Renewal At Bethel Church- Where Are We At?

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​ Renewal at Bethel Church--
 Where Are We at?
 
We as a church have committed to a two-year learning journey called “The Church Renewal Lab.”  Every four months we send an eleven-person team to take in a full-day seminar on the topic of church revitalization.  The team listens and learns and then comes home with reading assignments for themselves and for the church.   (Currently the Managing Elders, Shepherding Elders, and Deacons are reading and discussing a book called From Embers to a Flame.)  
 
This eleven person team discusses what they have learned, and then reports to council practices that can help Bethel grow. While we believe God is doing wonderful things at Bethel, we believe we can always become more effective in doing community, ministry, and mission.
 
So, what have we been up to?  Here is a thumbnail sketch of our work:

• We have discussed ways to make guests feel more welcome on Sunday mornings.  The director of the Church Renewal Lab, Keith Doornbos, visited our church and spoke very positively about his experience.  He also suggested that we consider ways to better connect with guests.  He said the length of our “connect time” and the way we do communion may cause guests discomfort.  He urged that the Gospel be presented clearly at each worship service.   (The last suggestion I have gladly embraced, the other two are under discussion.)
• We will be launching a greeting and follow up strategy for guests.  You will hear more about this in the new year, but our goal is that no one find themselves alone at coffee time or Connect Time, and that no one feel neglected by Bethel Church if they hope for further contact after visiting.
• We proposed and planned the prayer-walk that took place at the congregational meeting.  Most people found this a very positive experience.  While we don’t envision having a prayer-walk at every congregational meeting, our leadership has identified prayer as a priority for all our ministries and committees.  As a team, we want to fan this flame in any way we can.  We will not experience renewal without prayer.
• We are reflecting on our history as a way of moving into the future.  Guided by the book From Embers to a Flame we are trying to identify both the richest blessings of the past decades and any areas that require repentance.  We want to celebrate what God has done, and humble ourselves where we need to admit fault.  We are doing this because renewal is spiritual work.  It is not a program we implement but a relationship with God we work out.

Any thoughts?  Please pass them along.  We would love to hear from you.

​--Pastor Tom for the Church Renewal Lab Team (Pietie Boskers, Royce Boskers, Rene Hebers, Ryan Pedde, Kevin Rietema, Melanie Reynders, Joanne Rozendaal, Christie Thomas, Richard Vriend, and Wendy Werkman)
 

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