Church Multiplication Thrived in Rochester
by Rob O’Neal, Director of Church Multiplication
When we gathered for our Annual Gathering in Rochester, New York recently, the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference pushed the Church Multiplication Movement forward in significant ways. On Monday, planters and people involved in the movement met with Dr. Bob Logan, a talented coach, theologian, and church planter himself. We worked together on coaching techniques that can help us to equip our church planters for success.
Later in the afternoon, Ron Hamilton, our Conference Minister, challenged and thanked our planters. (He actually walked up to each one of us and said, “Thank you for your service.” It was a holy moment.) After prayer and networking time, the movement gathered for a meal and a keynote address by Bob Logan. These meetings were all part of what we call “The Nineveh Project.” This meeting normally happens at another time of year in another location, and it brings planters and members of the Church Multiplication Movement together for encouragement, networking, and challenging. We call it The Nineveh Project, because we are reminded by God by the prophet Jonah that he cares for what happens in great cities like Nineveh. This year The Nineveh Project happened right alongside the Annual Gathering, and it allowed more planters to participate in the Annual Gathering.
Once the Annual Gathering began, church planters were everywhere! They taught seminars, participated in sessions, worshipped and enjoyed the full benefits of a fantastic time together. The Annual Gathering was also a time when the Conference blessed and embraced the Church Multiplication Movement. The pastors and churches of the Conference expressed interest in church planting and support for this important effort. As Director of Church Multiplication, this kind of support is quite heartening. As a Conference we have enthusiastically embraced the reality that church multiplication is not only our pathway to thriving, but the natural outgrowth of church health. Church planting is not just something lone rangers do in our Conference. It is something our healthy churches do together. That is the clearest expression possible of our health and vitality as a Conference. I look forward to another year of work ahead, another set of opportunities to forward God’s work together, and a chance to see everyone again in 2016!
