Upper New York: Vol. 8 Issue 1 - NFC

ADVOCATE Upper New York

A publication of the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church A publication of the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church

New Faith Communities:

Creating new places for new people

THURSDAY NIGHTS | LADLES OF LOVE | FRESH START | SOPHIA COMMUNITY

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THE KEY: PATIENCE Hispanic Church Planter Jose Rodriguez says the key to planting success is taking the time to get to know people.

TABLE of CONTENTS

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RETURN TO WORSHIP The International Reconciliation Ministries is bringing refugees back to each other and to God.

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SOPHIA SISTERS This Rochester-based NFC brings together women in a casual atmosphere – Panera Bread – for an evening of discussing everyday problems of faith and life.

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FINDING ITS DESTINY A small group is working to establish a UM presence at Syracuse’s Destiny USA; for some, it’s an answer to years of prayer.

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YOUR THOUGHTS We asked on Facebook what qualities a good leader possesses, and we received many great responses.

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LASTING LEGACY Did you know? Since 2012, nearly $750,000 from the New Beginnings Fund has been used to fund 27 new faith communities?

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FINDING RESILIENCY The fifth annual NFC Event will help your church learn to adapt.

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Sunday morning worship at Fresh Start at Regal Cinemas in the Arnot Mall always begins with at least three songs. Photo by Kathleen Rubino

FROM the PUBLISHER Reaching people in new ways

W

A DVOCATE

hen new faith communities are discussed, the image that generally comes to mind is of a traditional “church plant.” We tend to think of an ordained elder gathering leaders, starting small groups and worship, growing in numbers, and eventually becoming a traditional church. This is certainly one kind of new faith community, and it is an important one. However, it is not the only kind of new faith community. In fact, there are almost limitless possibilities for new faith communities.

New faith communities can be Bibles studies, mealsharing gatherings, or even athletic events. The only things that can really limit the Holy Spirit finding ways to reach people are our own imagination and our willingness to act.

If people are being reached and the Good News is being shared, any gathering can be a new faith community.

This issue of the Advocate will look closely at new faith communities and the efforts being made across the Upper New York Conference to reach people in new ways.

You will find examples of new faith communities that have found success, read about people who are being reached by new faith communities that may not have been reached otherwise, and discover plenty of resources to go deeper.

The hope is that readers will not only get excited by the great ministry taking place across Upper New York but also be inspired to look at where they and their church might be able to start a new faith community.

Stephen J. Hustedt, Editor/Publisher

On the cover Thursday Nights at the Salem United Methodist Church.

Photo by Kathleen Rubino Read more on Pages 10-11.

Follow us online: www.unyumc.org www.facebook.com/uppernewyork www.twitter.com/uppernewyork

Upper New York

Vol. 8, Issue 1

Upper New York Area

BISHOP MARK J. WEBB Resident Bishop (315) 422-5027 bishopwebb@unyumc.org

Editor/Publisher

Weekly Digest

STEPHEN J. HUSTEDT

KAREN CAMPOLIETO

UNY Director of Communications (315) 424-7878 x307 stevehustedt@unyumc.org

Administrative Assistant to the Director (315) 424-7878 x304 karencampolieto@unyumc.org

Graphic Designer

Social Media/Web

CHRISTIAN VISCHI

ASHLEY RIDDELL

Communications Associate (315) 424-7878 x313 christianvischi@unyumc.org

Multimedia/Web Coordinator (315) 424-7878 x320 ashleyriddell@unyumc.org

Writer/Editor

Video Specialist

KATHLEEN RUBINO

MARY DALGLISH

Conference Writer/Editor (315) 424-7878 x319 kathleenrubino@unyumc.org

Conference Video Specialist (315) 424-7878 x304 marydalglish@unyumc.org

Special assistant to this issue: the Rev. Dave Masland Upper New York’s Director of New Faith Communities The Advocate is a publication of the

324 University Ave., 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13210 (855) 424-7878  www.unyumc.org The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate is a publication of the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church, whose mission is to be God’s love with all our neighbors in all places. Materials in the Advocate may not be reproduced unless the item is accompanied by a copyright notation. Periodicals postage paid at Utica, New York 13504; USPS 14025. Subscriptions: $15 per year paid in advance to 324 University Ave., 3rd floor, Syracuse, NY 13210; or call (855) 424-7878; or visit www.unyumc.org. Postmaster: send address changes to Upper New York United Methodist Advocate, 324 University Ave., 3rd floor, Syracuse, NY 13210. We reserve the right to edit or decline any items submitted for publication.

Creating new places for new people C

harles Cardwell McCabe was a church planter in the Methodist Episcopal Church. McCabe rode trains all over the land in an attempt to start new churches and raise funds that others might join in the effort. On one trip in the spring of 1881, McCabe read a newspaper article that described a recent meeting in Chicago of the Free Thinker’s Society. The report included the text of a speech by the nation’s most famous atheist, Robert Ingersoll. Ingersoll was quoted as saying, “the churches are dying out all across America.

They are struck with death. By the dawn of the 20th century, churches will be but relics of a bygone day.” McCabe knew better, and he left the train long enough to send a telegram to Ingersoll, the text of which led to this song that served as a rallying cry for churches to plant churches: The infidels a motley band in council met and said, The churches are dying across the land and soon will all be dead.

When suddenly the message came and struck them in dismay, All hail the power of Jesus’ name, we’re building two a day.

We’re building two a day, dear Bob, we’re building two a day.

All hail the power of Jesus name, we’re building two a day.

Creating new places for new people is a part of our history, our DNA. Upper New York is committed to increasing the capacity of Christ-following leaders, both clergy and laity. These leaders will be used by God to strengthen and revitalize existing congregations.

These leaders will be used by God to create new faith communities that will reach new people with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Under the leadership of the Rev. Dave Masland, our Director of New Faith Communities, Upper New York is creating a culture for God to do new things. In the last few years, 50 new faith communities of various shape and focus have begun. We have established of goal of creating 100 new faith communities by 2020.

If we are going to be faithful and fruitful in living out the mission of partnering with God in “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” new faith communities are a necessary and vital strategy we must not only employ, but be absolutely committed to.

Many times, those of us in existing congregations feel threatened by talk of creating new places. To be brutally honest, that is something we probably need to get over.

The reality is the congregation we know and love today,

the place that has been a part of our lives for some time, was at its beginning a new faith community. Someone with vision, courage, and a sense of God’s call created a new place to reach the people of our community with the Gospel message. Those of us connected to the Church have been blessed by the faithfulness of others to start something new.

Surveys tell us that more than 60 percent of the individuals living in every community within the Upper New York Conference are not yet actively involved in the life of a faith community. Existing churches have a tremendous opportunity to find new ways that will connect these neighbors of ours with the amazing love of God through Jesus Christ. New church starts or new faith communities offer a powerful opportunity to connect our neighbors to the hope of Jesus – often in ways that existing churches simply cannot. In other words, Biblical words, “the harvest is plentiful.”

How can we together share in this work of creating new places for new people? While this is not an exhaustive list, it may be a beginning.

1. Recognize that new faith communities are not a threat to existing churches, but rather strengthen our common mission and ministry.

2. Consider becoming a part of the movement.

Perhaps the congregation you are a part of is being called by God to start something new in order to share in a relevant and vital way the good news of Jesus with those in your community.

3. Pray for the raising up of individuals to lead the new things God is calling us to. Pray for those already leading new faith communities and those who have become a part of them. Pray for the new things yet to be.

4. Consider being a part of Upper New York’s work of creating new places for new people by offering financial support. Funds are needed and necessary.

Creating new places for new people is a part of living “The Wesleyan Way.” New faith communities have always been vital to the living out of our mission. Thanks be to God for all that is already happening in Upper New York as we strive to partner with God in creating new things.

Imagine what could be if we owned and lived the words of Charles McCabe: “All hail the power of Jesus’ name, we’re building two a day.”

Processing the steps for a New Faith Community By the Rev. Dave Masland

nyone in a United Methodist Church in Upper New A York can plant a new faith community and should feel free to do so! Having said that, the New Faith Community teams of the Conference are working to provide seven processes to help support the people who feel called to plant. The graphic below describes these in loose chronological order. Planters can choose to take advantage of any or all of these processes: Identifying – Events and small group conversations are offered for people who think God may be calling them to plant. These times provide space for folks to explore whether they have some of the personal characteristics found in most every person who is happy and effective as the lead planter of a new faith community. The goal is to help the planter and the Cabinet discern who God is calling to plant!

Assessing – Planters who intend to seek Conference funding are expected to take an in-depth written assessment to measure their readiness to serve as a lead planter. Opportunity is then given for the person to process the results with leaders and current planters.

Planning – Early in the development of a new faith community, small groups of planters gather to learn best practices, and work together to develop a plan that fits their vision and their context. After this initial step, further planning groups can be organized once or twice per year.

Coaching – A coach is your biggest ally as they will help you think through your plan, break it down into manageable chunks, and co-create an accountable relationship that keeps you working your plan, one step at a time. All planters receiving Conference funding are expected to have a coach. Our Conference now has more than 20

trained coaches available to you!

Training – In order to flourish, we must be connected, renewed, and inspired, and that is where training comes in. Conference- and national-level training is offered through Launchpad and new faith community events as well as peer learning groups throughout the year.

The networking that happens at these events is always a highlight!

Peer Groups – In a retreat setting, these groups provide a chance to “take a breath” as a leader and/or planter. These small groups meet quarterly and are led by a trained spiritual director.

Funding – Our grant team has developed an application process and receives applications twice a year for funding (Feb. 1 and Sept. 1). The cost of each new faith community will vary depending on the model employed.

To learn more, visit www.tinyurl.com/7NFCSteps.

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Hispanic/Latino church planters:

Connecting like family

By Jose Rodriguez

I

am a church planter who helps Hispanic pastors start new churches on American soil.

Before coming to the United States to work with Hispanic church planters, I spent 12 years starting new churches in Cuba. Church planters in Cuba never work in isolation. Established congregations are expected to be continually planting new faith communities. When I came to the U.S., I lived and worked for two years without my family nearby. I am happy to say that I was recently joined by my wife, Judy, our 17-year-old daughter, Ruth, and our 10-year-old son, Gabriel, who arrived in the U.S. on Aug. 22, 2015.

This is very personal work. Hispanic/Latino church planters often work with people who have never known faith before. It is important to be patient. You have to take the time to get to know people. Our job is to show them God’s love through how we live our lives, and this takes time.

To start a church anywhere is hard work. One of hardest things in starting a new Hispanic church is connecting with busy people who do not have a good job or salary and have to work extra hours. People do not have routines established. Often, they are waiting for you to call them, you have to invite them to events, and that means you have to remember them and keep them in

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mind.

Casa de Dios United Methodist Church in Solvay/ Syracuse is a Hispanic ministry, which is more like a family for people, sharing time, resources, and emotional support. Many of our members have left their families behind when they came to the U.S. As you can imagine, they miss their families terribly. The planting team at Casa de Dios tries to be their other family and spend time with them, not just in worship, but also with brothers and sisters who are in the hospital or accompanying them to government offices when they seek services. We teach them how to drive, get a license, and get a job. We are connected together in every single aspect of life.

These Hispanic churches are growing through personal relationships – people to people. We visit members in the hospital because they don’t have family here to do that. I pray with them. For instance, recently I prayed with a single mother who was in the hospital with her 10-year-old son who had a fever. They come to church because they know that we will be there for them. It is really good to know that you are not alone.

Success stories

Almost every week, the planting team invites people to church. Many of them have never set foot inside a church before. Cuba is a Communist country where few

people attend church. That means that sometimes people have to be taught how to pray in church. This is a good problem to have!

We offered car rides to two of our brothers who had no transportation to get to work.

After that, we helped them buy a car, and now they are using their car to help other families that need transportation. In this way, we are empowering people to improve their own lives so they can help others to do the same.

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, we shared a meal with 55 people.

Fourteen of them were visitors and six were new to the group. It was a joyous celebration. For some people, it was their first Thanksgiving meal.

Looking to the future

Here in Syracuse, Casa de Dios is interested in networking with Anglo churches in the city and suburbs. We want to continue to build bridges across cultures. Beyond that, we need help with getting jobs for the hundreds of new arrivals we expect from Cuba in the coming year.

In Rochester, the Rev. Carlos Rosa-Laguer, pastor at the Emmanuel UMC, is in the process of starting a new faith community. He and I are planning to train 12 new faith community leaders during the next year.

In the Albany area, Pastor Mariana Rodriguez, appointed at the FirstEmmanuel UMC in Rensselaer, is helping a sister church that has been started in an assisted living facility.

Though this new faith community is Hispanic, they are in ministry with a population that is largely nonHispanic. Their dream is to serve everyone, of any culture.

Hispanic/Latino church planters are currently active in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and in smaller cities and towns. We have drawn up a strategic plan for Hispanic ministries in Upper New York that calls for starting a new Hispanic church in every district in the Conference.

Our dream is to create a style of ministry that does not require many resources, yet is simple and powerful enough to reach new people through discipleship and household groups everywhere. unyumc.org 7

Photos by Kathleen Rubino

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One church, many locations

By Kathleen Rubino KathleenRubino@unyumc.org

T

he Rev. Bill Vallet, lead pastor at the Pennsylvania Avenue United Methodist Church (PAUMC) in Pine City, first heard the term “multi-site” at a church growth workshop 10 years ago in California.

He learned that a church with a healthy DNA can take that DNA and transplant it in another location.

The seed was planted, and Rev. Vallet set to work.

Rev. Vallet Five years ago, he applied to start a new “campus” at PAUMC, a contemporary service on Saturday evenings.

He worked with approximately 50 people who committed for six months to establishing this new service. This taught those involved how to start a new faith community. The Saturday worship now averages attendance of more than 100 people each week.

Since then, PAUMC has grown to include six campuses, including Fresh Start and LifeTree Café. PAUMC utilizes a leadership core of church members that consists of 14 coaches who not only help run the current campuses, but help establish future campuses.

“We have additional campuses that have been developed over the years, and it all

hinges on discipleship and developing people who are really being transformed by Jesus Christ so that we have something to offer as people come by, and we’re able to take what we hope is a healthy DNA, a healthy culture, and transplant it repeatedly,” he said.

Fresh Start

In 2012, an opportunity arose at Regal Cinemas at the Arnot Mall in Horseheads.

At the same time, the Upper New York Conference’s New Faith Communities Ministry Area was looking for ministries to fund. The PAUMC set up an arrangement with Regal Cinemas to use one of its theaters each Sunday morning, where it would show a pre-recorded sermon from the Saturday evening worship service at PAUMC. Thus, Fresh Start mall campus became the first new faith community in the UNY Conference.

Rev. Vallet asked Susan Dunlap – former Fresh Start campus leader and member of the PAUMC leadership core – to lead the new faith community. She then chose 15-20 people from PAUMC to be a part of her team. The planting team mentality has been a growing trend in the UNY Conference.

“We were all one church in one location down in Pine City, and we all really were pretty comfortable being one body of Christ in Pine City, but we knew we had to keep CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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Peter Wood, Fresh Start campus leader, offers communion to a Fresh Start attendee. Photos by Kathleen Rubino

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 reaching out to a world that needs Jesus,” said Peter Wood, Fresh Start campus leader. “And part of that reaching out meant some of us leaving Pine City and coming into the mall and it was a tough transition, but the purpose was more important: To share the love of Christ, to have another place where there’s a doorway for people to come in and to hear about Christ and to know about Christ’s love.”

Theresa Butler, the Fresh Start outreach coordinator, has been a part of the campus since its inception. She moved from PAUMC to Fresh Start because she liked the idea of something new.

“I really thought it would be just an awesome thing to bring it (church) to where my kids and I shop, bring church to anybody and everybody in the mall,” she said.

In addition to listening to Rev. Vallet’s message, participants at

Fresh Start enjoy worship music from a live band, communion, and fellowship. Fresh Start started out with attendance of 15 people and is currently attended by more than 60 people.

Wood feels Fresh Start offers a non-threatening atmosphere.

“They feel like they’ve come home; people feel welcomed when they come to Fresh Start and also our Pine City campus,” he said.

“It’s the same DNA from Pine City campus to Fresh Start campus, and we all come in with the belief that we are all greeters and we want to make everyone feel welcomed here.”

Penny Nunn, who is becoming a member at Fresh Start, came to the campus after her mother passed away and she moved to the Horseheads area.

“I’ve never been more comfortable in any place where there is God involved than I am here. The outpouring of love you feel in this place is amazing,” she said.

To establish a presence at the mall, Fresh Start also rents a storefront space called Fresh Start Corner, a space for mall-goers to stop, chat, and grab a free cup of coffee or tea that also plays host to LifeTree Café.

Watch a video about Fresh Start at https://vimeo.com/153365008.

Rev. Vallet said one of the greatest strengths of this new faith community is the hospitality of those who run it.

“They’re like Velcro: Once you rub against them, you stick, you just want to be part of that,” he said.

Watch a video about LifeTree Café at https://vimeo.com/154619724.

Rev. Vallet advises those who

feel called to plant to “go slowly and learn, walking slowly through the crowd, hearing where people are, and listening to the heart of the community.”

“Sometimes it feels like you’re taking a step into the darkness, but when you really sense God is leading, obey, listen, do what God’s telling you to do,” he said.

LifeTree Café

LifeTree Café is a one-hour Monday night program that serves as a way for PAUMC to explain God and Jesus in a basic, engaging way. It features content from Group Publishing and small group discussion guided by six or seven moderators.

The main focus of LifeTree Café is to establish a low-level entry point for people to build connections, and God is always brought into the conversation.

“We know that God is at work in everyone’s life all the time, and we want to be a help to that and not a hindrance,” Dunlap said. “And so, rather than crossing the threshold of a well-established church, this offers sort of a testing ground. It allows people to make connections, just on a friend-basis. The whole point is to help them in their next step to grow closer to God, no matter what their faith.”

(Above) https://vimeo.com/153365008 (Below) https://vimeo.com/154619724 Videos by UNY Video Specialist Mary Dalglish

Watch online

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IRM reconnects refugees, immigrants back to worship

By Kathleen Rubino KathleenRubino@unyumc.org

W

hen the Rev. Ewart Morris – pastor at the Valley Falls and Albany: Emmaus United Methodist churches – arrived at the Emmaus UMC in 2012, he felt called to establish multiethnic worship at the church. As he searched and prayed about it, he met the Rev. Bizimana John Rusingizwa, who shared his idea for International Reconciliation Ministries (IRM).

“The vision for this new faith community is to put people together, to be one, and to walk together,” Rev. Bizimana said.

Rev. Bizimana, pastor at and planter of the IRM, developed the

vision for this ministry years ago, when he lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“There are many different languages and different people,” he said. “It happened that they were fighting each other, and after war, my vision was to reconcile people because in the kingdom of God, (there is) no difference between people.”

So he started the ministry to reconcile the people of Africa. When he fled to America, he continued to reconcile people here because he felt African people still needed reconciliation in a new country.

Rev. Bizimana said that many Africans come to America to get a job, but they forget about God and

their culture. He hopes, through IRM, to reconcile any bad blood between different cultures, reconnect refugees and immigrants, and to bring them back to worship.

Rev. Morris helps to guide IRM in its work in collaboration with Rev. Bizimana and the Rev. Dave Masland, Upper New York Conference Director of New Faith Communities.

Rev. Morris said he feels this ministry is a good way to bring Africans back to each other and to God. IRM has been an official new faith community for about two years and currently serves 80 people.

The new faith community aids African refugees and immigrants who resettle in America. Many of them come from the Democratic Republic

Four refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who have been assisted by the International Reconciliation Ministries, sat for a conversation with members of Upper New York Conference’s Communications Ministry Area. Pictured, from left, are Desire Sebatutsi, Mamasomo Terese, Nibizi Nabitanga, and Nyamajana Nyarwaga. Photos by Kathleen Rubino 12 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 1

of Congo and Rwanda. IRM reaches out to them and sets up a meeting – particularly during a Sunday worship service – at the Emmaus UMC. The ministry also has a Saturday rotation, where it meets with the families it helps in their homes.

Each week at the 4 p.m. Sunday service, refugees and immigrants worship the Gospels and Old Testament, read in one of the languages – including French, Swahili, and Urdu – and translated into English afterwards. As an added bonus, the refugees and immigrants sing songs and dance to music in their native languages each Sunday.

“Since the International Reconciliation Ministries has been established as new faith community, one of the gifts to us is that every week, every Sunday, they sing one or two items in one of their languages, and that is a great gift to us,” Rev. Morris said.

In addition to these services, IRM holds a conference each year, inviting Africans from across the United States, Canada, and Africa to gather at the church and “teach them to forget the bad things they were doing in Africa, to be one people.”

Four African refugees said that they came to the United States to escape war and find peace and stability, which they have received from the Emmaus UMC and IRM. “The people we help, they are so happy to find a new place to be together and to share together, to help each other,” Rev. Bizimana said.

Rev. Morris said this new faith community has become an avenue through which Emmaus UMC can reach the African community.

“International Reconciliation Ministries is a faith community built around the gospel of Jesus Christ, helping the African community live the faith that they lived back in Africa now that they are in a new place, help to live that, but emphatically, in their own culture so that they can continue in their languages and in some of their ethnic activities,” he said. “And frankly, a lot of it is very, very Christian; they do a lot of prayer time, fellowship time, but there’s an opportunity for us to come together as a whole body of Christ in all of our multiethnic settings at Emmaus.”

Rev. Morris believes IRM is a

much-needed ministry in the Albany area because it allows the refugee and immigrant communities to gather in one place and be a part of ongoing Christian fellowship.

“It’s amazing how even though we don’t all speak the same language, the language of love supersedes it all,

because a smile from one another is as good as an embrace as if you can say something in their language,” Rev. Morris said.

To watch a video about the International Reconciliation Ministries, go to https://vimeo. com/155000631.

Rev. Bizimana John Rusingizwa

Rev. Ewart Morris unyumc.org 13

Coffee, hugs, and conversation:

Sophia sisters break bread at Panera as new faith community

By Pastor Nancy O’Connor Raca

A

s I write this, the weather outside is cold and snowy, but inside a suburban Panera Bread restaurant, several Rochester-area women are warm and welcome as they gather for coffee, hugs, and conversation on a Pastor Raca Thursday evening.

Welcome to Sophia Community, a new faith community that empowers women through the Gospel by creating a space for them to explore where God is working in their lives, discover their worth as children of God, and share the love of Christ.

As the gathering pastor for

Sophia Community, I started this non-traditional church as a place for women to explore their spirituality in a casual yet Christian atmosphere.

I found that I knew so many women – especially mid-life, suburban moms, wives, and career-women – who were looking for authentic community where they could wrestle with everyday problems of faith and life. Women face all kinds of challenges – parenting, marriage troubles, depression, job loss, caring for aging elders, and more – yet there’s a societal pressure to put on a brave face and act like everything’s just fine. I felt God calling me to create a space where women could share their struggles and know that they are accepted and loved, no matter what.

Now, every Thursday night,

“Sophia sisters” meet at Panera, break bread together, discuss a Scripture passage, and pray for each other and the world.

“At first I was worried that I wouldn’t feel comfortable in a group of women I didn’t know,” said Ann, a member of Sophia Community since its inception. “But everyone is so friendly and welcoming at Sophia.

I quickly found that I was among friends.”

Most of the women at Sophia Community grew up in church but stopped attending when they became busy with family or didn’t find what they were looking for in a traditional setting. I try to help people read the Bible with fresh eyes and see how it relates to their lives today.

Grace and love are the core of God’s message – not judgement or

Photos by Kathleen Rubino

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intolerance.

In addition to gathering on Thursday nights, Sophia sisters can delve deeper into Scripture through Bible journaling meetings on Mondays and can participate in frequent service projects throughout Rochester. Most recently, the group took on the renovation of a playroom at the local YWCA, which provides temporary housing for

women and children in transition. As a result, a once drab and lonely space became a colorful, friendly space for kids to call their own. Projects like this one offer an opportunity for women to get their own children and spouses involved in Christian service.

What’s next for Sophia Community? I hope to start additional small groups that will reach more women in need of a

spiritual home. Someday, I’d love to have a house where groups gather regularly for food, fun, and Christian fellowship. The most important thing right now, though, is to go where people already are, and show that church can happen anywhere, in a lot of different ways.

Pastor Nancy O’Connor Raca is appointed to the Covenant UMC and is the pastor/planter of Sophia Community.

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Serving up supper & scripture in Salem

By Kathleen Rubino KathleenRubino@unyumc.org

T

he Rev. Debbie Earthrowl, pastor at the Salem United Methodist Church and planter of Thursday Nights, said it all started with a conversation in early May 2014.

Three young mothers approached Rev. Earthrowl, saying they wanted to experience church with their children, but were discouraged by previous church experiences.

Rev. Earthrowl wondered what it would be like to have an hour one night a week to gather for dinner and worship. The Saturday after her conversation with the mothers, she attended a new faith communities event, where she spoke to the Rev. David Masland, Upper New York Conference Director of New Faith Communities. Inspired by the event, she approached her congregation the next day, asking if anyone would sign up to make meals. The list quickly filled up, and Thursday Nights began the following Thursday.

The first week, 40 people attended. Since then, approximately 70 people call Thursday Nights their main worship experience. Rev. Earthrowl said the gathering has brought many people to the church, while others enjoy it in addition to Sunday worship.

“The one interesting thing too is … when we started that, our Sunday morning attendance increased, from people that were connected with the church before but they started coming more regularly,” Rev. Earthrowl said. “I think part of it was the excitement of something new going on again. We start a lot of new ministries from time to time, but I think this one really touched a heart for people.”

Rev. Earthrowl decided to host this gathering on Thursdays because 16 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 1

Watch https://vimeo.com/152598228

online

it seemed like a good mid-week time to get together as well as to accommodate activities at the church on other nights.

“It is a loving place to come and we talk about and experience new ways of serving Christ every time we get together,” Rev. Earthrowl said.

“Hearing God’s word is so exciting for us every time. And to think of all the new ways that we can share that with all ages is amazing.”

Thursday Nights begins with a meal – prepared by volunteers who sign up for slots each month – and then moves into worship, which always involves scripture. Some nights there are activities, such as cookie and ornament decorating, stories, skits acted out by the children, videos, or music. One night, Rev. Earthrowl set up the sanctuary like a mini-golf course with marbles as golf balls and tongue depressors as clubs.

“I think it’s just so exciting to have a place where people can come into the church and not have all the stereotypes there that might keep

them from coming to worship and be able to come in,” she said.

Delaney Armstrong, a sixth grader who goes to Thursday Nights with her family, said she enjoys going “because it’s fun, and we learn a lot about God and Jesus.”

Rev. Earthrowl said she feels that Thursday Nights gives attendees “a connection with God that they haven’t had before.” She recalled one night, when she was about to read a Bible story, when she was interrupted by Judson Wohlleb – a fifth grader who attends Thursday Nights with his family – who told her, “Debbie, I just love Jesus.”

“That’s what’s really powerful, especially for the children that had not been to Church before the Thursday supper worship; it’s their first experience hearing about God, hearing about Jesus and talking about what that all means,” she said.

And Thursday Nights has become a family affair for the Wohllebs.

“Our kids are homeschooled and we still wanted them to be a part of the community, and we didn’t attend

Video by UNY Video Specialist Mary Dalglish

church already, and so this was a nice way to get involved and learn about church … ” said Sarah Wohlleb, Judson’s mother.

After becoming involved with Thursday Nights, Sarah found out she was pregnant. Once her daughter was born, she had her baptized during one of the Thursday Nights gatherings.

“This group has become her second family,” she said.

Rev. Earthrowl said Rev. Masland has been very supportive of Thursday Nights. She said she is very excited that the Conference lifts up new faith communities and sees them as something of value.

“We’re taking a look at a variety of ways to look at new faith communities; they all don’t look alike by any means,” she said. “And that’s exciting, too, because it can be what’s right for your community and your congregation and the community that you serve.”

For those feeling called to plant, Rev. Earthrowl has this advice to offer: “You should feel free to try anything you feel God is calling you to try because we just have no idea how powerful it can be.”

Photos by Kathleen Rubino

unyumc.org 17

Warming bellies, warming spirits

By Laurel O’Connor

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arly in spring 2015, a small group came to Pastor Ben O’Connor and me, his wife, with a specific request. They asked if we could lead a Bible study in the Syracuse area that was more of a “dinner-churchmeets-Bible-study” model that didn’t fit the “normal church” mold. Open Table CNY was born as a group of 10-15 people who met weekly in the home of one of its members, studying and eating together. The original plan was to plant house churches, fostering a spirit of openness and shared meals.

But the group was more than a Bible study.

During certain liturgical seasons, Pastor Ben and I would engage the small group as a creative space to try new things and take risks. The group re-enacted the Last Supper during Holy Week, putting red hand prints on the cross to symbolize all of our sin and washing our hands in basins to symbolize being washed clean in Christ.

An environment of risk and flexibility was embodied by the entire group. Soon, the group came forward with a yearning to serve outside the bounds of the home.

They started by sending computers to a Ugandan seminary. They discovered a shared passion: Cooking and serving.

God was quick to open the door.

Within several weeks, the group connected with the Syracuse United Methodist Churches. The Brown Memorial UMC hoped to start an afternoon service, but needed a group to help start the feeding ministry associated with that service, serving 75-100 people each Sunday.

Over the course of six weeks of service at Brown Memorial, Open Table CNY was reborn as Ladles of Love, a feeding ministry with a small group devotional that focuses on discipleship. Those six weeks were 18 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 1

Submitted photos

formative to the group’s identity as servant leaders, developing relationships with members at Brown Memorial, and deepening their faith and relationship with each other.

It is about helping the members at Brown realize their own leadership potential as well, whether through serving, planning, and helping at all stages. Ministry is about more than feeding people, it is about listening, loving, and learning from one another.

Since then, the group has

sponsored Thanksgiving boxes, Christmas collections, and continues to cook monthly on a large scale for their sisters and brothers on the west side of Syracuse. Where the cooking servants from Ladles of Love will go next is something that they have left up to the Holy Spirit.

Laurel O’Connor serves as the Upper New York Conference’s Field Coordinator for Africa 360. She and husband Pastor Ben O’Connor welcomed a new addition to their family on Jan. 22, baby Timothy Josef O’Connor.

unyumc.org 19

TOP

3

By the Rev. Dave Masland, Conference Director of New Faith Communities

Top three NFC strategies in the Upper New York Conference

A new faith community (NFC) is any group of people working together to create a new place for new people. Their focus is always reaching new people that our existing churches do not already reach. And their purpose is always to make disciples of Jesus Christ and to transform the world one neighborhood at a time.

To understand the various strategies being utilized by the more than 50 new faith communities in the Upper New York Conference, it helps to think first about who is doing the planting. Is it an already existing local church? Or, is it a small group of people working on their own under the umbrella of the Conference? If a local church is planting, that strategy is called a “mother church” strategy. If a small group of people is planting, it’s referred to as a “missionary” strategy. One traditional strategy that churches have employed is called the “parachute drop” strategy, where an individual is sent in alone to an unknown land to plant a new church. Upper New York is steering clear of this strategy, because it is so frequently unfruitful. The Conference approves strategies that are team-based.

Any mother church or missionary team might utilize one of the three strategies described below, or some combination thereof: 1. Attractional Church Model The Attractional Church Model is the strategy of almost every church in the United States. The primary entry door into the new church is through worship, regardless of the style. The group creates 20 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 1

a space for worship – in a sanctuary, a fellowship hall, a movie theater, a storefront, etc. – puts up signs, creates a worship team, and invites people to come to experience worship in that new space.

It is “attractional” because the goal is always to get people to come to you and your church. These new churches work hard on radical hospitality, intentional invitation, good social networking, and creating a worship experience that engages people’s whole selves. Notice, in this example, the work of adapting to a new culture belongs to the newcomer: Having to negotiate new verbiage, songs, practices, etc.

Examples of this approach in UNY include: CenterPoint, Casa de Dios, FreshStart, StormFront, The Gathering, The Edge, Thursday Nights in Salem, and The Pillar.

2. Missional Micro-Community Network Model The strategy of the Missional MicroCommunity Network Model is to bring the church to people, rather than bringing people to the church. Missional churches seek to meet people in the places where they already gather and in the culture of the mission field. For example, they might meet

in a restaurant, a coffee shop, in someone’s home, or even a bar.

Like any missionary, the work to adapt to the language and culture belongs to the missionary, not the church visitor. The planting team works hard to make sure the experience is understandable to the newcomer. Because the primary doorway into the church is the same doorway they enter every day, these NFCs often welcome people who say, “I would never walk into a church building, but this seems like a safe place to explore my faith.” These groups are often described as “micro-communities” because their size is limited by the space they are gathered in and are often designed to be small groups, where high levels of interaction are possible. These churches grow through multiplication, adding new groups in new places with new leaders.

Their groups are networked through their leaders and might gather once per month for large group mission projects or worship.

Examples of this strategy in UNY include: Sophia Community, The ROAD, Lark Street Together, Ladles of Love, On the Road with Jesus, Common Grounds, Bear Road NFC, Karenni NFC, Disciple Garden, Faith @ Harmony, and LifeTree Café.

3. Outreach First Model This model of planting is being discovered all across the country, as churches that have had free meals, clothing giveaways, soup kitchens, and food cupboards for many years, are discovering that God has created an entirely new faith community among those who come for food, clothing, and fellowship. These new faith communities focus first on meeting the needs of the people in their community, second on building deep, mutual relationships with the people who come, and third on inviting folks to go deeper in their faith in some meaningful way.

Some groups offer music, scripture, a reflection, and prayer during or after a free meal. Others are developing faith conversations around tables. Still others are adding worship in the same space, but at a different time.

As soon as the team values the gathering of folks as a distinct faith community and the focus shifts from trying to “get them to come Sunday morning” to inviting people to reflect out loud together about Jesus’ call on their lives, they make the shift from an outreach ministry to a new faith community.

Examples in UNY include: UmToo, The Living Well, The Way, Bread of Life Prayer Group, and Hands Up Community Chest.

See the next page for a story about how these top three NFC planting strategies are demonstrated in the Conference. unyumc.org 21

UNY NFCs: Planters share their experiences Attractional Church Model: The Gathering

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he Rev. Teressa Sivers, pastor at the First United Methodist Church in Oneonta, helped a group of people from her church move forward with their idea, which turned into The Gathering.

“They came to me and said, ‘Hey, we have this idea. We would really love to do a new faith community in the evening for ourselves and also to reach out into the community,’” Rev. Sivers said. “And I said, ‘Okay, let’s go.’”

The group saw potential for an

evening worship service that could accommodate those whose schedules would not allow them to attend a morning or afternoon worships service, particularly families with children and college students.

“They were hoping an evening and a different format might be more invitational,” Rev. Sivers said. “There’s a lot of people who have no connection to any church community, and they knew what a beautiful blessing it was to have this community that was helping them

raise their kids, that was there for them when they were having difficult times, was a place of nourishment, and they wanted to see more and more people having that kind of connection and having a place where they were renewed and encountered Jesus.”

Rev. Sivers said she didn’t think of The Gathering as a new faith community at first, but said, “it quickly developed into its own entity within the space” of the First UMC. The Gathering began as a worship

Missional Micro-Community Network Model: Sophia Community

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astor Nancy Raca – appointed to the Covenant UMC and pastor/ planter of Sophia Community, both in Rochester – first felt the desire to start something new when she spoke with a woman who said, “You know, I’ve gotten to be 45-years-old, and I don’t have any answers at all in my life.”

“And I thought, ‘What if there was a place for women to gather, where they could be themselves but they could explore at their own pace their spirituality, and they could get involved in service projects and just have fellowship together?’” Pastor Raca said. “People are going through

a lot of things without being able to really talk about it, and I just felt that church offers a place of grace and acceptance and love where people can really be themselves and where we can have authentic community.

And so, I really wanted to form that specifically for women in mid-life … ” She drafted a vision for the group, thinking about what she was looking for, what God was calling her to do in this place, and who God was calling her to reach. She reached out to women in her community and asked if they would be interested in a gathering of fellowship, spirituality, and service work. The answer was a

resounding “yes.” She began to think about where and when to meet and identified Panera Bread as the ideal meeting place for Sophia Community.

“It’s just a comfortable environment for people, where most people that I try to reach have been before,” she said. “I wanted a place that was low-barrier, that wouldn’t be daunting to walk into or even to kind of spy on us to get an idea of what we were like before you even joined our group.”

To gain inspiration, she attended a Launchpad event – a boot camp for NFC planters – which gave her the push to get started with meetings.

Outreach First Model: The Living Well

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t was August, and Pastor Sandi Perl, appointed at The Living Well, stood on the back deck of her house. She had just learned that the agency that occupied the space prior to The Living Well was leaving the community. She wanted the space.

But she didn’t have the money to pay the rent. In the back of her head was a voice that said, “It’s going to be alright. You just do this because you know it’s right, and you’ll be fine.”

Pastor Perl called the property’s landlord and rented the space. She 22 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 1

then tried to figure out the structure of the ministry that would be housed in that location and decided she wanted it to be a ministry of The United Methodist Church. She visited with the Rev. Jeff Childs, pastor at the Penn Yan UMC, and asked him for advice. Together, they gathered the pastors from every United Methodist Church in Yates County and asked for their help.

Everyone was on board. Pastor Perl then contacted the Upper New York Conference to figure out how

to make The Living Well a viable ministry.

“This is a community that is such a partnership. All the United Methodist churches in this county support the Well in some way, shape or form, whether they pray for us or they volunteer for us or they give us money, they make connections for us, they refer us, they open doors for us all the time,” Pastor Perl said.

Following the Outreach First Model, The Living Well first focuses on assisting individuals or families

The Upper New York Conference met with three planters, who demonstrate each of the top three NFC planting strategies in Upper New York. They shared their stories with Writer/Editor Kathleen Rubino. service and has since expanded to include a free meal and Sunday school following worship.

Rev. Sivers spoke to the Rev. Dave Masland, the Upper New York Conference Director of New Faith Communities, and he provided her with resources. Since The Gathering is anchored by the First UMC, the planting team didn’t have to go through the financial and administrative pieces during the plant, but later applied for grants to help fund the meal portion, which now stands financially on its own.

As the idea came to fruition, the plant team decided on a time for

the worship service, which has since changed to accommodate the meal and Sunday school portions of the evening. Initially, everyone gathered in fellowship hall, but they preferred the sanctuary, so they negotiated to remove some pews to give the band ample space and set up a screen and projector.

“Music tends to be the key piece that brings people in,” Rev. Sivers said. “We have some awesome musicians in this church.”

Living out the Attractional Church Model, members of The Gathering invite people to join them on Sunday evenings through invitations in the

newspaper, on the website, on its Facebook page, and face-to-face.

“I think the most effective was the face-to-face (invitation), and our youth are really awesome at it,” Rev. Sivers said. “This has just been so much fun. It was just one of those things that it was meant to be.”

Rev. Sivers said she continues to receive great support from Rev. Masland.

For more information on The Gathering, visit www.firstumconeonta.org/page/the_ gathering. Visit https://vimeo. com/151041305 to watch a video about The Gathering.

At first, Pastor Raca met with women at Panera and funded the community herself, but she later applied for and was awarded a New Faith Communities grant from the Conference that funds her quarter-time appointment as Sophia Community pastor and expenses including Internet, advertising, coffee, and bread.

“One of the benefits of doing it in a place like Panera is just starting and not having to worry a lot about logistics or overhead,” Pastor Raca said.

She’s also been appointed a coach, who she meets with every two to four weeks to discuss the next steps for Sophia Community, and is involved in peer support groups run

by Rev. Masland.

Living the Missional MicroCommunity Network Model, Sophia Community is a place where people who don’t want to go into a traditional church “can go and experience church experience without it having to have a pulpit and pews and stained-glass windows.”

“Being out in Panera or being out in somebody’s house or out in the community doing a service project is really for us what church is about,” she said.

“And right now, for us, it’s not about large corporate worship, but small, intimate worship gatherings.”

For more information about

Sophia Community, visit www. sophiacommunity.com. Visit https://vimeo.com/151045587 to watch a video about Sophia Community.

with financial struggles by providing case workers, food, clothing, shelter, and other basic necessities. Secondly, it focuses on developing relationships between the workers/volunteers and those in need as well as connecting struggling individuals and families with others in a similar situation by creating a space for meaningful conversation. Lastly, it strives to help people go deeper in their faith by offering Bible studies and asking if they can pray for anyone who comes in. Ultimately, Pastor Perl hopes to establish a peer mentoring program at The Living Well.

“When people come in here,

they know it’s a place where you can really tell the story. It’s safe; it’s a place where we’re going to try to help you figure out what needs to be done; we’re going to walk on that journey with you, whatever that looks like,” she said. “And it’s your journey; it’s not ours. We can give you some tools, we can lead you, we can help you feel the presence of Jesus in what you do, but at the end of the day, it’s your journey.”

Pastor Perl said that a group that was initially reluctant to walk through The Living Well’s doors currently comes there to hang out and chat.

Watch these online at Vimeo

“We provide people an opportunity to come in here and be safe,” Pastor Perl said. “Nobody really wants to come here …

Nobody really, truly wants to come in here when they have a problem.”

Pastor Perl said Rev. Masland has been a great asset, pointing her in the direction of more education and resources and quickly responding to her emails.

For more information about The Living Well, visit www.pyumcd. org/TheLivingWell. Visit https:// vimeo.com/151042456 to watch a video about The Living Well. unyumc.org 23

Man Church ‘existed for the season that God needed it to exist’

By Drew Griffin

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o there I was, sitting at charge conference, when our then district superintendent, the Rev. Dave Masland, presented this idea about new faith communities.

As I listened to him describe this concept, it occurred to me that this is exactly what I had Submitted photo started in Tioga Center.

You see, about a year before, some young men in our community weighed heavily on my heart; they needed a safe place where and share a message as to how the they could talk about God, their passage could help them with their challenges as teenagers, and how it daily lives. We had a pretty consistent all fits together. I tried a couple of group of approximately four adults in traditional youth group models – I their 40s, two to three in their 20s, even tried to do a couple of youth and six young men still in high school. studies based on popular secular Occasionally, we would have others novels. join us too.

Well, all of my ideas fell short.

It was quite a mixed group – some Then, with a little nudging from were United Methodists, some were the Holy Spirit, it occurred to me Baptists, a couple were Mormons, that sports were a common interand some had no church connection. est for all of these young men. After Unfortunately, after a little more than receiving this divine intervention, I three years, Man Church ended. At presented the idea to some of my first, I was very upset thinking that mature Christian friends to get feedit and I were failures. But then, as I back. After having this idea positively reflected and prayed, I realized that affirmed by several friends, I got my it was a season and that Man Church final confirmation at a football game existed for the season that God one Friday evening. This came in the needed it to exist. form of one of the young men reachYou see, a couple of things ing out to me as I walked by, asking happened all at once. All of my high when we could get together again and play some ball. I was blown away; school boys graduated, and we lost access to the gym at the very same here was this teenager talking to an time. However, that doesn’t change old guy like me in front of his friends the fact that lifelong relationships that didn’t even know me, and he were made and that lives were wasn’t even embarrassed. changed for the better. And, most That was it. I was convinced this importantly, we all grew in our faith was something that I had to do. So and our personal relationships with I found an available gym and started Jesus Christ.

Man Church. Every Sunday night, One of the best moments I had approximately a dozen of us would gather at this gym and play basketball, occurred when I was giving one of the young men a ride home. He share some food, and talk about the confided in me about a time when week. After we finished playing, I he felt that God had spoken to him. would read to them from the Bible

He told me about a party he had been invited to and was about to attend, but at the last minute, he felt a strong urging that he shouldn’t go. The next day, he learned that there had been underage drinking and illicit drug use at this party, and the police were called. As an aspiring Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) candidate hoping for a military career, if he had been caught there, this would’ve ended his chance to be an officer.

This touched me on two levels: That he felt safe enough to tell me about this and, more importantly, that he had heard God! I also learned from Rev. Masland that Man Church inspired other new faith communities that were also based on common interests. So, even though Man Church ended, it was not a failure – it was a success! New disciples were made, and God was glorified.

So, when you’re thinking about new faith communities, don’t be boxed in by what you consider “church” to be. Let the Spirit move you, and think outside the box; or better yet, think outside the walls – your church walls that is. A good friend of mine once said that church is the only institution created for the people who aren’t there yet. This should be our mantra for new faith communities. We need to create sacred spaces that are safe for those that won’t attend traditional church so that they, too, can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You don’t need paid clergy, and you don’t need a big fancy building. All you need is faith, a servants’ heart, and some inspiration from the Holy Spirit!

I still hope that a new season will come again for Man Church, but until then, I will faithfully serve where God leads me.

Drew Griffin is the Binghamton District Lay Leader.

“ ... don’t be boxed in by what you consider ‘church’ to be. Let the Spirit move you ... ”

24 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 1

New church finds its Destiny

By Pastor Alicia Wood

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his past Advent season, my church and I were challenged and energized by the Rev. Adam Hamilton’s “Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It” Bible study. In chapter 6, Rev. Hamilton talks about how John Wesley preached in fields and marketplaces.

We may grin as we hear this story of our founder.

He was so bold and unusual! Then in the study, Rev. Hamilton asks: “Where would the marketplace be today? What is the equivalent of the market place in 2016?” We believe it is in our grocery stores and malls. Wesley believed in going to the people to spread God’s word. This is exactly what we plan to do.

For 20-plus years, people have been praying for a United Methodist presence at a large mall in Syracuse. Currently, a small group of bold people are working to open a storefront church at Destiny USA in Syracuse. This is a very large and successful mall. In 2014, it had 29 million visitors and 4,500 employees – think of the lives that may be touched.

In this modern day marketplace, we will spread God’s love through our presence, hospitality, small groups, outreach, and worship. This storefront church will offer drop-in prayer, and a safe and familiar place for people to get to know God. Our goal will be to continually offer a way to get involved in outreach and meaningful worship, which may take place on a weeknight. As Wesley said, “The world is my parish.” Therefore, we believe we need to be where people gather: The marketplace, the mall!

Some churches today have an on-site day care or a pre-school to generate donations/income. To create a sustainable ministry, the storefront church will host a coffeehouse. We will sell beverages and pastries. This atmosphere will create on opportunity to build relationships with guests and employees of the mall and support the ministry financially.

This is not a small task to start. If you would like to join us in this adventure or would like to donate to this church plant at Destiny USA, please contact me at pastoraliciawood@gmail.com or (315) 475-7277. We are so excited to be a part of this budding ministry! Please join us in any way you feel called. Just as Wesley looked beyond the regulars at church to share God’s love, we will do our best to keep up this bold Methodist tradition, even at the mall.

Pastor Alicia Wood serves at the University and James Street United Methodist churches in Syracuse.

unyumc.org 25

Next Step sessions help participants love, grow, serve

By Pastor Wayne Clemens

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s a new faith community of The United Methodist Church in the Upper New York Conference, one of CenterPoint Christian Fellowship’s greatest challenges has been the identification and development of potential leadership within this newly formed faith community.

What began eight years ago as a dream Pastor and vision of a handClemens ful of faithful folks from various United Methodist churches in the Barneveld area of the Mohawk District, has blossomed into a vibrant and growing faith community of approximately 75 Christ-followers focused upon the mission and vision that God has provided to us: “Love

… Grow … Serve … ” What we discovered as we participated in a Path1 Launchpad Church Plant Training with the Rev. Paul Nixon just over two years ago was a simple vision that God had provided through that weekend’s visioning process. We began a vision timeline that assisted us in clearly defining the vision, mission, and purpose God had for us.

CenterPoint’s mission, vision, purpose, and process grew from that weekend. They are all one and the same, are easily remembered, and can be clearly defined by the members of the faith community.

• To love God and others • Grow together in community • Serve our neighbors and the world How that gets fleshed out in the life of the church is made manifest

through a variety of community ministries, worship opportunities, growth group involvement, and outreach that CenterPoint provides through the many gifted leaders that have been nurtured through the “Next Step” process.

The “Next Step” sessions are a six-week, pastor-led, discussion group designed for both the guest who may be wondering “Okay, I’m here at worship every Sunday, what do I do next?” as well as the member who may have been in leadership for some time, but might sense a call to grow or to serve in a greater way.

The process helps us to define what step we might currently be on and/ or what step God may be calling us to take next.

The first three weeks are focused on the three aspects of CenterPoint’s mission and vision: “Love … Grow …

Submitted photo

26 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 1

Serve … ” We discuss what each of these steps mean for us as we continue to take steps with each other on this journey of faith. The last three weeks are designated to assist participants in discovering how God may be calling them to take the next step in faith by participating in a spiritual gifts inventory. This provides not only an opportunity for the participant to ascertain the gifts they may see in themselves, but also allows them to discover the gifts that others may see in them.

This process has been instrumental in the recent leadership development and growth we are seeing at CenterPoint. Of the 35-40 current or past faith community leaders and team members, more than half have been identified and/or nurtured through the “Next Step” process.

The clarity discovered through these next steps is so powerful that one of the “Next Step” participants recently heard and answered the call to pastoral ministry through this process and now serves as the pastor at a nearby faith community.

CenterPoint’s current administrative board chair Timothy Lavier shares the importance of the “Next Step”: The Next Step class turned out to be an important missing piece of my faith journey that I didn’t even know I was missing.

This class was exactly what I needed to move forward and grasp the mission statement that we are living into: “Love …

Grow … Serve … ” I consider this class a vital part of my faith journey that is Holy Spirt-filled and that will nudge you out of your comfort zone for greater results. It empowers you into the soul-searching and honest evaluation of your spiritual gifts that God so gracefully provides in order for us to serve Him. The greatest commandment is love. This class is based on love, through worship, prayer, and fellowship. It reminds us to love God and others enough to learn how we can grow. Growing is sometimes difficult because it can be uncomfortable stepping out, and we don’t always recognize our own spiritual gifts. This class is designed to teach us how to recognize our

gifts and grow in community and spirit together. You are never alone. What good is a gift if it isn’t opened up and put to use? These classes will unwrap those spiritual gifts.

You will learn how your peers observe your strengths, even if you don’t see them for yourself.

This class will guide you toward using those spiritual gifts to their full potential to serve God and others. If you are feeling a bit comfortable, but also feeling like you need to know God more and want to draw closer to His love, take this Next Step class, identify your spiritual gifts, and use them to serve God. You will not regret it. Peace above all understanding will fill your soul.

Barbara Mezzanini, who sensed God’s calling to serve as CenterPoint’s lay leader, clearly heard that call through the “Next Step” process.

Here is how she describes it: I really wanted to do more to serve God, my church, and the community, [but I was] not really sure what I could do or how I start, except to begin with prayer. God answered my prayer with our Next Step program. It helped me see things in myself and more surprisingly the abilities and talents others saw in me – obvious to them, but not to me. Guided by the Holy Spirit, I had the courage and ability to step out of my comfort zone. I am now blessed to be the lay leader, to lead Bible study and small study groups.

So, as you can see, the “Next Step” sessions are an exciting way to help us to move from pew to purpose, to go from recipient to participant, to fully live into the life that God is calling us to, and to live that life out alongside our sisters and brothers in Christ as we focus on the mission, “To love God and others ... grow together in community … and serve our neighbors and the world … ” and in so doing, going, and being, we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. All glory to God! Pastor Wayne Clemens is senior pastor at the new faith community CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Barneveld.

What is Launchpad?

Launchpad was created by Path 1 as a boot camp for United Methodist church planters in the Northeastern Jurisdiction. It is two days of handson training for lead planters and members of their leadership teams.

Intended outcome is for leaders and their teams to leave the event with a detailed plan for the next six months of their church plant.

Who is Launchpad for?

Launchpad is ideal for any new faith community plant that is in any stage of pre-launch planning or in its first 6-12 months of launch.

Lead planters should attend, and bring at least one to three team members with them. There will be both English- and Spanish-language training offered.

What learning style will be employed?

Some Launchpad materials are presented through lecture style, some via conversation around tables.

The best learning comes through networking with other planters. And there is time given for planting teams to process information, vision, and plan together.

Who are the presenters?

The jurisdiction event is led by Paul Nixon and other Path 1 leaders. The Conference event is led by Upper New York New Faith Communities Director the Rev. Dave Masland, and members of the NFC team, such as the Revs. Bill Vallet, Carlos RosaLaguer, and Jose Rodriguez.

What about this year?

Path 1 offers a Launchpad event every summer somewhere in the Northeastern Jurisdiction. However, the timing of this does not meet the needs of many of Upper New York’s new faith communities that plan to launch in the spring or summer. Because of this, starting this February, after receiving training and materials from Path 1, a team of leaders from Upper New York will offer Launchpad within the bounds of the Conference. This year’s event was held Feb. 5-7 in Liverpool.

Legacy funds turn vision into reality By the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding

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few years ago, while interviewing people for a Conference staff position, I asked an out-of-state candidate, “So what made you want to explore working for the Upper New York Conference?” I knew she had flown in from a much warmer climate, and I may have secretly wondered why anyone would trade a sunny beach for one of Upper New York’s crazy winters.

As it turned out, it was the “craziness” of our vision – not our weather – that attracted her.

In preparation for the interview, she had found the Plentiful Harvest proposal from the “2011 Pre-Conference Booklet” posted on our website. “I read your bold commitment to renew existing churches and plant new ones, and it really impressed me,” she said. “I’d like to work with people who are that passionate.”

She said the part that had particularly impressed her were some words from the proposal’s introduction: United Methodists in Upper New York are alarmed by years of numerical and spiritual decline, yet hopeful that we can, with God’s help, reverse this trend as vital congregations – both new faith communities and renewed existing congregations – extend United Methodist witness by “living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being God’s love with our neighbors in all places.” Indeed, our success or failure as an Annual Conference may be measured in terms of how fearlessly, effectively and tenaciously we undertake this challenge.

It was encouraging to hear an outsider’s praise and appreciation for the work we were doing. It also reminded me of just how bold the steps we took actually were. At our 2011 Annual Conference session, members voted to fund two new staff positions: a Director of Vital Congregations to lead our revitalization efforts and a Director of New Faith Communities to lead our church planting initiative. In doing so, the Conference enabled Upper New York to launch both the Hand to Plow congregational renewal process and make good on a goal of planting 100 new churches during the remainder of the decade.

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To further support these ministries, the Conference also voted to create the “New Beginnings Fund.” This fund – made up of the net proceeds from the sale of the church buildings of discontinued congregations – enables closed churches to provide a legacy of thousands of dollars to help existing churches retool and new churches take root. Eighty percent of this fund is earmarked for new faith communities and revitalizing congregations, with the remaining 20 percent set aside for building projects at our camp and retreat ministry sites.

Since 2012, the New Beginnings Fund (NBF) has received $1,310,984 from the sale of closed churches; over the past three years, approximately $750,000 has been spent on New Faith Community planting. In addition to helping fund 27 new faith communities, the NBF has also been used for Camp & Retreat Ministries and church revitalization – including underwriting the cost of Hand to Plow and other programs aimed at equipping churches to become more fruitful disciple-making congregations.

Conference members will be asked to renew the mandate, authorizing the NBF at next year’s Annual Conference session.

In a time when worship attendance and membership rolls are in decline and many churches struggle to pay bills – utility and salary, it is a very bold and faithful thing to invest the proceeds from closed churches in new places and new people. But that is exactly what we are doing as a Conference! As you will read in the other stories contained in this issue of the Advocate, we are seeing the fruit of these investments. We are living out the crazy, bold vision of reaching more and more people with the incredible love of Jesus.

But I know it took a long time to get where we are, and it will take a long time to get to where God is leading us. The challenge of renewing United Methodism in Upstate New York will probably take at least a generation.

To undertake such a challenge, we will need to work – as the “Plentiful Harvest” proposal declared – “fearlessly, effectively, and tenaciously,” along with God’s help and a lot of bold and crazy faith on our part, I believe.

The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding is the Conference Director of Connectional Ministries and Executive Assistant to the Bishop.

Glossary of church planting terms The Rev. Dave Masland, Upper New York Conference’s Director of New Faith Communities, identified the 12 most common church planting terms. Below are the terms along with their definitions

Attractional Church

Any church that works to attract new people to their building/space.

The primary entry point for new people is Sunday morning worship.

Growth comes through excellent worship, preaching, hospitality, and attractive meeting spaces. The work of adapting lies with the newcomer, who may or may not have church culture in their background. The key question is, “How can we get people to come to our church?” See “missional church.”

Chartering

The church process of a new church being recognized by the Conference as a fully participating United Methodist Church. UNY guidelines require one full year of financial independence before application. Newly chartered churches will participate in a graduated process toward paying full ministry shares over a period of four years. This step happens after incorporation.

House Church

Any new faith community that gathers in someone’s home. Many of our existing churches started this way. Some house church new faith communities grow through multiplication, adding new groups in other homes. This is one type of missional micro-community.

Incorporation

The legal process of a new church gaining recognition by the state and the federal government. In UNY, this can be done by any new faith community (NFC) with more than 20 committed persons and an elected board of trustees of at least three persons.

Incorporation requires a special charge conference, presided over by a district superintendent, and then filing proper paperwork with the county government and IRS. It can be done much earlier than chartering.

Lead Planter

The primary vision-caster of the church plant. Any woman or man who gathers like-minded people, organizes them into teams, and oversees the ministries of the new faith community. The lead planter can be clergy or laity.

Leadership Team

This team is similar to the administrative council at any United Methodist church; the primary decisionmaking body of the new church, which extends the leadership of the lead planter.

Missional Church

Missional churches do not try to get new people to come to their building. Rather, they seek to take the church to the places where people are already gathering. The leaders of the missional church adapt the language, dress, and meeting place – like a missionary – so that newcomers have less work to do to be able to hear the gospel. The key question is, “How can we bring the church to people where they are?”

Missional Micro-Community

This is any NFC with a small group-based strategy. Many micromissional church models that meet in public places – such as cafés, bars, and restaurants – use this approach because their meeting spaces prohibit larger groups. A number of microcommunities might be networked together for large group worship and mission projects. One church plant could consist of many.

Mother-Daughter Church

Any time an existing church works to plant a NFC in another neighborhood. Most of our existing United Methodist churches were planted this way in the past. This may be the most effective way to plant a new church.

New Faith Community

Any group of more than three people that is creating a new place for new people and is focused on reaching people that our existing churches are not already reaching.

Parachute Drop

This is a classic church planting strategy where a planter is inserted into a strange land – like a missionary – and works on their own to start a new church with no prior-arranged partnerships. We now understand that this is the riskiest church planting strategy with a high rate of failure.

Second-Site/Multi-Site

This is a variation of the MotherDaughter strategy, featuring one church with multiple sites and no plans to create a separate church.

Often, the same preacher and same sermon are used at all sites, sometimes via videotape or streaming.

NFC – Digging a Little Deeper

United Methodists believe God’s prevenient grace is at work in every person … in particular the people who may never walk into our existing churches. New faith community planters work to create safe places for un-churched or de-churched people to explore their faith, consider what it means to follow Jesus Christ, and then practice discipleship together with new friends. These communities gather in malls, cafés, storefronts, bars, homes, fellowship halls, and restaurants, and each one is committed to being God’s love with their neighbors.

The New Faith Communities ministry is nurturing a “planting culture” where everyone feels free to create these new places for new people.

There are several teams of people working to create a system to support, train, and resource planters. unyumc.org 29

AT THE RESOURCE CENTER

FOR FURTHER READING Longing for Spring

by Heath and Kisker

Elaine Heath and Scott Kisker call for the planting of neo-monastic churches that embody the Wesleyan vision of holiness in postmodern contexts. This book also points toward some vital shifts that are necessary in theological education in order to equip pastors to lead such communities.

“Longing for Spring” helps Wesleyans of all stripes understand the theory and praxis necessary for planting neo-monastic communities as a new model of the Church that is particularly important in the postmodern context.

Exponential

by Dave and Jon Ferguson

Authors Dave and Jon Ferguson communicate a simple strategy that will engage millions of Christ followers and challenge every church leader to become a reproducing follower and leader. “Exponential” lays out a brief but solid theology for a reproducing strategy, giving practical “how-tos” for reproducing Christ followers, leaders, artists, teams, venues, sites, churches, and networks of churches. Weaved throughout this book is the amazing story of Community Christian Church, which was started by five friends who used the reproducing strategies found in “Exponential” to grow one of the most influential churches in the United States and develop a network of reproducing churches. Many of today’s Christians consider the missional challenge of Jesus – feed the hungry, comfort the lonely, bring people to God’s Word – as inspirational but not something that’s achievable.

Or, they’ve heard the challenge of Jesus and are frustrated with how little they’ve done. Jesus gave his followers this mission because he wants them to hear it, be inspired, and then actually do it. “Exponential” will show them how.

I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church

by Paul Nixon

God has called all leaders – lay and clergy – to lead healthy, vibrant, and growing congregations. In this best-selling, highly-readable book, church-growth expert the Rev. Paul Nixon – who will speak at the Upper New York Conference’s fifth annual New Faith Communities Event – outlines six critical choices every congregation must make: Life over death, community over isolation, fun over drudgery, bold over mild, frontier over fortress, and now rather than later. Rev. Nixon coaches pastors and churches of many denominations across North America, with a special interest in new church development and multi-site congregations in urban areas. The commitment to lead healthy, growing spiritual movements is what this book is all about.

Spin-Off Churches

by Harrison, Cheyney, and Overstreet There has been a plethora of books about how to start a church plant over the past two decades in Christendom, but few of them share how one church successfully plants another church. “Spin-Off Churches” – by Rodney Harrison, Tom Cheyney, and Don Overstreet – aims to meet the need for a solid resource that specifically defines how one established church can successfully sponsor or parent a new church into sustainable existence. The book utilizes contributions from a team of veteran missional church planters whose access to current church sponsorship data through the North American Mission Board is second to none. Their experience and teaching will guide readers through the church sponsorship process – from its biblical basis to the nuts, bolts, and resource basics of implementation and follow through.

For Further Reading resources among thousands of other titles are available for lending from the Conference Media Resource Center in Endicott – a free lending library supported through your ministry share dollars – through the online catalog at www.tinyurl.com/UNYMediaRC, by contacting Resource Center Director Diane Miner via email at diane@unyumc.org or by phone at (800) 799-9664.

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Weird Church

by Nixon and Estock

In the post-Christendom era, nothing in the world of organized religion works the way it used to work. While some are beginning to give up hope for the future of faith, “Weird Church” offers a clear vision of a good future – so long as church leaders are willing to live into a few critical shifts. Utilizing “spiral dynamics” as a means of framing the current changes in North American culture, authors the Rev. Paul Nixon and Beth Estock offer a rip-roaring forecast of where the Church is going as we race toward the mid-century. This book is a wake-up call for those who still think church revitalization is simply a matter of doing better the things that used to come so easily. However, for the innovators whose ministries cannot fully be measured or understood by the old paradigms of members and money, “Weird Church” offers compelling vindication and encouragement that may cause them to stand and cheer.

The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting: A Guide for Starting Any Kind of Church

by Dirk Elliot

Most books on church planting offer a model for churches to replicate usually one that is tied to a particular style, generation, or demographic. But what churches really need is a process that is flexible, not bound to a particular time or current fad. In “The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting,” trusted author and church planting expert Aubrey Malphurs shares the basic steps any church planter will need, regardless of his or her generation now or in the future. These steps include establishing values, mission, vision, and strategy reaching the community, making disciples, recruiting a team, determining location and facilities, and raising money for the ministry.

The Forgotten Ways

by Alan Hirsch

“The Forgotten Ways” proposes the concept of “Apostolic Genius” as a way to understand what caused the Church to experience exponential growth and impact at various times in history, interpreting it for use in our own time and place. From the theological underpinnings to the practical application, Alan Hirsch takes the reader through this dynamic mixture of passion, prayer, and incarnational practice to rediscover the dormant potential of the modern church in the West.

Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples

by Rainer and Geiger Thom Rainer, Ph.D., president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, along with Eric Geiger, Ed. D., executive pastor at Christ Fellowship, share a clear message from case studies of 400 American churches: Church is done best when it’s kept simple. Churches with a simple process for reaching and maturing people are expanding the Kingdom. Complex churches are struggling and anemic. The authors have observed the simple church in action and they want others to see it, too. Simple churches are thriving, and they are doing so by taking four ideas to heart: Clarity. Movement. Alignment.

Focus.

According to the authors: “We compared growing and vibrant churches to non-growing and struggling churches.

Church leaders from both groups were asked to complete the same survey which was designed to measure how simple their church discipleship process was. We anticipated that there would be a relationship between a simple process and church vitality, but the results were greater than we imagined. Our statistical consultant told us that we had found something big.”

“Simple Church” guides Christians back to the simple, gospel-sharing methods of Jesus. No bells or whistles are required.

Two additional new faith community resource recommendations: “Vital Merger: A New Church Start Approach That Joins Church Families Together” by Dirk Elliot – Do you feel restless about your church’s ministry and wonder whether joining with another church – or churches – could increase your missional impact on the community? As blended families face big decisions and challenges, so do churches seeking to merge. “Launch: Starting a New Church from Scratch” by Searcy and Thomas – Starting a church from scratch? The authors, both pastors at The Journey Church of the City in Manhattan, offer specific strategies for beginning a church from scratch, based on their own experiences in launching a church with no members, no money, and no staff that skyrocketed to membership of more than 1,000 people in three years. unyumc.org 31

324 University Ave., 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY 13210

NFC Event focuses on concept of resiliency

By Pat DuPont

I

t is no secret that we are living in a dynamic moment in Church history.

The world around us is changing faster than ever. It seems like each new month brings with it a new, must-have gadget, must-read website, and life-changing app. People think differently, communicate differently, and live differently today than they did yesterday.

In this dynamic moment in Church Rev. Nixon history, the body of Christ is learning how to adapt. Faithful people are asking themselves and each other: “What will Christ’s Church look like five years from now?

What will it look like 50 years from now? How can the Church pour the Gospel into this new way of thinking, communicating, and being?”

These conversations happen all over the world and all across the Upper New York Conference.

Throughout our Conference, church-goers are expanding their understanding of what it means to be the Church, church leaders are exploring ways to reenergize and revitalize their congregations, and church planters are sowing seeds, seeking to grow brand new kinds of faithful communities.

This April, all are welcome to attend Upper New York’s fifth annual New Faith Communities Event to grow together, to further these conversations, and to discover how we can live out our vision of the Church’s future. This year, the

event will center on the concept of resiliency and will explore the ways in which we can invest in the “staying power” of the new ministries and/or faith communities that we envision.

How do we carry the Church forward in a way that is prepared to face the hurdles and obstacles it will inevitably be confronted with in the future?

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with keynote speaker the Rev. Paul Nixon. He is president at the Epicenter Group (www.epicentergroup.org), a team committed to resourcing 21st century churches. As an ordained elder, Rev. Nixon served in local churches in the south, and until 2007 was the director of congregational development in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. He has published eight books – including the 2007 bestseller “I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church.” In addition, he has coached and consulted with hundreds of ministries across the United States, worked onsite with approximately 750 different congregations as of 2015, coached more than 100 new congregations through their formative years, and regularly teaches new church development at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Rev. Nixon will offer presentations as well as question-and-answer sessions throughout the event.

Another highlight for attendees will be the opportunity to connect with other church members, leaders, and visionaries from across the Upper New York Conference.

Alongside Rev. Nixon, church planters in our Conference will present about the new models of church they are growing.

“I am not sure about you, but I

learn much more in my conversations with others who are doing similar work than I do from any training event,” said the Rev. Dave Masland, UNY Conference Director of New Faith Communities. “One of the best ways you can be a ‘learning leader’ is by seeking out and nurturing relationships with other people who are planting new faith communities.”

This event will provide attendees an opportunity to do just that by offering time set aside specifically for networking and interacting with church planters and other attendees.

To register for this event, visit www.tinyurl. com/2016NFCevent. Don’t miss this chance to explore the future of The United Methodist Church in Upper New York, to learn about how we create resilient, lasting ministries and faith communities, and to energize your ministry!

Pat DuPont is a member of the fifth annual New Faith Communities Event’s planning team.

EVENT details WHAT: “Now What?: Finding Resiliency in Your New Faith Community After the Vision” WHEN/WHERE: 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 8 to 2 p.m. April 9, Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center in Moravia REGISTRATION: By March 16: $100, which includes meals and lodging, or $30 for commuters; after March 16: $120 for lodgers or $45 for commuters.

Registration closes March 23.