Working on communication
by Felipe Martinez
Today we had a very special meeting with members of the New Hope team and most of the planters from our partner churches (some of whom also brought elders from their congregations). Under the leadership of NQR partnership coordinator Ramón Celis and New Hope elder Jim Cooper, the group talked about how to improve communication among our churches, especially inviting the planters to be in email contact with their WVP partners to share stories of their ministry, prayer concerns, joys, etc. The group also talked about looking forward beyond the first five years of the partnership and encouraging the congregations involved in this partnership to deepen their connection with each other.
One way in which the partnership is developing and moving forward was evident on Sunday. New Hope's partner church, Jesús El Buen Pastor, became chartered as a congregation during their Sunday morning worship service. The date for this special service had been timed to coincide with the visit from New Hope. Members of the planting commission of the NQR presbytery led the service of chartering. During the service, elders and deacons for this new church were ordained for the first time, and several of the WVP and New Hope participants were able to be involved in the laying on of hands, ordination prayer, reading of scripture, etc. It was a very special moment. Now both NQR and WVP are in a position to ask: how does this particular relationship between New Hope and El Buen Pastor grow now that this former new church development is a chartered congregation? That question is really a joyful question, and it will be asked again in the near future by ZPC - Colosio, Noblesville - Puerto Aventuras, and Center Grove - Tulum.
Tomorrow I will be returning to Indianapolis, but not without first visiting the dental mission team which is stationed in Cancun for the first part of the week (and will be in Playa del Carmen Th and Fri).
It has been a good trip, though a long one. It has made me even more grateful for the leadership of our partners here in Mexico and in Indiana. It has helped reaffirm my vision to work towards culture bridging ministry in our presbytery. It has allowed me to tell presonally each of our planters and their churches just how much our presbytery loves them and prays for them.
Today we had a very special meeting with members of the New Hope team and most of the planters from our partner churches (some of whom also brought elders from their congregations). Under the leadership of NQR partnership coordinator Ramón Celis and New Hope elder Jim Cooper, the group talked about how to improve communication among our churches, especially inviting the planters to be in email contact with their WVP partners to share stories of their ministry, prayer concerns, joys, etc. The group also talked about looking forward beyond the first five years of the partnership and encouraging the congregations involved in this partnership to deepen their connection with each other.
One way in which the partnership is developing and moving forward was evident on Sunday. New Hope's partner church, Jesús El Buen Pastor, became chartered as a congregation during their Sunday morning worship service. The date for this special service had been timed to coincide with the visit from New Hope. Members of the planting commission of the NQR presbytery led the service of chartering. During the service, elders and deacons for this new church were ordained for the first time, and several of the WVP and New Hope participants were able to be involved in the laying on of hands, ordination prayer, reading of scripture, etc. It was a very special moment. Now both NQR and WVP are in a position to ask: how does this particular relationship between New Hope and El Buen Pastor grow now that this former new church development is a chartered congregation? That question is really a joyful question, and it will be asked again in the near future by ZPC - Colosio, Noblesville - Puerto Aventuras, and Center Grove - Tulum.
Tomorrow I will be returning to Indianapolis, but not without first visiting the dental mission team which is stationed in Cancun for the first part of the week (and will be in Playa del Carmen Th and Fri).
It has been a good trip, though a long one. It has made me even more grateful for the leadership of our partners here in Mexico and in Indiana. It has helped reaffirm my vision to work towards culture bridging ministry in our presbytery. It has allowed me to tell presonally each of our planters and their churches just how much our presbytery loves them and prays for them.
posted by NQR Team @ 11:54 PM
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