Just over a month ago, I wrote Transforming Congregations Through the Matthew 28 Initiative. The following weekend, a consultation team visited Centre Grove. At the end of the weekend, the team offered their report, which included a number of prescriptions. Earlier tonight, Centre Grove voted to accept the prescriptions (80% of the people who submitted ballots voted in favor of the report).
We spent the last month in an intentional time of discernment, including two listening sessions, led by our coach. We also conducted a 4-week small group study using Bill Hybels’ The Power of a Whisper DVD material. My sermon series the past was intended to help us discern God’s yearning for our church, as well.
Now that we’ve decided to move forward with the plan, we begin an intense year of working on the prescriptions that have been presented to us. We will work with a coach who will both guide us and hold us accountable (each prescription comes with a deadline). The process is intended to be a catalyst, so it will be intense.
But, before we start the next leg of the journey, we pause to celebrate and give thanks to God for guiding us this far. We give thanks also for God’s promised presence during the next leg of the journey. The God who has brought us this far will continue to work in and through us. It’s going to be a great adventure!