April 2000, Volume 7 No. 3
 Contents |
Process Seeks to Mobilize Congregations to Become Centers of Mission and MinistryThe National Plan for Hispanic Ministry has challenged all congregations, Hispanic and non-Hispanic, to become "centers of mission," particularly among the growing Hispanic population. How can this take place? A process of congregational mobilization has been designed as an instrument or guide to assist local churches transform, renew, and formulate their vision, mission, and ministries, and thus become vital congregations and centers of mission. The process does not intend simply to renew or activate local churches' programs. It seeks to affect their whole being (life style, thought, structure, programs) as people of God. Congregational mobilization is then one of the basic components of the National Plan. The designed process of congregational mobilization may be distinguished from other church-wide programs by its comprehensive nature, its "accompanying" resources, its intentionality in spiritually undergirding the whole process, its assumed methodology, and its individualized attention to each congregation that is involved in the process. The process of congregational mobilization includes four basic elements: progressive training or equipping of local leaders, progressive involvement of the laity in the process, motivation through spiritual formation and development, and management or administration of the process. Training begins with the pastor at a retreat. Then it progresses with another retreat to orient and train a cadre of local church leaders. Training then moves to include more of the congregation as part of its affirmation of the priesthood of all believers. The training begins with an orientation of the process, but quickly moves to a theological-missional training of the laity, and ends by equipping the laity for specific ministries. Spiritual transformation and development is to be found in diverse activities and events including worship, preaching, Bible studies, prayer, visitations, renewal and evangelistic services, and other special events. To assist the local congregation move from one stage to another, a local group manages, coordinates, and guides the process. It is this group also that involves the congregation in formulating its vision and mission and in delineating their programs. It also examines its structure in the light of their proposed ministries and recommends changes as needed. The end of the process is actually the beginning of a renewed, transformed ministry in the local church. As a spiral progressively moves outward, the hope is that the congregation will continue to grow by learning from its experience as it continues to perfect its ministry based on God's vision of what it ought to be and do. |
Retreat Orients Local Church Leaders for Congregational Mobilization
Lay and clergy leaders from three congregations attended a retreat to receive orientation and be motivated in the process of congregational mobilization which they will be leading in their respective churches. Grace UMC from New York City, Hispanic Church from Union City, New Jersey, and the mission church in Pleasantville, New Jersey, are the three congregations participating in the week end retreat at Aldersgate Camp in New Jersey. The participants returned to their local churches to organize their respective congregations to begin implementing the process of congregational mobilization, which will take them about nine months to complete. The three congregations also represented three conferences: Northern New Jersey, Southern New Jersey, and New York. Leaders in the retreat included Rev. Aida I. Fernandez, Rev. Gabriela Garcia, Rev. Eli Rivera, Rev. Saul Trinidad, and Rev. Jose L. Palos. These three congregations joined seven other local churches that are currently testing the process and resource materials that have been developed. Twelve other congregations in the Rio Grande Conference are also expected to participate in the process. A pastors' retreat, which is the first event in the process, is scheduled for May 2000 in that conference |
Retreat Orients Local Church Leaders for Congregational Mobilizationpor Maribel Mojica y Samuel y Saray Calvo
Desde nuestra lIegada a New Orleans en junio 10 de 1999, corn enzamos a trabajar con las necesidades de Ia cornunidad Hispana. En el estado de Louisiana hay alrededor de 90,000 Hispanos de los cuales el 54% viven en Ia parroquia de New Orleans. Estos proceden en su mayoria de Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, y Cuba. Tenernos a cargo Ia única congregación Hispana que tiene eI distrito de New Orleans, Ia IMU El Mesias. Estarnos trabajando poco a poco en el crecimiento de esta congregación. Los proyectos que hemos comenzado son dos programas radiales en las emisoras de radio Hispanas de Ia ciudad todos los sãbados. Tenemos además clases de inglés como segundo idioma, GED en español para eI diploma de equivalencia de escuela superior, y clases de español para personas interesadas en trabajar en el rninisterio Hispano. El sábado 19 de febrero celebramos Ia Feria de Salud junto a Ia Universidad de Tulane y fue un éxito. La Feria incluye exámenes de diabetes, colesterol, vacunas, presión arterial y otros servicios completamente gratis. Se atendieron a 80 personas desde las 8 de Ia mañana hasta las 12 del dia. Continuaremos trabajando juntos para el desarollo de prograrnas de salud para Ia comunidad Hispana. Sabemos que tenemos mucho camino por delante, pues nuestra meta es eI desarrollo
de un Centro Comunitario Hispano Metodista. Sabemos que Dios nos llamó y
abrirá las puertas que sean necesarias.
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All photos copyright © The General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church unless otherwise noted. GBGM is the official mission agency of The United Methodist Church. |
