NEW CHURCHES IN HONEYMOON PERIODS

New Church Development 2011 General Board of Global Ministries

New churches attract many unchurched persons, including new constituent groups not being reached by existing congregations. Why? Partly because they are often fresh, energetic and distinct in their vision, culture and approach to evangelization and ministry.

In many areas where the denomination is growing, much of that growth is attributed to new congregations. Thus, it is not an either/or situation; but resources, training, and strategic efforts must be utilized for both creating new congregations and renewing existing ones. Moreover, existing churches often reap new ideas, learn new outreach and leadership development techniques, and gain new excitement from innovative and successful new church development efforts.

The Office of New Church Development works with annual and central conferences, district superintendents, and congregational leaders to create strategic plans for church growth, to train leaders in evangelization methods, and to help establish new churches and faith communities. It also assists "fresh start" congregations that are undergoing merger or relocation.


My home church in new Mexico, not one in New Hampshire, sadly, where it is green, started an offshoot church about a year ago for people who are unchurched an would feel strange walking into a church building with stained glass. They meet in a hotel, with a pastor that is energetic and full of life. He was an associate pastor at my church for about three years, and then went to the new church to be its pastor. Now we have people going to the new church saying it is so full of life, and ours is not, anymore, but it is my home. And I discovered that a lot of the principles that apply to a family living together in a home can also apply to a church family.