The Northeastern District of the C&MA

 Ministries the Office of
Church Health and Multiplication
are seeking to "develop and support healthy leaders and churches to impact people for Christ," are as follows:

I. Casual 1 1/2 hour visits with the Sr. Pastor

In 2006, a process was develped and implemented where the Director of Church Health and Multiplication met face to face with the Sr. Pastors in the District.  With a renewed emphasis on Church Health, this was a vital starting point.  It was an opportunity to get a better handle on each unique ministry situation.  This 1 to 1 1/2 hour visit has focused on several key questions and a brief look at a ten year statistical church chart.  It is is exciting to see how the Lord is working in many of our churches despite the economical or church history.  Some of our churches have made wonderful steady progress in the midst of extrmemely difficult circumstances and odds.  When one pastor was asked, "What are the contributing factors that have caused this church to turn around?" he quickly expressed, "It is the Lord" and humbly added:  "loving and being patient with the people, preaching the word and reaching out to new-comers."  To God's praise, salvation decisions are being made and younger families are once again being a part of this local body!  I look forward to continuing and enhancing this ministry especially to the new pastors in the District.

II.  Coaching Clusters

Each pastor in the Northeastern District is encouraged
to actively participate in the area Coaching Cluster for prayer, training and fellowship.

The Coaching Cluster leaders are : 

ADIRONDACK:  TBD

CAFE:  Rev. David Murphy

CAPITAL DISTRICT:  Rev. Nicholas Becker

WE HAVE NEVER:  Rev. Richard Sheets

GRACC:  Rev. Gregg Marston

HUDSON VALLEY:  Rev. Thomas Hartley

MOHAWK VALLEY:  Rev. Thomas Brunner

SHEPHERDS TOGETHER
CARING, COMMUNICATING, COACHING:  
                            Rev. John McConnell

SOUTHWESTERN:  Rev. Stephen Hall

WMPF:  Rev. Thomas Cameron

Additional specific Coaching Cluster opportunities are also held annually.

III.  Natural Church Development (NCD)

NCD continues to be utilized by churches in the District to assist health and growth.  Churches that intentionally embrace the NCD process with several key perspectives (unified leadership, painful urgency, demonstrating a willingness to change through a humbled and teachable spirit) usually see their minimum factor and other Quality Characteristics enhanced.  New tools such as the NCD Insights give Church Health Teams additional support and confidence following the focus group and initially identiying the 3-5 key issues.  Another terrific benefit has been "The Radical Quality Balance Sheet."  Intentional coaching of pastors/churches through this process is vital and there are NCD Coaches ready to serve your church.  Contact the Church Health and Multiplication Office for more information.

IV.  Breaking the Barriers 65, 125, 250, 500
Seminars designed for pastors and church leaders

Over half of the churches in the Northeastern District have participated in one of the four differenet "Breaking the (growth) Barriers" Training Workshops for pastors and church leaders.  This one day seminar also includes a  one month post-seminar coaching call to Sr. Pastors reviewing key concepts and the individual church action points.  Reflective questions in the back of the workbooks are utilized throughout the seminar and are designed to be used as a "spring-board" for further group discussions.  Underpinning this entire ministry has been recruiting prayer warriors both in and out of the District providing them with updates.  "Laying Foundational Issues" and "Ideas for Breaking the Barriers" are the two broad topics covered.  Key concepts that seem to be "caught" by many are:  the realization that you may already have broken the barrier number on a monthly basis but not yet on a weekly basis; Rick Warren's Concentric Circle of bringing people along from "the Community to the Crowd, to the Congregation, to the Committed and to the Core"; the different "skill sets" needed between a "Maintenance Ministry" and occupying the role of a "Change Agent"; the principle of thinking as a church twice your size and continue to be "mission minded" while being "MISSIONAL" in the local context.

V.  Barnabas Round Table Discussions

This is an opportunity for the Director of Church Health and Muliplication to specifically connect with pastors and church leaders to "come alongside" to share District vision, core values, reports and resources.  The meeting begins in the afternoon with the pastor(s), dinner with the pastors and wives and an evening gathering with the church leadership ending in follow-up letter/evaluation/suggested resources two weeks later and an overall evaluation of the process.  The projection for this  ministry is to have 20 appointments per year and repeat the process every 3-4 years.

VI.  Utilizing Martin Giese's material,
"Town & Country" --Big Impact in a two day seminar

Martin Giese, a fifth generation farmer born in Appleton, MN, has studied and clearly communicates on a number of important levels, the difference between a rural, urban and 'rurban' mindset.  Martin Giese graciously gave the Director of Church Health and Multiplication permission to use his power-point and notes throughout the District.  Starting out as a pilot plan, this seminar has been offered around the District to Official Workers.  Some of the comments shared are:  "I wish I had heard this when I first entered the ministry."  "Ouch, I could have saved myself and my church a lot of grief."  "I understand ministry in a different light, I was raised in a suburban white collar context and I currently minister to blue collar people in the country."  "This seems to fit not just a few churches or a couple of coaching clusters in our District but generally describes Upstate New York."  "...thanks so much for bringing the Town & Country material to our coaching cluster.  That was EXTREMELY beneficial.  In fact, it is some of the most beneficial training I have received in many years.  The material is tailored to our ministry setting and the principles have great practical application for my ministry."  Notebooks have been prepared and each pastor receives a copy of the book:  "Leading Through Change" by Barney Wells, Martin Giese and Ron Klassen.  Some of the seminar topics include:

• Key Questions of Context for High Impact Small Church Leaders
• The Unique Challenges of Town and Country Context
• Understanding a Town and Country Perspective
• Rural/Urban Differences
• The Challenge of Change
• Resourcing Change-Managing Time, Finding Talent, Money and Finances
• Resourcing Change-Motivating and Mobilizing "Type B" Leaders
• Overcoming Obstacles to Evangelism in the Smaller Church

This material is now being adapted for clusters of church leaders in the district.

VII.  Pilot group web initiative "Iron Sharpening Iron"
of 11 pastors utilizing the material by Harry L. Reeder III, "From Embers to a Flame" (launched 06-15-10)

Each participating pastor was given the book and workbook, "From Embers to a Flame" and a specific private web group has been established to discuss chapter related questions.  The projection is to expand this initiative to additional groups making necessary changes.  Some of those in the pilot plan are planning to go through the books with the church leadership.