Director of Church Extension
“. . . Thus the Lord was moved by prayer . . .”
2 Samuel 24:25
From Planting the Word in 2009 to Prayer Power 2010
In 2009 we focused on the dynamic power of the Word of God to save and build the Christian up in grace and knowledge. We encouraged our partners and the churches to spend even more time in the study, preaching/teaching, and sharing of God’s Word. The Word of God is our light for the Kingdom and our sword to clear the way for the building of the Kingdom by means of evangelistic church planting.
In 2010 our theme is the Power of Prayer. Prayer is the fuel that drives our efforts. We pray for God to send us church planters. We pray for God to lead us to the right target areas for planting. We pray for God to raise up the funds for this vital mission. We pray for God to give us wisdom in dealing with the many issues attached to planting. We solicit many partners to pray with us for every aspect of the ministry of building up the Kingdom through church planting. I could go on listing how we pray for the very small things, from the fixing of a piece of equipment in our office, to the large requests such as for God to provide buildings. However, the one prayer that we maintain above any other before His throne is that the Lord will save His people through our witness of the Gospel and that His people will grow in His grace through the ministries of your church planters and the mission churches they serve.
Join with us in 2010 to set more time aside in prayer and to pray more often for your church planters and their kingdom building ministries.
REVIEW OF 2009 IN CHURCH EXTENSION
• We recorded over fifty people making professions of faith, and the mission churches held numerous baptisms.
• Financial giving from churches increased slightly with some churches decreasing their pledges in 2009.
• We again had a small net increase in the size of our donor list and donor giving. However we experienced a number of our faithful donors going home to glory and others moving out of the BFC and discontinuing their support for the mission.
• Two Training Dayswere held for our men including guest presenters on missional outreach and other pertinent topics.
• Numerous new contacts were made and door-to-door surveys took place in some of our target sites. In Milford, DE, five VBS programs were organized along with other community outreaches, and several thousand Gospel tracts were distributed.
• Church Extension, with the assistance of several churches, made needed renovations and maintenance repairs on the BFC properties we occupy at Allentown, PA, and Cape May Court House, NJ. The costs for these jobs were paid for by the mission churches, BFC churches and Church Extension.
• The DELMARVA team focused their attention on Milford, DE, doing community surveying and holding a Bible study and discipleship class in Milford. We are still targeting this site for a new church plant. Two individuals were saved through our contacting and are now attending the discipleship class. Our Aquila & Priscilla team in DELMARVA, Harry and Sandra Workman, continued their assistance at New Life BFC and assisted with the work in Milford.
• Neil and Lisa Christensen were sent out from Cedar Crest BFC as an Aquila & Priscilla teamto El Faro Mission Church in Allentown. Jason and Joanne Engelhart continue serving alongside Carlos Rodriguez at the La Roca Mission Church. Doug and Kashie Boyd assisted us at the Cape May County Mission Church. Russ and Nell Ruch serve as an Aquila & Priscilla team at the Hellertown Mission Church. The Gambrills from the Wallingford BFC presented themselves to serve as an Aquila & Priscilla team at the Woodbury Heights, NJ Mission Church.
• Ray Bertolet was assigned to focus his survey and contact efforts on Milford, DE and is serving part-time as Interim Pastor at the Camden, DE BFC. He also assisted with work projects at several of the mission churches.
• Grace Fellowship Church, Harrisburg, PA was received into Church Extension as a connectional church. Grace was an independent multi-cultural church with a vision to move into the city and grow a multi-cultural church there. The church is pastored by David Smith, and Ed Suthers serves as an elder. We look forward to working with the church and assisting with its assimilation into the BFC.
• The Hellertown Mission Church has increased in attendance this past year and is working through the steps to graduate from Church Extension in 2011.
• Mark Morrison serves full-time as Assistant Director. He is serving as Interim Church Planter at the Cape May County, NJ Mission Church, and coaching the team at the El Faro Mission Church in Allentown, PA. Brother Morrison still needs to raise his full support and we ask that you consider supporting our brother.
• Five ministry and work teams were sent out to assist our plants in DELMARVA, Cape May Court House, NJ, South Allentown, PA, Reading, PA, and Adams County, PA. A significant team was formed from the Cedar Crest BFC, Allentown, PA, to assist the El Faro Mission Church with a large outreach in South Allentown, called “Light in the Park.”
• The Cape May County Mission Church has experienced some growth this past year with several active families now assisting at the mission. With the help of the Sinking Spring, PA BFC over the summer, we were able to see an increase in attendance, as well as develop some new programs and outreach. A well-attended Bible study takes place mid-week and a young adult ministry began under the leadership of Pastor Rick and Denise Moyer. We are seeking a man to be called as a full-time church planter and develop the plant in Cape May Court House. Several candidates are being interviewed.
• Church Extension called Aaron Susek to plant the church in Adams County. Aaron and his family came from the Royersford, PA BFC where he served as Assistant Pastor. The mission has experienced some growth since Aaron began his ministry, and Aaron, along with the Transitional Leadership Team (TLT), have developed core values and a ministry vision to be implemented.
• Administrative Assistant, Lisa Christensen, remains a vital asset to the planters and the administration of Church Extension. Lisa has formed a growing and active volunteer force that assists with numerous mailings and work around the office. We especially thank Pastor David and Lena Thomann for their assistance.
• We praise God for blessing our two major fund-raising projects: Summer Ten and Christmas Gift Month. A total of over $100,000.00 came in through these fund-raisers.
• The mission church in East/West Hanover Township, PA, under the leadership of Pastor Mark Barninger, has grown and continues to meet at the Holiday Inn in West Hanover Township. The mission is searching for facilities to use full-time in order to be more visible in the community. There is the possibility that the mission church may be ready for graduation in 2011.
• The mission church in Woodbury Heights, NJ, is experiencing significant growth, with a weekly average of over 100 people. They are faced with having to seek larger facilities or establish two services. Pastor Dan Williams and his team are making plans for graduation in 2011.
• The Strategic Planning Committee continues its work of developing strategy and materials that will better assist the ministry of Church Extension. This past year the committee worked on establishing “Committed Participant Role” guidelines for the mission churches as a step toward membership roles, when the missions are received into Annual Conference as particular churches.
• A number of recruitment meetings were held with six prospective church planters.
• More than 50 churches were visited this year by the Church Extension staff. We presented our mission and vision.
• Our Hispanic church plants, La Roca in Reading, PA, and El Faro in Allentown, PA, under the leadership of Pastor Carlos Rodriguez and Pastor Elliot Ramos, respectively, continue to reach Hispanic people with the Gospel. La Roca experienced significant growth in 2009, now averaging 110 people weekly, along with many challenges. El Faro had a very active year of ministry with the Light in the Park outreach, its mercy ministry, and several other outreach ministries taking place in and out of the church. El Faro needs to experience growth in 2010. Pastor Ramos still needs support; pray for his personal financial support to increase.
• Miguel Gonzalez was hired as a Church Planter Intern for the La Roca Mission Church and is ministering alongside Pastor Rodriguez. Miguel and his wife, Jessica, are very active with the youth and families of the church. Miguel completed his testing with the Ministerial Candidate Committee and is now a Probationer with the BFC.
• I chaired the Joint Committee on Ethnic Church Planting this past year. The committee continues its focus on Hispanic church planting, but is open to working with all people groups and assimilating them into the BFC. A Merida Sub-Committee was formed to work with the church in Merida, Mexico. Plans are in place to assist Merida with establishing a Church Planters Training Center and planting daughter churches. We translated the Biblical Principles for Living into Spanish and will work on the rest of the Faith & Order. The Articles of Faith are translated in Spanish and available for you. Church Extension and the Ethnic Committee are open to investigating church planting opportunities overseas and I held several conversations this past year with some foreign missionaries about church planting and connection with the BFC. I am in dialogue with David Riddell, WT International, regarding the church planters who serve under his direction and the BFC church planters coming together for training, sharing and other discussions.
• I served again this past year on the Ministerial Candidate Committee and have enjoyed working with the new men coming into the BFC.
PROJECTIONS FOR 2010 IN CHURCH EXTENSION
• The DELMARVA Project
Milford/Camden, DE – We will continue our efforts to raise up a core group for the opening and launching of a mission church in Milford. Ray Bertolet will continue his interim position as Pastor of the Camden, DE, BFC. We will work with the elders of the Camden church and look for the Lord’s leading in connecting the Camden church and the work in Milford.
Newark, DE – The Newark, DE BFC has in the past considered daughter church planting. I will revisit the idea of a daughter church plant with Newark.
• Hispanic Church Planting
La Roca – Reading, PA Hispanic Church Plant – I will continue my coaching of both Carlos and Miguel, assisting them with their growth by monitoring their facility needs, facilitating the program, and helping the mission’s development toward reaching its goals. I am also coaching both men in their callings and Carlos with furthering his education.
El Faro – Allentown, PA Hispanic Church Plant – This year Mark Morrison and I will work with the TLT and Pastor Ramos to assist them with reaching their goals of becoming a Particular Church in the BFC. An Aquila & Priscilla team is in place to assist the mission and, Lord willing, Ariel Suero will be considered as an intern to assist Pastor Ramos.
Merida, Mexico – I will be working closely with the Joint Committee on Ethnic Church Planting to establish a Church Planters Training Center at the Merida church. We will also assist the church with sending out at least one church planter in 2010 to plant a daughter church in a target site near the Merida church.
Lancaster, PA – Church Extension and the Ethnic Committee will be discussing with the Capitol Region the possibility of a Hispanic church plant in Lancaster, PA.
• Daughter Church Planting
Capitol Region – If the Capitol Region is interested in a Hispanic church plant, we will follow the model implemented in Reading and encourage the region to consider this a daughter church planting project.
Metro Region – I will begin discussions with the Metro Region about a church plant in South Amboy, NJ.
Particular Churches and other Regions – There are no BFC churches at this point that have given any indication of serious interest in daughter church planting. However, there are some possibilities with which I will follow up.
• Connectional Projects
Grace Fellowship, Harrisburg, PA – Our recent approval of Grace Fellowship Church as a connectional church in Church Extension will need to be developed. I will be working with the leaders at Grace and working on a plan for assimilation into the BFC.
• Recruitment
Cape May Court House, NJ – We will continue our efforts to recruit for Cape May. I will reach out to the Bible colleges and seminaries in the area, post the need on several ministry position websites and recruit from the MCC candidate listing.
DELMARVA – We will look for a planter for DELMARVA, and specifically Milford, as the Lord leads.
Hispanic – Depending on how the Lancaster vision unfolds we may need to recruit a Hispanic planter in 2010-2011.
• Church Planter’s Academy
We have developed a number of training opportunities for our planters. Yearly we are holding two all-day Training Days and three Church Planters’ Roundtable meetings. We also publish a regular Coach’s Corner newsletter, and distribute various materials and books.
I would like to work with our current planters and Brother Morrison to develop a three-day yearly Church Planter’s Academy. This would be for anyone in the BFC or outside the BFC who would be interested in learning more about church planting and becoming a church planter with the BFC. I will also be working with the Merida, Mexico BFC and their plans for a Church Planters Training Center at the church in Mexico (see above).
• Graduation Preparations
I will be working with the following planters and their TLTs to complete plans for graduation in 2011: Dan Williams, Woodbury Heights, NJ; and Tim Zuck, Hellertown, PA. It may also possibly include Mark Barninger, East/West Hanover, PA.
• Facility Needs
Two plants will be searching for new meeting places if they continue their current growth rate. I will be assisting the Hellertown and Woodbury Heights mission churches with counsel and financial considerations.
• Development
The Development Committee will be working on several projects in 2010: 1) the planning of a thank-you dinner for donors who give generously to the mission; 2) the further development of our relationship with the Mennonite Foundation in seeking ways to increase our invested funds; 3) the recruiting of a retired individual with investment expertise to assist me with donor follow-up and communication; and 4) the organizing of a donor solicitation for 2010.
• Frontier Concerns
The BFC has three church frontiers: New England (Thompson, CT BFC), New Mexico (Las Cruces, NM BFC) and Mexico (Merida, Mexico BFC). These churches are far off and isolated from the BFC. Our vision in receiving these churches in the BFC was to cluster other BFC churches near these locations and form regions of several churches in each frontier site. We are currently seeking to do this in Merida but have not made any efforts recently to cluster other churches near our New England and New Mexico sites. I will be investigating how we might be able to plant other BFC churches in our frontier sites and form regions of BFC churches in these frontiers. I realize that having BFC churches so far away from our hub is challenging, yet God has given us these frontiers and we need to consider ways of better connection. Clustering churches in these frontiers may or may not be the avenue to take – we may find out after discussion and investigation.
God’s call in my life is to serve Him and His Kingdom through the preaching and teaching of the Gospel and, at this time, leading Church Extension to complete its vision and forward plan. It is a privilege to serve such a gracious and almighty God. I remain concerned about the struggles we go through as a body of churches and constantly look for ways to strengthen local churches. I hold to the following conviction, that we must be unified in our doctrinal commitment to the Articles of Faith, engaged in trust and love for each other, and mobilized to accomplish our vision of being an expanding fellowship of churches through the planting of new churches.
Pray for Church Extension in 2010. Pray for God to give us a mighty unction of His wisdom and power to fulfill our charge to His glory.
Pray for Mark Morrison and for God to anoint his ministry. Pray for our Team: Lisa Christensen – Administrative Assistant, Carol Snyder – Special Projects Coordinator, Ray Bertolet – Assistant Church Planter, and our growing list of Aquila & Priscilla teams, along with all our volunteers. Pray for your church planters and their families who serve the BFC through Church Extension Ministries. Finally, pray for me as I direct this vital Mission.
In His Love and Service,
Respectfully submitted,
David E. Gundrum, Executive Director of Church Extension.
RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES AND REGIONS SEEKING TO PLANT
AND PROSPECTIVE CHURCH PLANTERS
Churches/Regions
• Churches Planting Churches – A guide designed to walk your church through the process of planting a daughter church.
• The Dynamic Daughter Church Planting Handbook (DCPI) – The biblical basis for planting a daughter church, answering common questions (e.g., Can we afford to plant a daughter church? What size do we need to be a daughter church? What is in it for us as a mother church? Won’t a daughter church destroy the fellowship in the mother church?). It is a six-step process for planting a daughter congregation.
• Demographic Workbook – A tool to assist you with understanding your ministry target area. It includes educational, ecclesiastical, community, and population surveys.
• Visitation Follow-up Training – A helpful seminar to assist the church with encouraging and training visitation teams.
• First Impressions – What do your guests say about your church after they visit? We have materials that will help you make positive first impressions with your guests.
• Community Surveying Manual – A guide for conducting community surveys in your ministry target areas in order to produce a needs assessment along with making contacts.
Prospective Planters
• DCPI – Pre-Assessment and the BFC Comprehensive Assessment – The DCPI booklet is an inductive and introductory assessment for those looking into church planting. The BFC Assessment is a complete assessment process to determine whether a man has the gifts, abilities and competencies to plant churches.
• BFC Church Planting Guide and DCPI Handbook – The BFC plan and approach to church planting. A complete systematic process for the planter and his team to move from the initial Identification Stage to the Graduation Stage.
• Church Planter’s Toolkit – The Church Planter’s Toolkit includes 12 audio CDs as well as detailed checklists and action planning worksheets to form a comprehensive package for church planters and their team.
Addendum – Church Extension Activity Chart (see next page)