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The adults have seen that they
aren't the only ones who can do
outreach or who really care. |
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Braden Gogel, church youth group member |
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MINISTRY
SUMMARY |
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Congregation plans to relocate from 125 year old church
building |
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Pastor used Ministry Area Profile to help identify needed
ministries and location for new building |
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Youth group committed to discipleship, service and outreach |
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Congregation committed to youth group, each other and making disciples |
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Reconstructing Santa |
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After an army of termites destroys a 154-year old Methodist church, the
congregation regroups and goes on the offensive—banding together as one unit with a
revitalized youth group leading the charge. |
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Yes, Virginia, there is a Jesus. And He's alive and
well and living in Santa Claus, Indiana. As to the 350+ members of Santa Claus United
Methodist Church, they can tell you firsthand what happens when the Spirit moves
you—quite literally. Call it a modern version of the Hittites, the Amorites, the
Perizzites and all the other biblical "ites" that plagued God's people for
centuries—in the case of Santa Claus UMC, it was the Termites that the
Almighty would use, not only to help push the congregation out the door, but to rethink
the way they do ministry.
Because of the massive damage caused by the termites, Reverend David Blystone, pastor of
SCUMC for just over two years, was forced to begin the planning process for vacating the
century-and-a-half old building. It was during that period when he received the church's
demographic report (Ministry Area Profile). The timing couldn't have been better: Santa
Claus was experiencing a mid-life crisis. While the area surrounding their church was
experiencing significant growth, the church itself was growing even faster (partly because
they were one of only a few Protestant churches in town). After five years of going back
and forth on whether they should move or simply remodel, the Orkin man made the decision
for them. With or without the termites, one fact had become increasingly obvious: Santa
Claus needed a larger base of operations. What was not as evident was where they should
build their new church facility and what ministries they would need to develop.
One important ministry, the SCUMC youth group, had already begun making its mark—not
just within the church, but in the community as well. "When we began to think of how
we could live out our faith in our community, well it was the youth that grabbed hold of
it first, saying 'Yes, we're going to do that!'" says Santa Claus's pastor, Reverend
David Blystone." And they did. Suddenly their faith at school was no longer being
hidden. . ." -Jenni Keast |
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There's more.
. . read the full story! |
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© COPYRIGHT 2008 PERCEPT GROUP, INC. |
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GO TO THE STORY ARCHIVE |
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