New faith community changes life…

The Indiana Conference’s Church Development team is tracking 25 new-faith communities that have been launched the past few years.  Together  they average 2,500 people in weekly worship attendance.  Praise God!

Each person reached has the potential of a changed life–like Amber Bean who a year ago wasn’t a Christian.  But now, thanks to Kristo’s Hands & Feet and the work of the Holy Spirit, Amber is passionate about her relationship with Christ and serving Him.  You can view her amazing testimony by clicking this link.

There are many, many others like Amber in your neighborhood.  So who is God counting on you and your church to bring the hope and joy of new life in Jesus Christ this Lenten Season?

— Ed Fenstermacher, Associate Director of Church Development

You can help by praying…

Every month a list of prayer concerns go out to folk who are involved in supporting Church Development‘s work in Indiana’s United Methodist Church.  If you’re interested in receiving these monthly notes and support Church Development’s work in prayer, please email ed.fenstermacher@inumc.org.  Below is March’s note.  — Ed Fenstermacher, Associate Director of Church Development

Friends, Please pray for Bloomington St. Paul UMC today and tomorrow as it goes through its FCJ consultation.  Please pray for its pastor Dave Mullens, and the consult team of Steve Clouse, Jack Hartman, Tony Alstott (coach) and Kirk Freeman.

Pray for Monson Community’s Church for All People congregation.  Pray that God will help the Bishop and Cabinet to find the right person to lead it.  It’s a very unique ministry and needs someone who can develop partnerships and grow the funding.  Right now there is a faithful group that serves two free meals to the public every Saturday and Sunday!  Their commitment is truly amazing.  They have served 3,000 people, some of whom have joined their ranks and have had their lives transformed.

Pray for Huntertown UMC, led by Tony Johnson, as it launches a new congregation tomorrow (Sunday) at its Lifehouse campus, formerly called the Third Place.  Also pray for Hope UMC, led by Stacy Downing (near Fort Wayne), as it launches The Matt, a new outreach ministry located in a former laundromat in a mobile home park.

Thanks for your prayers for our recent CD Committee meeting.  Three grants were awarded—one to fund St. Joseph UMC’s new congregation that is being launched out of a YMCA, another to Christ UMC in Lafayette to help it establish a new congregation reaching the marginalized called Church for Everyone, and a third to Upland UMC as it relocates to a new site with expanded ministry.  So exciting to see God working!

Other prayer concerns…

March 9th — Church Development staff meeting

March 13th — Day of prayer and fasting for our Bishop and conference leadership as well as our Jurisdiction’s Episcopal leaders and denomination

March 17-19 — FCJ consultation for Bedford First whose pastor is Michelle White.  Consult team is Jack Hartman, Mark Eutsler, Dennis Ticen (coach), Dan Snyder

Please also pray for the following church planting projects:

East Chicago Torre Fuerte UMC (Strong Tower).  Leaders:  Esequiel & Suri Becerra.  North District.  Pray for the Becerra at the loss of his father Santos.

Elkhart New Hope UMC’s Casa de Mi Padre.  Leader:  Jorge Maldonado.  North District.

Elkhart Servant’s Heart Community.  Leader:  Nancy Bennett.  North District.

Fort Wayne Covenant UMC’s ministry with Parkview Family YMCA.  Covenant’s lead pastor:  Karen Koelsch.  Pray as the church recruits its team.

Fort Wayne Kristo’s Hands and Feet, a missional plant by St. Joseph UMC.  Leader:  Steve Mekaru.  Northeast District.  Prayers:  Please pray for me and our team as we transition from full time to part time in this ministry.

Fort Wayne St. Joseph UMC’s Lehman YMCA Campus.  Leader:  Jason Morris.

Greentown Miso Congregation.  Leader:  Lal Ralte.  Pray for this UM congregation of over 200 Burmese.

Huntertown UMC’s Lifehouse Campus.  Huntertown’s lead pastor:  Tony Johnson.  Pray as they launch a contemporary service in its new location.

Indianapolis Casa de Dios (second campus of Fort Wayne Getsemani UMC).  Leader:  Marissa Calleja.  Central District.  Prayers:  Please help us pray for the continual growth of our new faith believers in Christ.

Indianapolis Engage.  Leader:  Sharon Washington.  Central District.  Pray for the pre-launch/preview worship activities, and opportunities to strengthen staffing and facilities.

Indianapolis Old Bethel Hispanic Faith Community.  Pastor: Jen Stuelple-Gibbs.  Lead planter:  Sergio Reyes.  Central District.

Indianapolis The Garden.  Pastor:  Carolyn Scanlan.  Central District.

Indianapolis Vida Nueva.  Pastor:  David Penelva.  Central District.   Pray for our training program to raise up house church leaders.

Indianapolis Wesley’s Luz de Vida.  Pastors:  Carlos & Mirna Doliveira.

Lafayette Christ’s Church for Everyone.  Leader:  Stephanie Hanslow.  Northwest District.  Pray for it as it gets launched.

Ligonier UMC’s Nuevos Principios.  Leaders:  Jesus & Oliva Saucedo.  Northeast District.  Pray as the congregation’s leaders discern its future.

Marion Hanfield UMC’s BORN second campus in Marion.  Leader: Chuck Vernon.  North Central District.  Pray as it considers hiring a coach.

Muncie Main Street & The Garden at Gethsemane.  Leader Vickie Perkins.  East District.

Pfrimmer’s Chapel’s Mercy Street recovery congregations.  Pastor Tim Johnson and leader Bill Walsh.  South District.  Prayer:  Also pray for the church’s plants in South America—one at Berrugas, Colombia, led by Edgar & Julie Zuluaga, and another at El Poblado, Colombia, led by Claudio Acevedo Benitez.  Also pray for The Open House, a Saturday night worship service at the Kent Java Coffee Bar, led by Tyler Best, and The Joshua Center, a Ministry of Mentoring and Training Leaders in downtown Corydon, led by Jeannie Bedel.

South Bend Monson Community UMC’s storefront United Methodist Church for All People.  Leader:  To be announced.  North District.  Prayer:  Pray for the church and Larry Whitehead as they replace its former pastor.   Pray for the laity as they continue the church’s outreach ministries.

Washington Haitian Faith Community, meeting at Wesley UMC.  Pray as the conference/district helps them find a pastor who speaks Creole.  (We think we’ve found the right person!)

West Lafayette Korean Disciples Church.  Leader:  Rev. Kookjin Yun.  Northwest District.  Prayer:  Please pray for our college group to grow more in the upcoming spring semester.

Whitestown.  Leader:  Seth Neckers.  Pray for Seth as he explores the possibility of developing a new UM faith community in the fastest growing community in Indiana.

Winchester UMC a third campus of Compass Church.  Leader:  Jeremy Duncan.  East District.  Please pray for discernment as to the next steps with the Winchester Campus Education Building. Also, how to continue to engage with the Winchester community to build relationship and connection so that Jesus Christ can be shared with them.