What's Next in Making Stonebridge UNSTOPPABLE?
/Greetings in the Name of our Lord,
In May, we had our first of seven “Listening Tour” home meetings. Our theme was Making Stonebridge UNSTOPPABLE. All the meetings were well attended, and a few of the meetings had more than 20 in attendance (our goal was to have 15 to 20 for each session). The energy was high. After the first three home meetings, momentum started to build around improvements to the landscaping. Money quickly started to come in, and volunteers responded to the call to get this done. Now, we are well on our way to finishing more than we set out to do in this project. It is going to be beautiful!
The theme of Making Stonebridge UNSTOPPABLE has begun to catch people’s imagination. I have had several people ask me, “What’s next?”
Ok… here it comes!
I do have one request before you read any further… I need champions who will step up to join teams to make these challenges possible. If you are willing to donate funds or help serve as we move toward the end of the year, send me an email and let me know your interest.
The main priorities that came out of the home meetings are very clear.
Expand our growing children and youth ministries by enhanced facilities and increasing staff.
Increase our emphasis on small groups for adults.
Improve the worship by reinvesting in the band, increasing the choir, improving the sound system, and adding an online streaming option for Celebration Hall.
Improve our communication on what we expect from volunteers, and increase involvement in every ministry area.
Improve our financial standing.
I have combined these into three challenges for our congregation. I want to share all three challenges, but I have only included details on the first challenge. Details on the next challenges will be coming later.
Building on the theme Making Stonebridge UNSTOPPABLE…
September/October – Making Stonebridge Gatherings the PLACE TO BE
The goal is to see an increase in ALL our small group ministries by resourcing and funding expansion in our ministries to adults, youth, and children.
Adults – Have a combined sermon/study series on "The Lord’s Prayer" beginning September 8th with a goal of involving 125 adults in 6-8 study groups this fall.
Youth and Children – Seek and receive funding to double the hours of our Youth Director and add a shared children/youth assistant. This increase in staff would begin in October and would cost $8,000 for the rest of the year.
Explore the possibilities of moving Wednesday youth activities to Sunday evening to avoid mid-week school commitments and start a Wednesday evening youth Bible study.
Locate and renovate three rooms upstairs for a dedicated children’s ministry area. Redo branding to create visibility and energy for children’s ministry. Update the youth teaching facilities in Upper Alley. The cost for this would be $6,500 with $1,500 already donated.
Expand the time for children on Sunday mornings to increase learning and fun. Recruit and train volunteers to split the elementary into two age groups immediately and eventually add a third division for pre-K and kindergarteners. Explore the possibility of a once-a-month parent’s night out to increase visibility and reach new families. Start planning now for an Advent/Christmas VBS on a Saturday in December.
We would need $14,500 in special giving to increase the staff hours and make the improvements as well as new volunteers to create these ministries.
You may think this is too much, but I believe that God is doing something at Stonebridge UMC that we may believe is beyond our grasp. Let’s show this community what we can do when we go “all in” for what God is doing among us. Please pray for our church, the staff, leadership, and all those who will be stepping forward to Make Stonebridge UNSTOPPABLE.
See you Sunday as we finish the sermon series on The Parable of the Sower.
Pastor John Allen