NW District Clergy Meeting Office of Congregational Vitality Janet Earls and Dan Jackson

The Mission Field Creative Outreach

First, Let’s Define Vitality

Five Streams of Faith Communities Church Planting Multi-Site Campus Fresh Expressions Focused Worship Intentional Communities

Current STATS for the Florida Conference About 25 Churches projected to close this year About 25 Loans to churches from the Foundation for new growth Over 60 Fresh Expressions

Stats for NW District for 2016 0-50 Worshipers 51-125 Worshipers 126-250 Worshipers 251-375 Worshipers 376-500 Worshipers 501-1000 Worshipers Over 1000 Worshipers 46 26 8 1 2

How do we change projections? First, ask some tough questions: What is the church willing to do differently? What is the church willing to stop doing? What breaks your heart? Children? Elderly? The Poor? Who or what else?

Complete this sentence: This church is known as the church.

Ideas worth sharing Teach the church how to comfortably share their faith story

Ideas worth sharing Speak to community leaders and find out the most pressing needs of the community. Pick ONE that the church could do well.

Ideas worth sharing Partner with the neighborhood schools Provide mid-year supply drive Mentors for children (not just math) End of year breakfast to thank the teachers

Ideas worth sharing Supply shoes for kids in need If you have a thrift store, give the school counselor five $25.00 gift certificates for clothing or shoes Offer 5 or 10 meals at Thanksgiving for the working poor who do not qualify for free programs

Ideas worth sharing Don’t do something already being done well. Don’t do something you cannot keep up. Support