1. Path to Growth
Join us

2. What is / What is going on with Path to Growth?
We started with all-church meetings in 2010 focusing on:
What is the church that God wants us to be when we look five years down the road?
How do we improve the health & vitality of First Church?
What is our path and how will we get there?
The result: Six areas of focus
Next step: Inviting everyone to join us on the Path to Growth
This is your invitation

3. Let’s walk together. .. on the Path to Growth

4. Being There for Spiritual Growth Being There for Families
Being There for Worship
Being There for Mission
Being There for Each Other
Being There for Young Adults

5. Being There for Spiritual
Growth:
5 new classes
We’ve Already Started!
Worship:
Breaking Bread,
& 3RD S3SSION
Mission:
Summer 2013 Tonga Trip
Being There for Spiritual
Growth
Each Other
Restarting
Stephen
Ministries
Young Adults
Oikos West,
3RD S3SSION

6. Why we’re talking to you
Path to Growth goals are goals for all of us. We all need to:
Work together to meet these goals
Go beyond “the usual way”, or “the way we used to do things”, or involving “just the usual suspects”
Motivate and support each other
Think outside the box, and be relevant
We’re challenging all committees and groups to come up with new and existing ways that you can join us on the Path to Growth
Using your unique gifts and talents
Being an outgrowth of your group’s charter
Asking yourselves: How does all that we do help us achieve PTG’s goals?

7. Path To Growth: all of us working together
• Members
• Constituents
• Committees
• Groups
• Pastors
• Staff

8. Being There for the families in our midst
Next: Being there for the mission at our doorstep
Being There for the families in our midst

9. Being There for the mission at our doorstep
Next: Being there when the doorstep is far away
Being There for the mission at our doorstep

10. And Being There when our doorsteps are far away
Next: Being there to create a place of hospitality and grace
And Being There when our doorsteps are far away

11. Being There to create a place of hospitality & grace
Next: And being there for the Path to Growth areas of focus
Being There to create a place of hospitality & grace

12. _________________________________
Being There to achieve our Path to Growth goals
_________________________________
Will you Be There?
Next: Will your committee be there

13. Being There to achieve our Path to Growth goals _________________________________ Will You Be There?
Next: Timeline

14. Being There for Spiritual Growth Being There for Families
Being There for Worship
Being There for Mission
Being There for Each Other
Being There for Young Adults

15. use these slides as talking points for the checkerboard
BACKUP FOR PRESENTERS
use these slides as talking points for the checkerboard
slide #4

16. 1. Spiritual Growth
Provide a variety of opportunities for individual spiritual growth so that all can find nourishment at First Church
Since one size does not fit all
Small groups foster spiritual growth
As well as increasing church attendance and member engagement1
And fostering church growth1
The overall vitality and health of a UM church is shown to be directly related to the number of available small groups1
Goal: 100% of First Church members are actively participating in a small group
Next: Focus 2 - Worship
Goal: 100% of First Church members are actively participating in a small group
1United Methodist Church Call To Action Report

17. 2. Worship
Expand our worship celebrations/experiences so that we can serve the needs of those at our doorstep
Since one size does not fit all, we can offer what fits the community
Provide worship experiences that resonate with those searching
While also making Disciples of Jesus Christ FTTOTW
Through online, our doorstep has grown beyond the Bay Area.
The overall vitality and health of a UM church is shown to be directly related to offering a mix of worship services1
Goal: Be know in the community as the answer to the ?: “What is the church for me?”
Next:Focus 3 - Mission
1United Methodist Church Call To Action Report

18. 3. Mission
Develop outreach/mission programs so that we can each personally serve the needs of, and make an impact in, our community
Diverse, hands-on, relevant and ongoing
Using our unique resources and gifts and talents
This is more than just writing a check
Serving: the mission at our doorstep
Goal: 100% of First Church members are actively participating in at least 1 mission activity each year
Next: Focus 4 - Families
Goal: 100% of First Church members are actively participating in at least one mission activity each year

19. 4. Families
Truly be a place of welcome for young families, children and youth
By intentionally supporting a family ministry so that we can meet their unique needs/interests and nurture their faith
Supported by dedicated staff, programs and financial resources
Supporting: the children (and tweens and teens) in our midst
The overall vitality and health of a UM church is shown to be directly related to the number of children and youth programs1
Goal: Be known in the community as the answer to the ?: “Which church best serves the needs of young families, children & youth like us?”
Next: Focus 5: Young Adults
1United Methodist Church Call To Action Report

20. 5. Young Adults
Truly be a place of welcome for young adults by intentionally developing a young adult (18-35) ministry so that we are relevant to them, and can meet their unique needs/interests
One size does not fit all
Silicon Valley + Stanford = Young Adults
Supported by dedicated staff and financial resources
Already in Progress: Oikos West and 3RD S3SSION Worship
Goal: Be known in the community as the answer to the ?: “Which church best serves the needs of young adults like me?”
Next: Focus 6 - Congregational Care

21. 6. Congregational Care
Develop a series of member care programs so that we can all serve one another in times of need
Ranging from one-to-one programs, to programs that serve large groups of members (and even our doorstep)
We’re already starting by relaunching Stephen Ministries
Goal: Truly be a congregation of caring, with a variety of programs to help one another in times of need, coupled with a willingness by all to use their talents to help each other
Next: All of us working together - Members constituents
Goal: Truly be a congregation of caring, with a variety of programs to help one another in times of need, coupled with a willingness by all to use their talents to help each other