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11-4-07 -- Multiplying Missional Impact
Man on a Mission
Gary Johnson, senior minister with Indian Creek Christian Church (Indianapolis, Indiana), often leads his staff in asking the “three year” question: If I had only three years to accomplish my entire ministry, what would I need to change to bring greater glory to God?
In 2006 Johnson answered the question by increasing his already strong commitment to missions and leadership development. Although he devotes a tenth of his preaching year to overseas teaching, he hoped to multiply his impact.
“I have the privilege of meeting missionary leaders around the world,” he says. “I wanted to bring them together as a brotherhood and equip them to reproduce more effective leaders in their own countries.”
To accomplish these objectives Indian Creek created a Leadership Roundtable for 10 missionaries with whom Johnson has built relationships. The members—including Ajai Lall of India, Rafal Piekarski of Poland, Zhenia Siniy of Ukraine, and Nebert Mtange of Kenya—agree to attend training at Indian Creek during the second week of November each of the next three years. In addition, Johnson commits to visit each of their ministries at least once during the three-year period.
The weeklong November gatherings include study of leadership development material equivalent to a one-semester seminary class, and members also covenant to read several books and discuss the material via e-mail between yearly visits.
The church covers all costs (including airfare, lodging, and meals!) for each missionary, and the yearly meetings are scheduled to immediately precede the National Missionary Convention.
“If any of the leaders wish to attend the NMC, my wife and I will take them,” Johnson says. “Indian Creek will pay for this as well. We want to help these leaders connect with other Christians involved in world missions.”
Indian Creek will hold its first Leadership Roundtable this week.
www.thecreek.org
Software that Counts
Nevan Hooker, community groups minister with Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, Kentucky), recently partnered with Scopic Software to develop “Countdown Creator,” the first customized video countdown creator program. Hooker designed the program to help churches quickly and inexpensively create new countdowns on a service-by-service basis.
The Windows/Vista-based program allows the user to adjust the customizable clock settings to control the clock placement, time, font, size, rotation, fade, and shadow. Countdown Creator works with any standard video and is perfect for use with Jumpbacks, home movies, stock photography, illustrated graphics, and customized music. This program exports video for use in PowerPoint, MediaShout, EZ Worship, Pro Presenter, or any other presentation software that supports video playback.
To see a short demo and learn more, visit www.thecountdowncreator.com.
Joint Venture
In October, First Church of Christ and Hooton Church of Christ (both of Danville, Illinois) celebrated a new beginning as one congregation—Cornerstone Christian Church.
The two churches, located four miles apart, first developed a relationship five years ago; after playing sports together, the congregations began sharing Wednesday night meals and small-group studies and prepared a joint VBS last summer.
When Hooton’s minister left last May, church leaders approached the elders at First and asked if Kevin Cox, their senior minister, could also preach at Hooton’s early service. The elders agreed, and Cox preached at both buildings for nine months.
“Eventually we began talking about combining our efforts in a more permanent way,” he says. “We are both Restoration Movement churches, pulling in the same direction with the same mission. It just made sense to work together.”
Although members of both congregations agreed, the journey has been challenging.
“These were definitely two independent Christian churches,” Cox laughs. “Now we’re working as a team and building bridges with other area churches.”
Despite the growing pains, Cox believes the merger was the right move.
“Neither church was struggling or financially stressed,” he says. “Our decision to become one body was based on inspiration, rather than desperation.”
(217) 446-1335
Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD's contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
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