New Faith Community Initiative Workshop

For the Central District

Led by the Smith Center for Evangelism, Mission, and Church Growth

Reverend Mike Ramsdell, Executive Director

More than 2 years ago the Central Texas Conference kicked off an initiative to begin 100 New Faith Communities in 3 years.  We are almost half way there, making great strides in Reaching People we are not already Reaching” Every size church, in every district, in every kind of community has participated. This includes multiple styles, some innovative and some with more traditional models.  It has been an exciting season, we believe leading the Conference in turning a long season of decline around to growth.

This fall we will lead a Workshop on New Faith Communities in each District:

• What have we learned and what are we learning?
• What is working and what is not.
• Where is the learning curve where we can assure the greatest chance of success?
• Some new how to’s and how not to.
• What is working best in the context of the CTC and each District.
• The Grant process itself and what makes an NFC an NFC!

Some of these lessons will come from the New Faith Communities in the Central Texas Conference, and some will come from lessons learned across the denomination. We are especially emphasizing that all clergy be there and to bring another leader, staff or lay, that might be helping lead a present NFC or hoping to lead into a new one. Mike Ramsdell will lead this workshop with participants from various New Faith Communities and the District Superintendent from each District.

In the Central District we will gather on Wednesday, October 30th beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church.