What does new vitality look like in a congregation? One need only to look at First Christian Church in Medford, Oregon, to witness a church busy at becoming a congregation of disciples. In 2007, First Christian Church, a congregation of 60 rattling around in a 20,000-square-foot facility, took the first step in determining what God was calling them to do and be by undergoing a New Beginnings Assessment. New Beginnings is a powerful tool, now provided by Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation in cooperation with regions, which seeks to name the conditions of a church at the current point in its lifecycle. The assessment provides the foundation for a congregation, guided by congregational leaders trained through the New Beginnings process, to engage in healthy conversation about those conditions, so it can come to decisions about its future ministry and witness in the community.
After courageously addressing some of the very challenging questions the assessment posed, First Christian Church decided to move out in mission by harnessing the physical aspects of their building to better serve their neighbors, a large percentage of whom were not associated with any faith community. Under the leadership of Alicia Speidel, a dynamic young pastor who came to First Christian Church in 2002, the church was already sharing some of its space with others – a daycare/preschool, a food bank, several community organizations, and a Korean and two Hispanic congregations. Blessed with a positive attitude toward change, the older congregation began to build on its strengths – a desire to serve and share, openness to all, generosity, location.
Now, a few years after the New Beginnings assessment, First Christian Church is a visible and thriving mission center, bringing neighbors together through food ministries, among others. Central to their focus on hunger was their decision to institute free weekly community dinners, prepared and served by volunteers primarily to individuals and families who live in surrounding low-income housing or who are homeless. The congregation provides these meals with no strings attached and in partnership with local service organizations and generous supporters.
When attendance at the dinners reached a weekly average of 150 every week, taxing ageing and inadequate appliances in the church kitchen, First Christian Church decided to approach Disciples Church Extension Fund for a Mission Seed Loan, a new loan product offered by the Disciples financial ministry to help congregations with startup costs of mission activities and programs. With the loan, the church was able to purchase commercial appliances and additional tables and chairs to accommodate the growing number of dinner guests.
Says Speidel,
“The appliances we got through the loan are working out fabulously… Our dinner has grown, too, so it all came at a perfect time… It’s unbelievable and continues to create a wonderful fire in this congregation.” She adds, “Our community dinners have changed the life of this church body, the lives of our volunteers and the lives of many throughout our community.”
Their food-ministry outreach continues to motivate First Christian Church to do more. For example, the congregation, in partnership with volunteers from around the region, built a 24-plot “Come-Unity” garden to help make nutritious fresh produce accessible to their neighbors. In addition, the church is now in the midst of a Disciples Church Extension Fund-facilitated capital campaign to fund the renovation of a portion of their facility, so their ministries can be better served.
This is what a church stepping out in mission looks like.
Is your church considering New Beginnings?
If your congregation is in decline and unsure of its future, we now have a survey that will assist you in deciding if this process is right for you.