“Our congregation is just stuck. It’s like we can’t get out of neutral.”
“Our church is disconnected from the neighborhood. Everyone in town used to know who we were; now no one even knows our church is here.”
“Financially, we’re having a lot of trouble and we’ve been withdrawing funds from our church savings account to pay the bills.”
![too much space?](http://www.hopepmt.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/too-much-space.jpg)
Does your congregation have too much space?
If the comments above sound familiar to you, your church may want to consider a New Beginnings Assessment. This service from Hope Partnership Services is specifically created for Disciples congregations in decline who face mounting challenges with regard to their sustainability. During the 6 to 8-month process, you will clarify your context, explore your options, and make an informed decision about your future direction.
Over 1,000 congregations have engaged the New Beginnings process, with 99% finding clarity and embracing a new vision for their future ministry. Of those churches, 60% chose some form of mission re-visioning, 35% chose to redevelop the church, and 5% chose to close, providing their assets for creating a new local congregation.
If your congregation can say ‘yes’ to at least three of the five characteristics below, it may be a good candidate for New Beginnings:
• Less than 70 people attending worship
• Significant building issues (too much space, inadequate parking, deferred maintenance)
• Aging membership
• Changing neighborhood
• Trouble paying off a building loan
Hope Partnership Services can help you determine if New Beginnings would help your congregation. For additional information, please send an email to info@hopepmt.org or call us at 800 274 1883.
In addition to New Beginnings, Hope Partnership Services also offers Epiphany, a service designed for the congregation longing to become a transforming presence both inside and outside of its church walls. You can learn more about it on our Epiphany page.