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members. “So many people are skeptical of the church’s true motives; we want to do everything we can to demonstrate God’s love in a practical way, not just in the words we speak during sermons and personal conversation,” adds pastor Gingerich.
Externally focused The largest Mennonite church in the U.S., Cape Christian has doubled its attendance in five years and created more than 20 ministries for the city, including a mentoring program for young mothers and a state-
New fountains, with church facility in background.
approved character curriculum in public schools. Its “Feeding Cape Coral” program has stocked food pantries with more than 23,000 items. In addition, the church is recruiting volunteers with the goal of logging 1 million volunteer hours within public schools. Cape Christian also plans to launch the Center for Family Life to create resources for parents, married couples, and people with addictions and other life-controlling issues. Now that phase one has been completed, the church will continue to raise funds to start phase two. The park will also feature Cape Coral’s first interactive play area that incorporates electronic gaming elements with physical exercise. CE Chad Woolf is director of Not In My City, a ministry of Cape Christian Church in Cape Coral, FL. (www.capechristian.com) More about Not In My City at www.notinmycity.org.
22 | Church executive | 07/2012