wfn.org | ABCUSA: Gatherings Scheduled to Plan Continued Progress Toward NEW LIFE 2010

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 3/12/04)--As American
Baptist Churches USA approaches the halfway point to the goals established by
NEW LIFE 2010, the Rev. Dr. David Laubach, National Ministries' associate
executive director for New Churches, Evangelism and Transformation
Ministries, has announced four gatherings to review the journey thus far and
consider the path ahead.  

The NEW LIFE 2010 vision has roots in a Summit Meeting in Las Vegas in 1998
that was sponsored by the American Baptist Evangelism Team, the New Church
Planting Council and National Ministries. At the event 75 church planters
joined regional and national staff in praying for God's vision for American
Baptists in the new millennium.

Summit participants laid the groundwork for the NEW LIFE 2010 vision: to
reach 1,000,010 new disciples, plant 1,010 new churches, vitalize a multitude
of caring ministries, and so transform our congregations by the year 2010.

According to Laubach, the goals of the NEW LIFE 2010 mid-course gatherings,
planned for summer 2004, are:

* to celebrate what God has done in the first years of NEW LIFE 2010;
* to report on progress toward those goals;
* to hear information from the Seek It! (Appreciative Inquiry) Summit at
Green Lake;
* to listen to a larger environmental scan of our culture and religious
climate;
* to think strategically about new church planting, evangelism and
congregational transformation for the rest of the decade;
* to renegotiate and recommit to the NEW LIFE 2010 vision.

Up to five persons from each American Baptist region-pastors, regional staff
and other leaders involved in NEW LIFE 2010 efforts-will be invited to
participate in the mid-course gatherings as outlined below. For more
information about these meetings call the coordinators listed below at
800-ABC-3USA plus the extension listed.

Northeast: Sept. 16-18, Lowell, Mass. (Including ABC of Connecticut, ABC of
Maine, ABC of Massachusetts, ABC of New York State, ABC of Rhode Island, ABC
of Rochester/Genesee, and ABC of Vermont/New Hampshire)  Coordinator: The
Rev. Carol Sutton (x2425)

Mid-Atlantic: July 19-21, Philadelphia, Pa.  (Including D.C. Baptist
Convention, ABC of Metro New York, ABC of New Jersey, ABC of
Pennsylvania/Delaware, Philadelphia Baptist Association, Pittsburgh Baptist
Association, Iglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico, ABC of the South, and West
Virginia Baptist Convention.) 
Coordinator: Dr. Harry Riggs (x2412)

Mid-West: Aug. 19-21, Milwaukee, Wis.  (Including ABC of Metro Chicago,
Cleveland Baptist Association, ABC of the Dakotas, ABC of the Great Rivers
Region, ABC of Indiana/Kentucky, ABC of Indianapolis, ABC of Michigan,
Mid-American Baptist Churches, ABC of Nebraska, and ABC of Ohio)
Coordinator: Dr. Tom Johnson (x2036)

West: Sept. 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.  (Including Alaska Ministries, ABC of the
Central Region, Evergreen Baptist Association, ABC of Los Angeles, ABC of the
Northwest, ABC of Oregon, ABC of the Pacific Southwest, ABC of the Rocky
Mountains, and ABC of the West)  Coordinator: The Rev. Michael Cox (x2397)

K/2004ABNS/04ABN34

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org