Location: Via Zoom

Preview of "How to Reach New People”
Saturday, April 2, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM (via Zoom)

The NIC Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment will be sponsoring a Cohort of churches that would like to reach new people and make a difference.  This is an opportunity to preview this process to see if it would be helpful for your church.

After two years of the pandemic, this is a great time to “restart” your church by:

• Clarifying your central purpose as a church
• Defining your mission field
• Having your Pastor network in the community
• Teaching your members how to meet new people and invite
• Incorporating online strategies to connect with people
• Interacting with your neighborhood in new and creative ways.

Please prayerfully consider the following questions:

1. Do you have a passion for reaching out to new people in your community?
2. Are you able to build a team of 6 to 9 people to join your ministry and meet monthly coaching sessions?
3. In addition, the pastor needs to commit to monthly pastors-only coaching sessions.
    

Rev. Paul Nickerson will be your trainer and coach.  Paul works with churches all over the country in all the Mainline denominations.

Contact: Rev. J. Martin Lee (mlee@umcnic.org) for questions and to receive a link to the Zoom session

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The first Reaching New People cohort is just completing a year of this process.  Here is what they have to say:

The Coaching process with Rev. Paul Nickerson over the past year has been a great way to get our church focused on reaching out to new people in our community with well-considered action steps. We have a new enthusiasm for connecting with people outside the walls of our building and a concrete plan to make that happen.
- Rev. Jonathan Crail, First UMC, DeKalb

Participating in this coaching session helped our church turn from a culture of despair to a culture of hope.  The coaching was a bridge through the pandemic - We were encouraged to focus on things that we could do as a church instead of panicking.  I am very grateful to have this coaching as a resource.
- Rev. Harriette Cross, First UMC, Wilmington

Paul's coaching was extremely helpful! We have revamped the ways we are reaching our community, and are more effective than ever. Paul helped us see our ministries in a new, more creative and innovative way, and we have been successful at things we never imagined before.
- Rev. Megan Smick, Oregon UMC, Oregon
Check out the story of Oregon UMC's work from the March Reporter

Meaningful ministry is too challenging to happen accidentally. Taking the time to intentionally plan a course for your church is essential.
- Rev. Karl Sokol, Compassion UMC, Brookfield

Grateful for this opportunity to be under a coach who pushes you to come out from your comfort zone.  Paul helped us to be intentional in meeting new people and be creative in ways in reaching out to our community.  It is still a long road though but having someone and others doing the work and encouraging you that you can do it, there is hope. I’m glad we are on board.
- Rev. Victor Melad, Jr., Edison Park UMC, Chicago