experience. Others have spoken up in church to talk about how they and their spirituality was impacted by participating in some of the church’s outreach events – most notably our rummage giveaway event in June. More NOW testaments will take place during 2010.

4. Investigate the possibility of summer Sunday School. Implement if possible. Otherwise take steps to ensure Sunday School will be available in summer of 2010.

STATUS: Accomplished. Youth and their leaders discussed and studied the possibility of Sunday School during the summer and determined that interest at this point is not great enough to pursue. However, the youth group decided instead to be actively involved in assisting with Vacation Bible School.

5. Youth Group and Choir representatives will study the possibility of creating a youth choir.

STATUS: We have not discussed creating a youth choir. However, two young people joined the adult choir this past year and are active participants.

6. Youth Group leaders will study the possibility of creating a martial arts group.

STATUS: This has been discussed. However, there has not been enough interest to pursue. We will continue to study.

7. We will develop training in praying, fasting, devotions and spiritual retreats.

STATUS: Not yet accomplished.

8. Work with the Holistic Small Groups Subcommittee to make sure we have at least two Bible studies this year. Survey those who attend to determine how “interesting and inviting” they were, and consider ways to improve upon them.

STATUS: Accomplished and ongoing. An adult Bible study took place during Lent. A women’s Bible study began in November and is continuing. In addition, approximately 40 members and friends participated in three small groups that studied Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life” for six weeks. We have not surveyed individuals regarding how “interesting and inviting” they thought the sessions were.

9. Share the results of prayer chain efforts and invite others to become involved in this ministry.

STATUS: We have been regularly listing the names of individuals on the prayer chain in either the weekly bulletin or monthly newsletter. We have also shared the results of some of their efforts. We hope to do more in the future.

 

1. An increase in youth group involvement/attendance.

STATUS: Youth group involvement/attendance has doubled.

2. An increase in adult involvement in Bible studies.

STATUS: Between 55 and 60 adults were involved in the Bible and PDL studies, a significant increase from previous years.

3. A better understanding of the importance and value of living out our faith with “commitment, fire and enthusiasm.”

STATUS: Difficult to measure empirically. However, based on conversations and activities that have taken place in 2009, we believe this is happening.

4. An increase in the passionate spirituality of our members.

STATUS: Our NCD survey in April should provide an assessment.

  

Our goal was to increase the quantity and quality of small groups where members have the opportunity to grow spiritually while finding friendship and support. Our NCD survey score in this area was 60, our second-lowest of the eight categories.

What follows is a look at the details of our church plan in this area for 2009 along with information regarding the status of our progress.

 

1. Increase our Natural Church Development Score in this area to at least 61.

STATUS: The church plan calls for a new NCD survey to be completed in April 2010.

2. Increase the number of holistic small groups at Peace by 25 percent.

STATUS: We added five new small groups in 2009 – two Bible study groups and three focused on Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life” series. That’s an increase of 71 percent.

 

1. Identify existing small groups and determine whether they are holistic.

STATUS: Accomplished. We had 10 small groups; seven were determined to be holistic.

2. Identify the number of people involved in small groups.

STATUS: Small-group membership totaled 94. (Note: Some people were involved in more than one small group.)

3. Identify interests/needs of congregation and determine how well we are currently meeting them.

STATUS: Accomplished and ongoing. We conducted a survey in the fall and used the results to plan new small groups for 2010.

4. Identify barriers to small group formation and involvement.

STATUS: Accomplished. Lack of leadership, lack of interest and/or time on the part of potential participants, and difficulty in finding the “right” time to meet everyone’s needs.

5. Promote small groups through NOW testaments, sermons and newsletter articles.

STATUS: Small groups have been promoted through announcements, NOW testaments, and a few newsletter articles. We need to do more in this area.

6. Create a few new small groups (based on preliminary research)

STATUS: A women’s Bible study started in November. Three other small groups are scheduled to begin in January 2010.

7. Have a fall small-group kickoff event.

STATUS: The kickoff was included as part of our dinner celebrating our spiritual gifts.

8. Develop a formal training program for small group leaders and potential leaders.

STATUS: First session is scheduled for January.

9. Create a support group for small group leaders

STATUS: Not yet accomplished.

10. Identify mentors for people interested in leading a small group

STATUS: Not yet accomplished.

11. Develop a library of resources for small group leaders

STATUS: Not yet accomplished.

 

1. Members will become more aware of the role holistic small groups play and thus, more interested in becoming involved.

STATUS: Ongoing. The Purpose Driven Life study involved more members than other small groups have in the past. Those that actively participated spoke positively of the experience.

2. We will have established baseline information on holistic small groups at Peace.

STATUS: Accomplished.

3. We will have identified needs and barriers to small-group involvement and acted upon that information.

STATUS: Accomplished.

4. We will have a program in place to identify, train and support small group leaders.

STATUS: In the process of developing.

5. An increase in the number of holistic small groups.

STATUS: Accomplished.

 

Our primary goal in this area was to help members discover their spiritual gifts and how they might be able to use them to aid the work of Peace Church. Our NCD gift-based ministry score was 62.

What follows is a look at the details of our church plan in this area for 2009 along with information regarding the status of our progress.

 

1. Increase our Natural Church Development score in this area to at least 63.

STATUS: The church plan calls for a new NCD survey to be completed in April 2010.

2. Create excitement and knowledge about gift-based ministry and why it is important to a healthy church.

STATUS: Ongoing. Work in this area has begun and will continue.

 

1. Celebrate “40 days of gift-based ministry” with NOW testaments, newsletter articles and a special dinner.

STATUS: Accomplished. We kicked off our 40-day “Purpose Driven Life” series with NOW testaments and newsletter articles, and we celebrated with a special dinner that included a spiritual gifts inventory.

2. Use NOW testaments and newsletter articles to explain gift-based ministry and generate interest.

STATUS: Accomplished and ongoing. We have used one NOW testament and one newsletter article to focus on gift-based ministry. We will do more in 2010.

3. Focus sermons during the “40 days” on either gift-based ministry or Rick Warren’s “40 Days of Purpose.”

STATUS: Accomplished.

4. Research, identify and select an appropriate spiritual gifts inventory for the congregation.

STATUS: Accomplished.

5. Present the inventory to the congregation during the “40 Days” dinner and have them complete it.

STATUS: Accomplished.

6. Follow with small group presentations to those who are unable to attend the dinner, so more members have the opportunity to take the spiritual gifts inventory.

STATUS: Accomplished. Members of five small groups, and six individuals, were invited to complete the inventory.

7. Share results with the Administrative Council and Lay Leadership Committee.

STATUS: Not yet accomplished.