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It’s a very exciting and meaningful
experience, and what’s amazing
is that it all came out of the team
that ReVision produced. |
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Rev. Thomas McKinnon, Pastor Donegal Presbyterian |
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MINISTRY
SUMMARY |
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Nearly 300 year old history |
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Deep Scot-Irish tradition
and culture |
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Only 20% of congregation
over 65 years old |
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Commitment to extend
witness outside their culture |
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High congregation
participation in ReVision |
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New Vision, Mission
and Action Plan |
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New non-traditional service |
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Youth and homeless
ministry priorities |
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Digging Deep in Donegal |
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An already healthy church makes an even healthier choice to expand their
territory. The result is a vibrant, new "Back Door" church that is more
inclusive, and a million-plus building plan that will provide needed room and a place of
beauty to complement their 282-year old historic church. |
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In the midst of a February snowstorm that weighted
down a small central Pennsylvania town like a thick Amish quilt, most of the town's
multitude of churches had closed its doors, barring all but the faithful from worshiping
together. As it turned out, at least one church in Mount Joy—which also happened to
be its oldest congregation—kept its doors open, welcoming all who were willing to
brave the elements into its centuries-old stone edifice. Donegal Presbyterian Church was a
historical landmark that had survived more than a few snowstorms in its 282 years—and
even a few wars.
Donegal Presbyterian is a healthy church. But several years ago they took stock of
themselves and realized they could be a lot healthier. Donegal has always had a heart for
the hurting, but until that time their missions methodology was what many churches employ:
the slightly less than successful "shotgun approach."
Finding out what God's purpose was for their church became Donegal's all-important quest.
The Presbytery of Donegal, having seen ReVision used effectively in other churches,
recommended Percept's ReVision to (1) help discover God's mission for their church, (2)
help locate their target ministry area, and (3) determine what type of ministries they
needed to launch that would reach both existing and potential church members.
As it turns out, by using ReVision, the congregation of Donegal was rewarded well beyond
what they had envisioned. Employing an Arlo Guthrie "Come on in, it's around the
back, just a half mile off the railroad track" approach they started a new service
that almost instantly served to break down barriers—both within and without the
church.
For pastor Thomas McKinnon, ReVision became an equipping pastor's dream. . . -Jenni
Bruce 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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