Initial NCD Action Plan

Natural Church Development Report  -   Michelle Root

As many of you know the NCD committee has been on a mission to help to encourage healthy growth in our church.  The first area we chose to address is passionate spirituality. In one of our guides we were given a checklist for this area. Upon going over this checklist we developed some initial steps for improving in this area. The questions and/or statements and answers are as follows:

1)      The pastor and those involved in ministry in our church have developed a plan how to intensify their personal prayer life? This question brought up another question of who would be considered those involved in ministry.  Our conclusion was that we should start with the elders of our church which have a strong impact on what is presented in our pastor’s sermons.   We let Pastor Mike know that we would like to have the elders of our church prepare a plan and present it to the NCD committee.

2)      At least two times a year the pastor spends a whole day to seek God in prayer and listen to His guidance.  Yes. Pastor Mike notified us that he does spend this time at least 2xs per year.

3)      The meaning of prayer is often illustrated by practical examples during the sermons.

4)      Our leadership team meets regularly for prayer.   At the start and finish of meetings there is often a prayer said. It was concluded that it is difficult enough to meet for regular committee meetings that meeting for prayer alone may be too difficult. However an idea to have Pastor train council members to present short devotion and prayer before meetings and prayer after meetings.

5)      Church members are encouraged to share personal experiences with God during the worship service and in small groups.  Though we as a Lutheran church follow a set service it is not without some thought that there is a possibility that stories and personal experiences can be shared during service. We do however have time after service where we share coffee and a light snack which provides time for our congregation to get to know one another and form bonds with fellow members and non members. As for small groups, we will start with addressing what a small group is and what small groups we have already formed here at St. Timothy.  When that is accomplished there will be room for learning what small groups this church could benefit from.

6)      A regular prayer ministry has been started in our church. What does it look like?  Although not currently active St. Timothy in the past has had a prayer chain members of the church who have a spiritual gift for prayer were listed in the directory under church prayer chain on pg. 22.  One of our goals is to identify how a prayer chain works, how it can strengthen our church and reactivate the chain with current members. The idea of a prayer request form was presented. This will be a small form that will be at each pew  that individuals can put into the offering plate  the prayers will then be presented by Pastor at the alter after offering.

In the world today many people expect quick results to issues being faced and even quicker resolutions to questions that come up in their lives. The matters that are being addressed at St. Timothy Lutheran Church are ones that will take time and prayer along with effort of the people of our congregation. The members of the NCD committee ask that all of our members pray for the health of our church and for the people who play any part in keeping us healthy.