Long Island East District Day Apart A “How-To” for Revitalization

Scriptural Basis – Acts 2 Story of Pentecost Jesus has ascended with a “Promise” The “Promise” arrives The “Promise” Equips Empowers Energizes The “Promise” delivers or TRANSFORMS!

What is Jesus’ Expectation? Matthew 28:19 – 20 (New Living Translation) “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new {emphasis mine} disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

What is the Expectation of the UM Church What is the Expectation of the UM Church? (from the 2010 UM Call to Action) average worship attendance has it increased by at least 5% over a 5-year period? more than half of total membership attending/engaged in weekly worship is it at least 56% of the total membership? professions of faith/memberships restored/confirmands has it increased by 82% over a 5-year period? numbers involved in small group study is it at least 106% of worship attendance? numbers of young adults engaged in study groups is it at least 9% of worship attendance? representation of young adults/youth in church leadership is it at least 1/3 of the committee/ministry?

What is the Expectation of the UM Church What is the Expectation of the UM Church? (from the 2010 UM Call to Action) engagement in evangelistic/missional initiatives is it at least 20% of the worship attendance? 100% giving towards apportionments grow mission giving over 5-year period grow by 12% over a 5-year period grow non-capital spending over 5-year period grow by 22% over a 5-year period identifying, nurturing, leading candidates into ministry one candidate per year for 5 years willingness to engage in entrepreneurial (read: partnerships) enterprises without community agencies fully invested in supporting appointed ministerial staff in their medical and pension plans 100% on time…every time

serve lived into these expectations? What is the Expectation of the UM Church? (from the 2010 UM Call to Action) How have YOU and the community serve lived into these expectations?

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS? 2 Scriptures that guide me Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!“ (Mark 1:17 NLT) Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. (Acts 2:41 NLT)

THE MISSION FIELD Population Forecasts 2,443,631 (2010) 2,479,781 (2023) Racial/Ethnic (2023) White 1,685,375 (0.89% decrease) Hispanic/Latino 409,348 (0.55% increase) Black/African American 205,791 (no change) Asian 134,205 (0.26% increase) Pac Is/Am In/Other 45,062 (no change)

THE MISSION FIELD Phase of Life Forecast 2010 2018 2023 2028 2010% 2018% 2023% 2028% Before Formal Schooling: (0-4) 138,594 130,780 127,249 131,899 5.7% 5.3% 5.1% 5.3% Required Formal Schooling: (5-17) 441,644 372,431 345,898 334,197 18.1% 15.1% 13.9% 13.4% College/Career Starts: (18-24) 212,906 259,366 245,846 220,941 8.7% 10.5% 9.9% 8.9% Singles and Young Families: (25-34) 268,384 288,080 323,432 334,354 11.0% 11.7% 13.0% 13.5% Families and Empty Nesters: (35-54) 741,771 628,529 565,343 550,443 30.4% 25.4% 22.8% 22.1% Enrichment Years Singles/Couples: (55-64) 298,037 363,358 373,613 339,094 12.2% 14.7% 15.1% 13.6% Retirement Opportunities: (65+) 342,294 427,521 498,400 574,339 14.0% 17.3% 20.1% 23.1%

Where are WE as a Conference? (metrics) Worship Attendance 1000 + 1 .23% 500-999 1 .23% 250-499 12 2.73% 150-249 26 5.90% 100-149 44 10.00% 50-99 99 22.50% 25-49 122 27.72% 1-24 135 30.68%   Total 440 100%

Where are WE in LIE? (metrics) Membership 1996 – 2016 29,528 – 18,722 22,900 (2010) 2,443,631 total population 52% Roman Catholic Professions of Faith 576 – 221 356 (2010) Worship Attendance* for 71 churches 401 (High)/7 (Low) 11 > 100/60 < 100

DISCERNMENT TOOLS Neighborhood Prayer Walking Community Leader Interviews Mystery Worship Auditors Church Assessment Tool (CAT) Congregational Gifts Assessment Audit of Financial Initiatives

Scriptural Basis – Acts 2 Story of Pentecost Jesus has ascended with a “Promise” (1:8) The “Promise” arrives (2:1 – 4) **The “Promise” (2:14 – 40) Equips Empowers Energizes The “Promise” delivers or TRANSFORMS! (2:41)

The “Promise” Equips, Empowers & Energizes “Evangelical” is NOT a dirty word! “Evangelical” is neither progressive or conservative. An “Evangelical” is someone who is in “agreement with the Christian gospel esp. as presented in the four Gospels”. someone who “emphasizes salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ through personal conversion & the authority of Scripture”

The “Promise” Equips, Empowers & Energizes “Evangelism” is NOT a dirty word! “Evangelism” is “the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ” The “cause” of an “evangelist” is winning souls for Christ & reviving personal allegiances to Christ! There is no “left” or “right”…there is “…Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2) Evangelism is a 4-letter word…L-O-V-E! And, our world is in dire need of a LOVE CONNECTION!

What does a L-O-V-E Connection look like? We will be: EARNEST enough to believe that if there are 5 “don’t-churched” or “won’t-churched (read: “wounded”) “saints” in a room, at least three will know we see and care for THEM! LOVING enough to love folks, when they are at their worst, believing eventually we will see their best. HUMBLE enough to recognize that it is NOT us that brings folks to Christ; but rather Christ alive in us. STUBBORN enough to believe that NO ONE is outside of God’s grace, and that EVERYONE has worth! The world’s “trash” is Christ’s “TREASURE”, and we need to be “treasure hunters”! “WOUNDED” enough to realize that everyone does not grieve (or heal) in the same manner we do, and that, we will be the most effective when we learn to sit back and let God be God! REALISTIC enough to know that NO ONE is greater than the ministry and mission of the church! It takes ALL OF US to “make disciples” of Jesus Christ, and transform our communities!