As we reviewed steps taken to live out these priorities, we gave thanks for so, so many ways in which God has been faithful as we attempted to be faithful. We celebrated growth in every one of these areas: a renewed interest and excitement in our adult Sunday School, to the presence and contributions of young people, to the launch and growth of our Small Group Ministries, to the new ways we are reaching out in missions: on the sidewalk, in new partnerships (ACMHS), through LMUMC, and in extravagant giving. These are but a few of the many signs of growth and fruit-bearing that we witnessed together. But how was God leading us now? Where would God have us go? What would God have us do as a body of faithful, loving disciples? And so we began to listen.
First, we listened as a ministry council over a period of 4 months. We prayed together, studied God’s Word together, committed to praying on our own and to fasting. We attended to the voice and movement of God as we held gently the question: Where are you leading, O God? In the summer, we brought what we heard to a congregational forum and then in the early fall to the adult Sunday School. We wanted to listen together as a congregation. As we did so, these four areas of ministry priorities were affirmed:
- Ministering to and with youth and young adultsWe are thrilled and excited by the presence of youth and young adults in our midst. We sense that there is much they can and are teaching us even as we seek to be a spiritual home for them. We want to get to know the youth and young adults in our midst and to strengthen our ministry to and with them. We recognize that this will require us to change, to listen, to take risks, and to try on new ways of being and doing.
- Extending radical hospitalityThe English Ministry (EM) has welcomed many newcomers and guests over the last few years. Praise God! In some instances, those who have made their spiritual home at CCUMC bring with them issues and needs that have exposed areas of growth for us. We hear God’s call to be welcoming and to extend much more than just a friendly hand-shake and a smile. We hear God calling us to stretch, to become more aware of mental health issues as well as issues of homelessness and poverty, and to practice hospitality that is risky, uncomfortable, even scary…but is also ultimately biblical and faithful.
- Going beyond parallel ministries: building meaningful bridges with Chinese MinistryCCUMC adopted a “parallel ministry” structure years ago. This enabled the Chinese Ministry and the English Ministry to develop and grow in their own unique ways. It recognized the differences between the two language ministries and sought to support both in the directions they were being called. This was incredibly important. Now, we are sensing God’s calling to seek and nurture meaningful, missional relationships between the EM and CM. We recognize that there are language challenges and cultural differences. We know that we are different in many ways. We also know that there is a vital relationship between us and we want to invest in its possibility.
- Mission and service
We recognize that as disciples of Jesus, we are a sent people – sent to make new disciples and to transform the world. This has been an area of continued and exciting growth. We have solid local and global partnerships. How do we continue to grow in this area? How might we support and enable every single person at CCUMC to get involved in mission and service?
And so we begin the next 3-5 years holding these ministry priorities constantly before us. Please join together in prayer for God’s guidance and movement in these areas, and for our intentional listening and obedient response.