by Ron Hamilton, CCCC Conference Minister

The leadership of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference has identified “healthy church multiplication” as a high priority. This is one of the preferred outcomes developed by the Guiding Coalition and enthusiastically affirmed by the Board of Directors last year.

Church planting is a relatively new venture for our Conference. A Church Multiplication Task Force was formed in 1999 to explore opportunities and lay a foundation for church planting in our fellowship. Much prayer and work has taken place since that time. Today there are about twenty church planting projects in place or in process. We also have developed church multiplication centers in Boston (NEX), Minneapolis-St. Paul (Northstar) and Los Angeles (LA Metro).  The first CCCC national church planting conference was held in Los Angeles in January. Thirty-five planters, spouses and supporting pastors attended this exciting event.

Church multiplication was a normative part of the life of churches birthed in the First Century. Jesus taught that a faith response to his incarnation and message of salvation would result in the establishment of the church(es) (Matthew 16:15–18). His final commandment to his disciples was to live as witnesses of his life and message (Acts 1:8) and be involved in a life of making disciples (Matthew 28:18–20). The Book of Acts teaches that the church was the primary vehicle for this disciple-making ministry. Healthy churches, seeking the will of God and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, became multiplying churches (Acts 13:1–3). Paul’s missionary journeys are more appropriately called, “Paul’s church planting journeys.” More churches developed more disciples, which in turn resulted in more churches (Galatians 1:1–5). All New Testament letters, with the exception of Philemon, were written to address the needs of newly planted churches.

Following this Biblical teaching, we are working to restore church multiplication as a normative activity in CCCC churches. The most challenging way to start a church is to send out a planting pastor alone to catalyze the beginning of a new ministry. The easiest and most successful way to plant a church is a mother church, or group of churches joining together, to birth a daughter church. Twelve churches in our Conference have started a daughter church or are working toward that mission. Imagine the transforming work of discipleship that would take place if hundreds of churches followed suit.

The leaders of our church multiplication movement are committed to developing new churches that reach people who are unchurched and outside the kingdom of God. Church planters and core group leaders are trained to begin a disciple-making ministry as they move into a community and engage with people. We believe that our world may not need more churches, but it needs more disciple-making communities. The Lord wants more and better disciples, more and better leaders, and more and better churches.

Our goals for multiplication are lofty. We believe that by the year 2020, one-half of the member churches of the CCCC will be healthy, reproducing churches started in the 21st Century. Please join me, our staff, and our leadership in praying that the Holy Spirit will work in our lives and ministries to bring this about for the glory of God.

by Dean Walker, CCCC Pacific Northwest Area Representative

Thompson Falls Community Congregational Church

Thompson Falls Community Congregational Church sits on a hill overlooking the picturesque town of Thompson Falls, Montana. Much like the description of the lamp Jesus gave us in Matthew 5:13–16, the Community Congregational Church has been a strong force in being the hands and feet of Christ Jesus to the community. Like so much of life, the only constant we often know is change. We followers of Jesus know we can hang onto Him who is constant, and through God’s perfect agape He promises us that change is a good thing.

And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command. (Ezekiel 36:26–27 NLT)

As life is full of changes for all of us, in the Pacific Northwest change has brought the excitement of newness and anticipation of great adventures ahead. God has brought to the Community Congregational Church in Thompson Falls Matthew Schraeder as their pastor. Matt is now working to complete the process of ministerial licensing and ordained status in the Conference.

To God alone be the glory!

Matt and his wife Heather were both born and raised in Bigfork, Montana. They graduated from the University of Montana in 1998 — Heather with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, and Matt with a Bachelor’s in communication studies. After several years in lay ministry God led them to pursue full time ministry. In 2010 Matt graduated from Crown College with a Master’s in Christian studies, and became the pastor at the Community Congregational Church in April, 2011.

Matt and Heather Schraeder, Ryan and Nathan

Matt and Heather have two energetic boys, Ryan and Nathan. The family moved from Missoula, Montana to Thompson Falls, which provides many activities for their whole family. They love to bike, hike, camp, and pretty much do anything outdoors. They are excited about the work that God is doing in Thompson Falls and Sanders County.

To God alone be the glory!

After nine months, the church is now currently averaging between 90 and 95 people in attendance, including approximately 25 children from pre-K to 5th grade. Matt explains, “This fall we held a membership class, which produced 18 new members.”

This growth has been accompanied by people stepping up to serve in a variety of ways. The children’s church ministry (which takes place during Sunday morning service) has a 3-month teacher rotation in two different classes. Several small groups have begun — men’s study, two small groups reading The Chronological Bible through in a year, a couples group studying a variety of topics surrounding marriage and family, and a Jr. High/Sr. High youth group that has begun just this year.

To God alone be the glory!

Matt explains: “We all have our preferences when it comes to worship styles, like music and liturgy; but we realize that these are really all about Him, not us. It is this understanding that is causing us to grow as a church: grow numerically, but more importantly grow in our trust and dependence upon our God.”

The church has asked us to join them in these Prayer Requests:

by John Kimball
CCCC Director of Conference Care & Church Development

Over the five years of providing assessment, tools, training and application for our CCCC pastors and churches in Church (Re)Development, we have learned many things. We have learned that if the leadership and the congregation will not make prayer and intercession their first priority (every day, every week, every month), there will be no kingdom-significant change. We have learned that it is possible to make great improvements organizationally in a church and not see increased spiritual fruit. We have learned that if intentional discipleship (helping people become deeply devoted to Jesus, His church and His mission) is not the foundation of the congregation’s life and ministry, no lives will be changed.

One of the most important things we’ve learned, however, is that churches pursue Church Development with us for many different reasons. Some come to us in a scramble for survival. Others come to us in transition, desiring a good pastoral match. Still others seek out Church Development programmatically, looking for a “quick fix” to help them keep doing what they are already doing. There is one reason we see less often, but is precisely what we desire: to enable the church — pastor, leaders and congregation — to more effectively reach the harvest of souls God has placed before them.

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2)

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, ‘open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.’” (John 4:34–36)

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

While there are many reasons why our churches might pursue Church Development, there is one reason all churches should pursue it: to better move out into the harvest and vitally connect those souls with our Jesus! There isn’t a congregation anywhere in the world that is exempt on this point!

Church Development focuses on Jesus’ agenda. It invests in the local congregation to help them effectively disciple people. It creates a pathway for the local congregation to develop spiritually mature leaders with Christ-like character. It connects the people in the local body vitally with those God has called them to reach with the grace, justice and truth of Jesus Christ. It also provides a process of ministry planning to make all of these things a reality.

A church does not need to be in dire straights to benefit from Church Development. In fact, we believe that every congregation, including those that are healthy and fruitful, need ongoing development and investment to stay that way! We would love to talk with you about how Church Development may be a blessing to your church. If you’d like to know more, please contact our office at (651) 739-1474. We’ll connect you with someone from the Church Development Team.

by Terry H. Shanahan, Northeast Regional Minister

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:18–19)

Over the years there have been many who have championed the cause of diversity within the CCCC. We have written a position paper on Racial Reconciliation, hosted several seminars on cross cultural ministry, but over the years the landscape of the Conference has not changed all that much until recently. There was great excitement at last summer’s Annual Family Conference in Ohio when we took in our first all African church. We are excited that our membership is starting to be a reflection of the harvest field’s diversity. The International Christian Fellowship is intentional in being active in our Conference and partnering with us in making disciples for Christ. They have recently planted Hilltop Community Fellowship, an English-speaking church that meets Sunday evenings with a vision to reach their community for Christ.

This is an African church made up of congregants from several African nations — many from Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern Congo. The church is leading a mission trip in May for CCCC pastors and mission-minded leaders. They desire to take as many CCCC pastors and leaders as possible to witness how God is opening doors in that area that was decimated by tribal violence. The following letter from them will serve as your invitation:

In an attempt to raise funding for the trip, the church would like to put on several concerts featuring their African Worship Team during school vacation week, (February 20–26, 2012) with a free will offering to support the trip. I have been blessed by their worship many times and assure you that all audiences will be moved. They are looking for several sites around New England. You can contact them directly if your church would like to have them visit.

As they seek to join with us we need to embrace them as we live out shared lives and mission together.

by Alwyn York, Conference Historian

(This article is part of a series commemorating the bicentennial of the sending of the first American foreign missionaries by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in February 1812.)

Harriet Newell died at the age of nineteen, only ten months after sailing with her husband as part of the first band of American missionaries to go overseas. Despite her short life, she became a powerful voice for foreign missions through the writings she left behind.

She was born Harriet Atwood in Haverhill, Massachusetts in 1793. She entered the Bradford Academy near her home in 1806, and came to Christ during a time of revival at the school. That same year, at the age of thirteen, she wrote, “This day I have formed a resolution, that I will devote the remainder of my life entirely to the service of God.” She began keeping a spiritual journal, which reveals a remarkable degree of spiritual seriousness and a deep concern for the lost.

Harriet Newell; copyright Congregational Library, used with permission

Shortly after her seventeenth birthday, she had a visit from her friend Ann Hasseltine (later to become Mrs. Adoniram Judson), who told of her resolution to spend her life as a missionary in India. Harriet immediately felt herself challenged to do likewise. On October 23, 1810 she was introduced to Samuel Newell. He had already committed himself to a life of missionary service. On April 17, 1811 she received a letter from Mr. Newell in which he asked if she would become his wife and join him in his missionary work. She debated what she should do, and decided that she would not consent without her mother’s permission. Somewhat to Harriet’s surprise, her mother told her that she would not object if Harriet accepted Mr. Newell’s proposal. Her mother told her, “If a conviction of duty and love of the perishing lead you to India, as much as I love you, Harriet, I can only say, ‘Go.’”

After a period of intense inner struggle, she made her decision. In a letter to a friend she expressed the spirit of consecration that was behind her acceptance of Newell’s proposal. “It would be pleasant to spend the remaining part of my life with my friends, and to have them surround my dying bed. But no; I must relinquish their society, and follow God to a land of strangers, where millions of my fellow sinners are perishing for lack of vision.”

She was married to Samuel Newell on February 9, 1812, three days after Samuel and his fellow missionaries had been ordained at the Salem Tabernacle Church. The day before the men were ordained her pastor preached a sermon at the Haverhill church directed to Harriet and her friend Ann on the duties they would have as the wives of missionaries. Harriet and Samuel, along with Adoniram and Ann Judson, sailed for India aboard the Caravan on February 19.

Their voyage was basically uneventful except for one scare as they neared the coast of India. On June 17 they arrived in Calcutta. They traveled to Serampore, where they were warmly received by William Carey and his colleagues at the mission station there. They experienced a tremendous setback to their plans for missionary service almost immediately. The British East India Company, fearing that missionary activity would upset the Indian people and threaten their commercial interests there, would not allow them to stay. They were ordered to leave immediately on the ship that had brought them and return to America. Intervention by their friends softened the orders from the authorities only to the extent of allowing them to leave on another vessel for any place not under the jurisdiction of the East India Company. They sailed for the Isle of France (Mauritius today) off the coast of Africa, hopeful of being welcomed by the French governor there. Being forced to undertake another long sea journey was especially a hardship for Harriet, since she had become pregnant.

Their voyage did not go well. Battered unmercifully by fierce storms, the voyage took much longer than it should have. Harriet came down with a fever shortly after they set off. She recovered from this, only to have an attack of dysentery. Far out on the Indian Ocean on October 8, two days before her nineteenth birthday, she gave birth to a daughter. A day or so after the baby’s birth, a violent storm chilled and drenched everyone on board. Baby Harriet, named after her mother, developed pneumonia and died after only five days. Shortly afterward Harriet herself became ill. Her husband Samuel thought he saw the signs of “consumption,” which had taken the lives of her father and other family members.

They reached the Isle of France, but the efforts of the physicians there were not successful in saving her life.  Knowing that death was near, she told her husband to give her family this message: “Tell my brothers and sisters from the lips of their dying sister that there is nothing but religion worth living for. Tell them and also my dear mother that I have never regretted leaving my native land for the cause of Christ.” A day or so before her death she told her husband, “God has called me away before we have entered on the work of the mission; but the case of David affords me comfort: I have had it in my heart to do what I can for the lost, and I hope God will accept me.” (See 1 Chronicles 22:7) She died on November 30, 1812. She was the first American to die on the mission field.

Dr. Leonard Woods of Andover Seminary, who had preached at the commissioning service for the missionaries just a few months before, also gave the sermon at a memorial service held in Haverhill for Harriet. Addressing the question of whether she had “thrown herself away” by spending her life in the way that she did, Dr. Woods said, “Threw herself away! What?! Does a devoted Christian, who for the love of Jesus, forsakes all she has, to receive a hundredfold here, and life everlasting, throw herself away?”

Her memoirs, consisting of her diary and letters she sent, were published in 1814 and were read avidly. In the twenty-five years following the first publication of her memoirs, a new edition was printed almost every year. Joseph Tracy, in his history of the American Board published in 1842, said of her, “Perhaps no early missionary, even by a long life of faithful labors, has accomplished more for the unsaved world, than she accomplished by consecrating herself to their cause, and dying for them before the mission had found a resting place.” (p. 37)

JJ and Stephanie and their children are CCCC representatives working in Israel. JJ is finishing his MA and leads short-term groups throughout Israel. Stephanie is working with a single mothers’ ministry that uses the Tabernacle teaching to bring women to a better relationship with God.
Dear Family and Friends,

Well, December and January have come and gone and we are into a very wet February! We have had good rain the last two weeks — the kids have enjoyed the rides to school rather than walking. Just as your lives are very full, we are sitting here flipping through the calendar looking at all that has happened just in the last few months. Here are some bullet points from our lives:

• In October we had more than three weeks of holidays here in Israel that started with Rosh haShanah, Yom Kippur followed ten days later and then we had a full week for Sukkot. The kids had two weeks off school, and we used it as a time to catch up with friends that we had not seen over the summer months, when we were in the USA. So we hosted many friends, especially during Sukkot, and even had one of the kids’ friends from school and his mother over one of the evenings. She is very secular and does not believe in God, but rather in some great powers that work around us. She is quite interested about our faith and was full of questions that night.

• Z – is in his MADA (Magen David Adom — local ambulance) training. He has 60 hours of training before he can start his 60 hours of community service he has to do for school. He is pretty wiped out after his three and a half hours of class twice a week. But he loves it and he is doing great in biology, as that class material overlaps what he is learning at MADA.

• L -  is busy with piano and voice lessons and three different ensemble groups each week. She is either singing, playing or listening to music 24/7… no really, not kidding. She started running with me (Stephanie — not JJ) in the evenings and then a few weeks later Z joined too. So we try to get out three times a week together. They both are busy with the local youth group, which we are so thankful for, and they are helping with the kids’ classes at the congregation.

• E -  has been busy with soccer and friends, friends, friends!!! Recently E got elected student council class representative. He came home from school saying that he was going to run for class representative. But since there were 15 kids out of the 35 in his class running, we were not too hopeful. After making campaign stickers and coming up with a slogan, he was one of two boys to make it through the primaries. He was totally overjoyed when he won, and his friends were chanting his name as they tried to lift him above their heads! And so his young political career began…

• And A is just a stitch! He runs through the house babbling and talking all the time. His highlight of the week is when our vegetables get delivered. We can’t even get them put away fast enough before he starts digging through the boxes to see what there is to eat. We often find peppers or apples with a bite out of them as we try to cook!

• But on a more serious note, O came home from kindergarten asking what does “Elohim lo kiam” mean in English. We were a little surprised because it means “God does not exist” and so we asked her where she heard it. She said kids in her class were saying it during their Bible lesson that day in school. We have to say that our stomachs dropped. It is hard to think about Jewish children not even believing in God! We need to be praying for hearts to be open to even the existence of God before we can speak about what the Bible says about salvation. Please pray with us for Israelis to return to the God of Israel, that God will soften their hearts, and draw them to Himself.

• Stephanie has been having the Ot OoMofet single moms’ team meetings weekly in a town about 45 minutes away, since Orna and Tami have moved there to start “Bayta” — the women’s shelter. The team is trying to finalize the details so they can take the first women into the program. Stephanie has been asked to “chair” the team meetings as she is removed from the interpersonal dynamics of the team at the house and neutral to the other team members.

• Since mid-January, the Ot OoMofet team have been teaching about the Tabernacle as a tool to help us draw closer to the Lord at a Russian congregation near Haifa. They have had four meetings, with this weekend being the last. Recently, Stephanie taught her first full lesson in front of the congregation in HEBREW! It was a little stressful, but she did great!

• JJ finished his last class for his masters (he got an A)! He is now TRYING to study for his Hebrew and Historical Geography comprehensive tests and finish one paper so he can finally be done and receive his degree. He also has been busy with OM and congregational leaders’ meetings, the home group and starting a discipleship friendship with a man in the congregation.

• Stephanie will begin upper division Hebrew language studies in March when the spring semester starts. This will be a big switch for the family as she will be out of the house four days a week.

• JJ is in the beginning stages of planning for a group from Woodbury to come this summer! We organize small group trips to Israel throughout the year. You may contact us if you are interested.

It has been a busy couple of months, and it has been good to see how God has opened doors to connect with people. From coffees to play times to hikes, we have had very good opportunities to engage with non-believers and believers.
Please contact the CCCC office if you want more information on our work.
Please pray for the following:

• JJ to have focus to finish his studies and Stephanie to excel in her study of Hebrew.

• The “Bayta” project as it is preparing to open and receive its first participant.

• More opportunities to speak into the lives of people around us!

Thank you.

JJ, Stephanie and family

The office staff is also investigating new technology and technology support for the purpose of saving time and money. A new website debuted in October. The software used for the website enables us to create The FORESEE in a digital format, with all articles stored on the website. The new FORESEE can also include video segments and links to offsite content.

The placement process will also be changed in the coming year. A secure website will allow churches and pastoral candidates to complete forms online. This process will provide an instant response matching churches and pastors, eliminating unnecessary paperwork and mailing costs. The Conference office and Area Representatives will remain involved in the placement process, but will serve in a support role, answering questions and providing counsel about a healthy pastoral call process.

These changes, along with others being considered, enable the Conference to be wise stewards of the financial and human resources supported by the annual budget. The changes allow the CCCC to operate more effectively and efficiently, thus allocating more resources for the God-given mission of the Conference.

by Betty Mitchell RN BSN
Parish Nurse at Emmanuel Bethel Church, Royal Oak, Michigan

Staying physically and mentally active in addition to eating well are often mentioned for successful aging. However, we also need to stay socially engaged or active as aging occurs.

Staying social becomes more of a challenge with the loss of loved ones, loss of mobility or loss of familiar surroundings. All of these can cause feelings of isolation.

Everyone needs to connect with other people. Even simple diversions such as going to the ballpark or playing bingo helps preserve physical and mental health. People who are engaged in regular social activity tend to have more endurance in walking and completing other physical tasks. They also tend to keep us mentally sharper.

To help maintain your well being or that of a loved one, engage in activities you enjoy, such as taking a class at the local community college, volunteering in your community, becoming more active in events at your church or taking up a new hobby. Not only will you keep your mind active by participating in these activities you will meet people who have similar interests and you will feel healthier.

Any activity you engage in should be fun, not stressful. The amount of time you are able to devote to any activity may be different for you than for someone else. However, doing something is much better than doing nothing. Activities with other people far outweigh electronic activities.

Source: Michigan Generations, Summer, 2010; www.time.com; www.nia.nih.gov.

Pastoral Opportunities

The CCCC 64th Annual Family Conference, to be held July 16–19, 2012 in Colorado Springs, will feature speakers vitally involved in some of the exciting things happening in our Conference. Built around the theme, “Making Disciples,” the event should serve as an encouraging word to all of us, particularly to those whose churches are struggling in some areas of ministry.

The theme is taken from John 8:31–32, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. We are called to make disciples (Matthew 28:18–20), people who follow the teachings, example and attitudes of Christ.

Speaker at the Monday evening session will be our Conference Minister, Dr. Ron Hamilton, who will challenge us from the conference theme.

Tuesday evening we will hear from Rev. Todd Venman, CCCC Vice President and chairman of the Church Development Committee. The concept of church development is discussed in John Kimball’s article in this issue of The FORESEE — how essential it is for all of our churches.

On Wednesday evening, our speaker will be Pastor Ajay Thomas, Church Planter in Philadelphia at the Seven Mile Road Church. Our emphasis on church planting has come to fruition in many places. Seven Mile Road Church in Philadelphia has a unique story of its own, one that will bless and challenge us.

Dr. Greg Waybright, senior pastor at Lake Avenue Congregational Church in Pasadena, California, will speak each day at the Morning Bible Hour. And the annual communion service on Thursday will be led by Rev. Paul McPheeters, our Conference President.