Mark your calendars for the weekend of August 23^rd because this weekend is our Consultation weekend for the Mathew 28 Initiative. 

As you may recall, at our fall church conference we voted to participate in a select program called Matthew 28.The program comes from Bishop Middleton and the Cabinet and is designed to intentionally work with twenty churches in the whole Central Pennsylvania Conference to bring about new growth and transformation.  These churches are between 100 and 200 in average worship attendance and show potential to grow beyond the 200 barrier.  The word “barrier” is apt.  There seems to be something about that number and size that represents a significant shift in how a church functions and does ministry.

The program is a consultation and mentoring program using the services of nationally recognized church consultant, Paul Borden, and his trained staff.  Borden, author of Hitting the Bullseye  and Direct Hit,  has a proven track record in working in churches of our size to help church leadership undergo significant positive change. 

The program has started.  I have been meeting with a mentoring group for study, discussion, and training once a month since January.  We have been studying a variety of materials to help us focus and refine our skills as pastors and prepare us for next steps in local church ministry.  This mentoring is a key piece of the Matthew 28 program. 

Another key piece is the Consultation weekend.  Our consultant is Rev. Dr. Marlin Snyder.  Dr. Snyder has served large and effective churches throughout Central Pennsylvania and has served on the Bishop’s Cabinet as Superintendent of the New Cumberland District.  Serving with Dr. Snyder will be Rev. Dr. Pam Ford, current Superintendent of the State College District, who will serve as our coach through the weekend and  beyond to assure follow through and accountability to goals and process.  Dr. Snyder and Dr. .Ford bring a lot of experience, passion, and knowledge with them.

I am delighted to have them working with us at Hicks Church.

The August 23^rd weekend will see the consultant and coach meeting with myself, our staff, Administrative Council, and a focus group of people in the congregation.  They will sit down with us and get to know our strengths and challenges.  Once they have accumulated enough information and insight, they will draw up a detailed recommendation for our church which they will share with us that Sunday afternoon at a luncheon.  These recommendations will be significant.

We will have one combined worship service Sunday, August 23^rd at 10:45am.  Following that service we will have a church luncheon for all.  We hope you will plan to be at worship and the lunch to follow because this is an important and exciting step for us at Hicks.  Why wouldn’t you want to be involved?

You may be asking – why are we doing this program?  Does this mean we are not a good church?

Nothing could be further from the truth.  We are doing Matthew 28 because we are a good church.  We want to be a great church.  I believe this program will help us take significant steps in that direction.

Please pray for this initiative, pray for our church, and pray for me.  May God give us humility, passion, and obedient hearts to do his will.

In Jesus,