After four meetings, four meals, and much prayer and discussion, we’re ready to present our final report and recommendations to Beech Grove’s Council, membership, and friends Brian Sixbey 10/6/2008
Joshua Committee: Final Report
Oct. 6
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First, many thanks go to the members of the Joshua Committee: Mac Clarke (treasurer), Charlie Craig and Richard Stevenson (council chairs), David Willis (from SPRC), Betty Stevenson, Marty Rintamaki (lay leader), Kate Sanchez, Dorothy Guill, Sheena O’Keefe, Charlie Taylor (community representative), Craig Parker (community representative), Mike Boslego, Debbie Jones and Brittany Jeter, Hazel Winborne, Bob, Helen, and Benjamin Frieler, and Paul Smith (trustees). Not all members could be present for all meetings, but the efforts that they made and inputs they gave us were inspiring. The purpose and outline of the Joshua Committee is laid out in detail in the second update published in April, but to summarize: We studied what was going on in our neighborhood, which we identified as roughly a 10 mile diameter around the church (5 mile radius), what is going on in neighboring churches, and within us as a church. Then we began to identify ministries that could prove fruitful for us to investigate or get started based on the input we had received from our investigations. From our third meeting, we had identified 2 ministries that we wanted to hone in on for our final meeting: Sunday School for all ages, and our ministry with and for the Military families who live here and who will be moving in here. While our discussions were very enthusiastic, and I believe our membership will find our findings make a lot of sense, no plans will succeed long-term that are not adopted and owned by our membership as a whole. That is why I (Brian Sixbey) am making this presentation to our Council, and then to our membership. Before I present our findings and plans, let me explain the significance of our selection of these two ministry areas. In regards to Sunday School, we had discussed the fact that some of our membership is overly transient, not merely because they are moving, but because we are not doing a great job at engaging them in ministry or helping them build friendships with us. We have a great many points of contacts with people, and generally, we feel that the more points of contact people have with us, the more likely they are to be engaged and gain friendships, which translates into feeling an ownership with the church. Sunday School is, across the country, on the decline, but there is no reason why we can’t try to take advantage of the fact that when people are already in the church building on Sunday mornings, they may give us an additional hour of their time. In regards to Military families, we seem to be becoming more of a magnet for such families, especially those who are somewhat close to retirement. In addition, the enthusiastic reception of a built-up Veterans’ Day service indicates our own members appreciate military families. In my (Brian’s) humble opinion, Beech Grove would be smart to serve military families well and become their home away from home. It will cause pain to know we will be losing them to retirement or new locations in the service, but we have a lot to gain from them. In fact, it would be a good thing for our future if we could become known in the community and to the military as a church that loves military families well. Here, in bullet-point format, are our findings:
Joshua Committee: Final Report
Oct. 6
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1. Sunday School – how can we make it stronger and more vital? a. (Overall goal: change our people’s attitudes about why small groups are a great thing) b. Start a class for younger people (in their 30’s-40’s) c. Arrange for supper groups that would meet quarterly or so in people’s homes or restaurants so that friendships can form d. Do more intergenerational things (we agreed on the principle, but no plans were made) e. Have short “testimonials” about Sunday School classes and small groups during worship once a month 2. Military families – how to serve them more fully a. Put together a resource list of “last minute” helps in the church (babysitting, car repair, etc.) b. Keep a section of one of our freezers for casseroles (so that families can pick them up as needed, and also have them on hand for any church member for any on-the-spot needs they may have) c. Expand our Veterans’ Day ministry i. Put up more signs ii. Advertise at Driver Days iii. Feed military families and veterans after worship on Veterans’ Day Sunday (which will be November 2nd this year) There you have it, friends! A lot of work went into some seemingly simple suggestions for the future of Beech Grove. A few thoughts remain: First, since the Joshua committee represents a group of dedicated church members who are looking ahead, we will try to schedule our meetings so that the Council has enough time to see about adopting/adapting their goals for our yearly Charge Conference goals. Second, we will not have to repeat all the research next year that we undertook this year. However, we will do some different research nonetheless, since it’s better to understand issues in depth in order to offer good suggestions. Finally, if anyone wishes to be on next year’s committee, please let me know soon. I have asked the committee to suggest replacements, but if you want to serve in this regard, I will take your request seriously.Thank you, and keep praying for Beech Grove!
Brian Sixbey, Chair of Joshua Committee