Nurturing Vital Discipleship
and Church Membership
Asylum Hill Congregational UCC
David Schoen, Congregational Vitality and Discipleship
United Church of Christ
Discipleship or Membership
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In our culture today, the churches’ work is all
about nurturing missional discipleship, not only
church membership.
83% of population not in church on Sundays,
going to church is counter cultural.
Missional Church has clear sense of God’s
purpose and calling for the church and raises up
disciples who can articulate and put into daily
practice God’s purpose for the church and
God’s purpose for their lives.
Hartford Area
Religious Practices
Nurturing Discipleship
Vital Church Membership
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Clarity about church expectations for
discipleship and membership
Make expectation visible and vocal
Track church members in discipleship
Small Group Missional/Spiritual Ministry
Who are the members at Asylum
Who do you want to be the members at Asylum
Using new technology, social media & networks
Clarity about church expectations
for discipleship and membership
Clarity and Articulation
of Expectations
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What expectation of discipleship and church
membership do you have at Asylum Hill?
What would your membership covenant be?
How do you communicate your expectations?
How do you nurture your covenant?
"To work for the increase in the love of God
and neighbor in Jesus Christ through
sharing, caring, outreach and worship."
Tracking
Discipleship/Membership
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If you wish to grow discipleship and
membership then you will need to track the
participation of your congregation
In commercial world this would be called CRM,
Customer Relationship Management
Track levels of the participation that are part of
your expectation of members.
Worship, Small Groups, Leadership, Service,
Giving/Pledging, Witness
New Member Tracking
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Keep track of guest, 1st time guest, return guests
Invitation to New Member/Discipleship group
Clarity of church purpose and expectations of
members
New members/disciples tell their stories
Connect with trained core of sponsors
Engage in Small Group within first 3 months
Follow-up gatherings with new members
Small Group Missional/Spiritual
Ministry
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Churches become larger by getting smaller
People are looking for relationships, a place
where ‘somebody knows my name’
Small groups where people can get to know each
other are critical; home, service, arts, committees
Although a small group may not be focused on
discipleship/spiritual matters, there should be
chance for spiritual reflection/moments in each
http://www.ucc.org/ministers/pdfs/ldshp.pdf
Pass a Grille Beach UCC
Who are these people?
Who are your members,
Who are your neighbors?
(Revelation 7:14)
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MissionInsite Demographics
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http://missioninsite.com/
flexible web based information system
 comprehensive socioeconomic and lifestyle data
 interactive mapping platform
 strategic information resource for ministry
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Meeting Your Neighbors
West Hartford
Hartford
Who are your Neighbors -West Hartford
Who are your Neighbors -Hartford
Urban Commuter Families
Who Are they?
New Generation Activists
Ministry Applications for Mosaic
Lifestyle Portraits
Ministry Applications for Mosaic
Lifestyle Portraits
How to use MissionInsite
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Map your congregation homes
Learn their mosaic types
Compare to communities, learn your niche
Gear programs, small groups to meet population
needs and interests
Track guests and friends
Cluster home groups
Getting MissionInsite Info
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UCC and Connecticut Conference have contract
with MissionInsite
Participants in Workshop (thanks to OCWM).
Go to Connecticut Conference Website
http://www.ctucc.org/resources/pdfs/MissionInsite_How-To.pdf
Generations and Religion
Religious Practice
Religious Belief
LGBT Concerns
Politics
Liberal or Conservative
Community Service
Missional Outreach
New Generations
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The urgency of our times should not be driven
by our decline in the United Church of Christ.
The urgency of our times should be a new
generation and population
attuned to the values of our
message and witness.
See Millenials report
Pew Research
New Technology
Missional Tools Online
On-line tools for Discipleship
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Connecting with congregation and others on-line
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Church Website
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Invitational
Interactive
Messaging
E.newsletter
Links
Facebook
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Church fanpage
Your own
Links
Advertising
Networking with New Technology
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E-mail Blasts
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Daily Devotional
Twitter
You Tube
Webinars
On Line Classes
On Line Prayer
Go To Meetings
Apps
Church of the Wider Fellowship
Nurturing Discipleship
Vital Church Membership
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Clarity about church expectations for
discipleship and membership
Make expectation visible and vocal
Track church members in discipleship
Small Group Missional/Spiritual Ministry
Who are the members at Asylum
Who do you want to be the members at Asylum
Using new technology, social media & networks
Nurturing Discipleship and
Church Membership
 What
have you learned?
 What one thing stands out?
 How will you use this information?
Getting Started
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Nurturing Vital Discipleship and Membership
Pray for your members, guests and congregation
This takes time, strategy and work.
This takes volunteers and staff
Takes support of congregational leaders
Just get started.
Start with one thing. Start with strength
Nurturing Vital Discipleship
and Church Membership
Blessings as you discern God’s mission for
your congregation,
 and nurture your congregations members!
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Thank You!
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Thank you! Your financial support is
Changing Lives: That’s Our Churches’ Wider Mission
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Thank you for your vital leadership and
discipleship!