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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
September 2001 |
Getting started on 'The Promise'
-- our newest church
"The promise of life that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. 1:1
By Rusty Allanson
The Promise: A United Methodist Church is the first new church "start" under the strategy adopted by South Indiana Conference in 1999. With the help of my new diaconal minister, Jennifer Greenlee, we plan to begin meeting in a storefront location at 116th St. and Brookschool Rd. in Fishers, northeast of Indianapolis.
Growth in the Fishers area is explosive. With just over 7,000 residents ten years ago, Fishers is now the largest town in the nation at 38,000. With projected growth to more than 100,000 in the next fifteen years, the harvest is ripe for bringing new persons to Christ through the Church.
Unashamedly United Methodist
While looking markedly different in many aspects from worship style to attitude, from anything presently being offered in the area, The Promise is unashamedly United Methodist. In an era when many new church starts nationally are moving away from denominational identification, The Promise will proudly claim its heritage by presenting United Methodism in a progressive light that will speak to the target audience of un-churched and de-churched 25-45year-olds.
Faith will be presented at The Promise in a way that brings people into daily "life" with Jesus. The phrase "Real Faith for Real Life" is more than just a marketing tool at The Promise-it is an attitude that directs every aspect of how church is "done." Every facet of congregational life, from worship to growth groups, will be geared toward offering a faith that is practical and immediately applicable in day-to-day living. By offering the Gospel in creative ways that speak to the head and heart, The Promise will help people literally walk through life's trials and triumphs while trying their best to continually hold hands with Jesus. This practical nature of faith will be the hallmark of the teaching at The Promise.
L.I.F.E. plan
The stated purpose of The Promise is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Corporately, this will be intentionally done by: Loving persons individually (Seek). Inviting them to know and accept Jesus personally as Savior (Include). Teaching them to Follow Jesus with every aspect of their lives, honoring him as Lord (Train). Equipping and Empowering them to Engage the world in mission in Jesus' name (Send).
You can help with the two most critical needs right now in the birthing of this new church by covenanting to be in prayer for all the persons who will come to Christ because of The Promise's presence, or by associating with The Promise for seven months as a short-term missionary. All mission areas of ministry such as music, greeting and even simply presence in the worship service are open to those willing to travel regularly to Fishers. Please contact me at 317/845-9599 or by e-mail at rallanson@msn.com for more information.
The Rev. Rusty Allanson was recently appointed pastor of the Indiana Connection's newest church start, to be named The Promise UMC, in Fishers, South Indiana Conference.
Commentary:
Starting a new church is a bad idea -- but …
By Rusty Allanson
Take it from someone who thinks he knows -- starting churches is a bad idea. What I mean is not that starting the church is a bad idea in itself; it was probably a good idea at one time. What is bad is what happens to the rest of us when they get started.
Do you realize just how much time and effort a new church takes to start? Couldn't that energy be better spent? If you think of the hundreds upon hundreds of details that need to be tended to before a church starts its first public worship, it can boggle the mind.
Starting churches takes too much time and we all know that people won't listen anyway. If they were that interested, they'd already be attending one of our churches.
Another thing: starting new churches takes too much money. Think of all the leaky roofs and broken boilers that could be replaced with that money? Don't we -- the chosen faithful -- deserve some service? I don't know about you, but I'd rather keep my money in my own church where I can at least keep an eye on it.
"All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.and day by day, the Lord added to their numbers those who were being saved" Acts 2.44-45, 47
I've heard it said that new church starts are the research and development for churches -- ways to find innovative and changing languages to speak unchanging truth. What I want to know is, why do we need new ways? I'm practically a middle-aged Christian. The old ways were good enough for me, and those before me! New stuff doesn't work.
" … the priests … came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead..But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand." Acts 4:1-4
The way I see it, some people aren't getting to heaven anyway. So why not just take care of those of us who are?
"For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." Acts 2:39
Last updated on 01/14/2004