InFocus Recommendations S Overview v Church Values v

In-Focus Recommendations S

Overview v Church Values v Church Data v Revamp Communications v Children and Youth Ministries v Small Group plans

Church Values v Warm Relationships v Missional Service v These values reflect who we are as a church body

Church Data v After updating the records our current membership is 324 people v The average attendance over the past 6 months is 201.

Church Data v 38% of our apportionments were paid for 2014

Church Data

Children and Youth Ministries v Breakthrough Prayer v Find ways among staff, leadership, and children’s volunteers, to regularly incorporate breakthrough prayer for our church’s children’s and youth ministries into the ministry routine. v Improve Leadership in both ministry areas v Hire Youth minister and Children’s minister v Provide and obtain 100% of Safe Sanctuary training for staff, volunteers, and potentially ADS teachers v Create a Youth Ministry Council and a Children’s Ministry Parent Council v Create a Leadership Avenue for Youth v Create a plan to increase parent and adult involvement

Children and Youth Ministries v Improve Worship opportunities for Youth and Children v Incorporate youth and children in worship services more v Observe Scout Sunday, incorporate Day School into worship services more often, etc. v Make WOW Worship more “worship oriented” instead of like a SS class v Create a guideline for spiritual milestones for children and youth for the use of church leaders and teachers v Ensure regular emphasis on stewardship for our children and youth

Children’s and Youth Ministries v Encourage Discipleship among Children, Youth, and Parents v Offer confirmation classes every 2 years or as needed v Break apart Jr. High and Sr. High Sunday School classes v Encourage milestones for parents and youth in the spiritual development/future of their children, and provide resources to help with faith formation v Provide information in a timely manner to parents/youth about UMC camps etc. and encourage students to participate in these camps v Schedule and offer “Connecting Events” to foster building of relationships among church members/families v Create a Children’s and Youth’s bulletin board for posting pictures, announcements, etc. available for all congregation to view v Scheduling/posting calendars and activities far enough in advance to notify busy families and recruit committed volunteers for upcoming events

Children and Youth Ministries v Outreach Opportunities to Families in the Community v Research possibility of starting an Upwards Sports program at Asbury year round v Consider making a walking prayer track on property available to community v Offer special programs and services that are family oriented to bring people in (i. e. Breakfast with Santa) v Research possibility of offering/sponsoring parenting programs throughout the year at Asbury for congregational members, Day School and families in community v Routinely ask Boy Scout, Cub Scout and Girl Scout troops to participate in activities with church to incorporate these youth.

Improve Small Groups v Winter 2014 - A meeting for current Home Group Leaders v February/March 2015 - Sunday School worship emphasis v Spring 2015 - Pastor begins small group for leadership team; in next 18 months, do something similar for potential church leaders v Spring 2015 - Conduct a refresher training for Prayer Partners v April 2015 - Ministry Moments for each Home Small Group v July 2015 - 4 -6 weeks training for new home group leaders and Sunday School leaders v September 2015 - Kick Off new home groups and Sunday School classes v Fall 2015 - Introduce a bank of short-term small groups

Revamp Communications v Communicating with Active Members v Communicate weekly via bulletin, screen, and email/phone tree v Circulate monthly via Circuit Rider or twice monthly via email. Also make available through mail or at welcome center v Restart phone tree v Mailouts as needed v Determine active members’ preferred method of contact v Have shepherds contact personally monthly, with quarterly fellowship events

Revamp Communications v For Committees and Volunteers v Transfer responsibility of contact to committee members to committee chairs, rather than office administrator v Committee chairs will be asked to email pastor and office administrator first to schedule and prep meeting, and then copy them on their communications to their team v General Communications v Obtain, Train, and Implement new membership and attendance software v Create a display board for the main hall with Sunday School information v Update and man welcome center weekly

Revamp Communications v Communicating with Sporadic Attendees v Begin the Missing Member ministry under the Membership Care Ministry v Send quarterly mailouts to let them know we’re thinking of them v Communicating with Visitors v Initial contact within 72 hours v 2 weeks out, 4 weeks out v A plan for when and how they should be encouraged to become a member