wfn.org | New Disciples congregations start in record numbers

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

as individuals, congregations join regions in initiating
new churches
Date: July 9, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Melinda Mains
Phone: 317-713-2496
E-mail: mmains@cm.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, July 9, 2002 -- It's hard for Rick Morse
to keep from smiling these days. The team leader for
Disciples New Church Ministry has been tracking recent
growth among new church starts -- and the lines all go up.

In fact, Morse told the Church Extension Board of
Directors, meeting in Indianapolis in June, that new church
launches for 2002 are well ahead of projections, averaging
more than one per week. As of the mid-year Board meeting,
33 churches had a new church planter in the field gathering
a community of faith. Meanwhile, another eight groups are
in the "visioning" or planning stages of starting a new
church, he said.

The 2002 goal for new church starts is 38 congregations.
The current pace of new church starts not only promises to
best the 2002 goal, but it also may put Disciples ahead of
2001's 50-year record of 40 congregations launched.

Further, fund-raising for the New Church Ministry Annual
Fund is also ahead of projections with 46 percent or
$122,545 of the $265,000 goal already met as of May 1,
according to Ellen Mitchell, Church Extension vice
president for development.

These numbers look good and we are making progress, but we
have to be vigilant and intentional about this," Morse said
of the fledgling movement. "The pace we set in the next
five years will carry us for the next 15 years.

The effort is well worth it, according to Judy Turner, NCM
team member. 

The 173 congregations five years old or younger have
reached as many as 10,000 people with the Disciples
witness," said Turner. "Each of those 10,000 lives has
changed significantly due to the Holy Spirit's presence.
This movement is about being part of God's work in the
world."

NCM intentionally has developed a "permission-giving"
attitude toward congregations and individuals as initiators
of new congregations. The movement, once fueled almost
solely by regions, now relies more on congregations and
individuals as initiators. That approach is paying off,
Morse said. 
Fourteen percent of the 33 congregations started this year
were initiated by regions. Individuals and congregations
were responsible for about 35 percent each -- representing
nearly all the increase in growth of the movement. The
remainder joined Disciples ranks by affiliation, rather
than by initiation.

"People are feeling the passion. They are finding ways to
answer the call," said Gilberto Collazo, NCM team member.
"We are really inspired by the personal commitment of
individuals who are stepping out in faith to answer the
call from God to start new churches. These people are
setting the pace for the rest of the church."

But Disciples will need the help of congregations as well
to sustain growth. So, the New Church Ministry team is
focusing on helping existing congregations -- first to
recognize the call to reach new people with the gospel of
Jesus Christ; and second to learn how to launch new
communities of faith.

In response to a letter from the current and all four past
General Ministers and Presidents, Disciples pastors are
opting into the movement by committing to support new
churches through prayer, funds and even by leading their
established congregations to help start new churches.

Nearly 70 pastors have responded already, toward a goal of
1,000 ministers who pledge their support by the time of the
October 2003 General Assembly in Charlotte, N.C.

Meanwhile, congregations that already see themselves as new
church starters are the new churches themselves. The
movement, Morse said, is begetting itself. 

"Many new churches in 2002 are being started by
congregations younger than five years old themselves,"
Morse said. He cited Shalom Community Christian Church; a
4-year-old, multi-cultural congregation of 380 members in
Greensboro, N.C. Shalom is launching three new churches
now, with plans for two more starts soon.

Last fall, a Hispanic congregation with 60 members started
in Enid, Okla. Already, Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai is
starting a sister congregation. 

At 43 percent of this year's new churches, Hispanics
continue to be the fastest growing group among new
Disciples congregations.

In fact the movement's growth is marked by an expansion of
congregations that reach particular ethnic groups. For
example, a new Korean congregation, A Church in Christ, has
started in the Northeast region. It is the first, but
certainly not the last, Asian Disciples congregation in an
area heavily populated with American Asians. In fact, three
more Korean congregations are currently considering
affiliation with Disciples due to the Disciples new church
start, Morse said.

A Vietnamese congregation in Raleigh, N.C., expects to be
worshiping in September. Its presence will double the
number of Disciples Vietnamese congregations in the United
States. Vietnamese communities also have a good deal of
promise for exponential growth, Morse said.

"Several Vietnamese pastors are looking to be placed. They
just need sponsoring congregations to help get things
moving."

To participate in this movement, contact Morse at
1-800-274-1883, or write to New Church Ministry; c/o Church
Extension, P.O. Box 7030, Indianapolis, IN, 46207-7030;
e-mail: rmorse@churchextension.org

                      -- end --

Church Extension
Contact: Rick Morse, New Church Ministry director
1-800-274-1883
rmorse@churchextension.org

02-65