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Churches Starting Churches 1
One of the most exciting and rewarding things a church can do is start a new community of faith. It can also be one of the most difficult and daunting ministries the congregation will ever undertake. If your congregation is exploring the possibility of birthing a new congregation, the Christian Church in Ohio New Church Committee wants to help. Like any prospective parent, you may be wondering if you are ready to bring new life into the world. Is this the right time? Do you have adequate resources? How will your life be changed by this new life? How will you nurture your "baby?" We want to help your congregation struggle through these and other questions, to decide if it is God's will for your congregation to birth a new community of faith.
We have Good News to share and news about Good News being shared! 349 New Churches have been formed since 2001 by Disciples in the United States and Canada, but the real news is that there are over 20,000 people who have met Christ through New Church Ministry and that is real "Good News"! Now that is something for "Hark The Harold, Angels Sing" to sing about! Here in Ohio your New Church Committee is reaching out to folks who are un-churched in the name of Christ. This is part of every disciple's calling, to proclaim the Gospel to those who haven't claimed the Gospel. We are busy in many different ways creating new faith communities to welcome new disciples to Christ. Currently, the new church committee is shepherding the following new churches. All of these churches are less than 4 Christmases old.
- Light of the Community in Dayton, New Church Planter, Willie Barnes Jackson
- Mision Cristiana Faro Luz in Lorain, New Church Planter, Luis Morales
- Mision Cristiana Nuevo Vida in Cleveland, New Church Planter, Vanessa Rivera
- Mision Cristiana Emanuel in Mentor, New Church Planter, Iluminado Castellano
- Brighter Day in Mantua, New Church Planter, Jeff Jackson
- Cristianos Unidos in Campbell, (searching for a new pastor)
- Hispanic Church in Ashtabula, (Searching for a new pastor)
These churches combine to have over 200 previously un-churched people worshiping with them each Sunday. However, just like many of your churches, the people present each week are not always the same mix of people. Combined they have ministries that are touching the lives of over 400 people! These new congregation are bringing "Joy To The World" in the following ministries: Prison Ministry, domestic violence counseling, weekly radio ministry, women's Bible studies, immigration ministry, community evangelism, Sunday school classes for children and adults, music ministry, disciple leadership development programs, and after school children's programs. These new church planters and their churches are very busy making new disciples! The Ohio New Church Committee is also planning new church starts in the very near future in the following areas:
- African American Church on North side of Columbus. This new church start is a joint start with the United Church of Christ. We are nearly ready to call a church planter and start in early 2007.
- Hispanic Church on the West side of Columbus. This new church start is a joint start with the United Church of Christ
- Hispanic Church nesting at New Fellowship Christian Church, Columbus We have just called Iluminado Castellano to be our New Church Planter. He began work on January 1st, 2007.
- New Church in Delaware. We are looking for a bi-vocational pastor to serve as the New Church Planter.
- New Church in Warren County (District 8). We have a steering committee forming and designated funds from Northwest Christian Church in Dayton which closed several years ago.
On behalf of the Ohio New Church Committee, we hope you had a Merry Christmas and "Go Tell It On The Mountain That Jesus Christ Was Born" that all may be disciples. |
