S

In-Focus Recommendations

Overview

Church Values

Church Data

Revamp Communications

Children and Youth Ministries

Small Group plans

Church Values

Warm Relationships

Missional Service

These values reflect who we are as a church body

Church Data

After updating the records our current membership is 324 people

The average attendance over the past 6 months is 201.

Church Data

38% of our apportionments were paid for 2014

Church Data

Children and Youth Ministries

Breakthrough Prayer Find ways among staff, leadership, and children’s volunteers,

to regularly incorporate breakthrough prayer for our church’s children’s and youth ministries into the ministry routine.

Improve Leadership in both ministry areas Hire Youth minister and Children’s minister

Provide and obtain 100% of Safe Sanctuary training for staff, volunteers, and potentially ADS teachers

Create a Youth Ministry Council and a Children’s Ministry Parent Council

Create a Leadership Avenue for Youth

Create a plan to increase parent and adult involvement

Children and Youth Ministries

Improve Worship opportunities for Youth and Children

Incorporate youth and children in worship services more Observe Scout Sunday, incorporate Day School into

worship services more often, etc. Make WOW Worship more “worship oriented” instead of

like a SS class

Create a guideline for spiritual milestones for children and youth for the use of church leaders and teachers

Ensure regular emphasis on stewardship for our children and youth

Children’s and Youth Ministries

Encourage Discipleship among Children, Youth, and Parents Offer confirmation classes every 2 years or as needed Break apart JrHigh and SrHigh Sunday School classes Encourage milestones for parents and youth in the spiritual

development/future of their children, and provide resources to help with faith formation

Provide information in a timely manner to parents/youth about UMC camps etc. and encourage students to participate in these camps

Schedule and offer “Connecting Events” to foster building of relationships among church members/families

Create a Children’s and Youth’s bulletin board for posting pictures, announcements, etc. available for all congregation to view

Scheduling/posting calendars and activities far enough in advance to notify busy families and recruit committed volunteers for upcoming events

Children and Youth Ministries

Outreach Opportunities to Families in the Community Research possibility of starting an Upwards Sports program at Asbury year

round

Consider making a walking prayer track on property available to community

Offer special programs and services that are family oriented to bring people in (i.e. Breakfast with Santa)

Research possibility of offering/sponsoring parenting programs throughout the year at Asbury for congregational members, Day School and families in community

Routinely ask Boy Scout, Cub Scout and Girl Scout troops to participate in activities with church to incorporate these youth.

Improve Small Groups

Winter 2014- A meeting for current Home Group Leaders

February/March 2015- Sunday School worship emphasis

Spring 2015- Pastor begins small group for leadership team; in next 18 months, do something similar for potential church leaders

Spring 2015- Conduct a refresher training for Prayer Partners

April 2015- Ministry Moments for each Home Small Group

July 2015- 4-6 weeks training for new home group leaders and Sunday School leaders

September 2015- Kick Off new home groups and Sunday School classes

Fall 2015- Introduce a bank of short-term small groups

Revamp Communications

Communicating with Active Members Communicate weekly via bulletin, screen, and

email/phone tree Circulate monthly via Circuit Rider or twice

monthly via email. Also make available through mail or at welcome center

Restart phone tree Mailouts as needed Determine active members’ preferred method

of contact Have shepherds contact personally

monthly, with quarterly fellowship events

Revamp Communications

For Committees and Volunteers Transfer responsibility of contact to committee members to

committee chairs, rather than office administrator Committee chairs will be asked to email pastor and office

administrator first to schedule and prep meeting, and then copy them on their communications to their team

General Communications Obtain, Train, and Implement new membership and

attendance software Create a display board for the main hall with Sunday School

information Update and man welcome center weekly

Revamp Communications

Communicating with Sporadic Attendees Begin the Missing Member ministry under the

Membership Care Ministry Send quarterly mailouts to let them know we’re thinking

of them

Communicating with Visitors Initial contact within 72 hours 2 weeks out, 4 weeks out A plan for when and how they should be encouraged to

become a member