East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org

2014 D i r. o f Ch u r c h P la nt ing R eport • Jason R. Condon • May 3, 2014 • pg. 1 of 4

Diverse Family of FaithOur Covenant Agreement Signings in recent months

Pastor Chih Lung “Paul” Lin, Taiwanese pastor, culturally diverse Mandarin-language church plant in Quincy MA

Pastor Kimberly Wright, African-American, reaching ethnically & economically diverse Harlem & Manhattan

Pastors Eli Hernandez & Don Schiewer (our newly planted Mid-Atlantic Cohort). Eli: Puerto Rican, reaching Anglo, African-American, and Hispanic peoplesDon: Anglo, reaching post-modern college town with culturally & increasingly ethnically diverse church plant

REPORT2014 Dir. of Church Planting

A Growing Family on MissionBirthing Healthy, Missional, New Congregations

Healthy families grow. Whether biological, adoptive, or even as a spiritual metaphor, adding new families members is a sign of health, movement, and greater purpose. For the East Coast Conference, this is an increasing blessing.

The picture above is just one of many “family portraits” that showcase the blessings God brings through calling men and women to start new families of faith within the larger family of the East Conference Conference, the Covenant, and God’s Church in the world (Spring 2013 Assessment Center “Recommended” candidates). Our church plants also help us further a fuller reflection of the image of God and Jesus’ kingdom purposes of “every nation, tribe, people and language” joining in his worship (see sidebar). As you go over this report and the other church planting materials in

print and online, consider them in a fresh ways: “school pictures”, family “Christmas Letter”, report cards and artwork you proudly display on the fridge. Know also that your direct prayers, tangible support, and shared ministry across the Conference are indispensable to your healthy, growing family!

Much grace,

Jason R. CondonDirector of Church Planting

2014 Dir. of Church Planting

REPORT

“Be fruitful and multiply [...] I will be a Father to you, and you

will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

(Gen. 1:28b, 2 Cor. 6:18)

East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org

2014 D i r. o f Ch u r c h P la nt ing R eport • Jason R. Condon • May 3, 2014 • pg. 2 of 4

Make & Deepen DisciplesOur Greatest Goal is Disciples Growing in Christ

Driven by a shared conviction that making disciples is the highest call of any Christian, pastor, or church, ECConf church planters and friends spent our 2013-2014 Regional Church Planting Cohorts Season focused on Discipleship. Challenges, opportunities, models, and measures are all part of the in-depth conversation. Discussion, debates, attendance at two discipleship-themed conferences, and peer-led presentations of best-practices, all added to the richness of this pursuit.

The two-part culmination of this multi-month “Discipleship Series” began with our first-ever “Full Day” Cohort gatherings in NYC and Boston. The two keynote speakers were: Don Schiewer and Eli Hernandez. both part of our newly planted Mid-Atlantic Church Planter Cohort. The final installment and application will take place at our annual All-Church Planters Retreat in May

Special Cohorts Invite to All Pastors: Church Planter Cohort gatherings are “open” and listed at eastcoastconf.org/calendar. Topics and conversations have broad ministry application beyond church planting. We’ve already been blessed to have other pastors often joining in! Just RSVP jasonrcondon@gmail.com whenever interested.

L I FE & MIN I ST RY T OGETHER

One Big Covenant FamilyEast Coast Conference, Covenant, and Your Congregations “In It Together!”

“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” is a fitting metaphor for the Covenant family’s shared mission. Each church planting

project is a tangible partnership at every level: Denomination, Conference, and Local Churches. Prayer, relationships, mission giving, and direct partnerships are vital ways established churches invest in the future of their “spiritual kids and grand-kids” through church planting.

A ”Family Portrait” - Covenant Agreement Signing, (L-R): • Chris Bannon - Planter/Pastor, The Commons, Rochester NH

(+ developing partnerships with other Covenant Churches) • John Teter - Covenant Church Planting Team Leader• Jason Condon - ECConf Director of Church Planting

New Covenant Church Planting Logo & Branding with ECConf Customization

Feb “Full Day” Cohort Gatherings:• (L): Eli Hernandez: “Spiritual

Discipline of Physical Health”• (C): Jason: “Enlisting the ‘Science of

Influence’ for Discipleship Success”• (R): Don Schiewer: “The Principles &

Practice of Discipleship”

“Discipleship Series” Resources:• posted at www.jasoncondon.com• includes handouts, video, tools,

seminar materials, and much more

Three Current Church Planter Cohorts: • Greater Boston/New England• NY/NJ Metro• Mid-Atlantic (newly “planted” in 2013)

East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org

2014 D i r. o f Ch u r c h P la nt ing R eport • Jason R. Condon • May 3, 2014 • pg. 3 of 4

GENERAT IO N T O G ENERAT ION

Parent Churches Partner Churches Support ChurchesDEFINITION: Provide initial core of at least 30 Launch Team members and “third stream” funding of $50-70k over 3-4 years. Significant relational connection between both churches

Provide substantial portion of initial Launch Team members and some of the “third stream” funding over 3-4 years, equivalent to roughly 1/2 to 1/5 of a “parent church” commitment

Commit as an entire church or through individual members to provide tangible support through prayer, resources, volunteering, and the occasional celebrated Launch Team member

FEATURES: primarily nearby mission field, full support, fishing license for Launch Team, baby shower for start-up equipment, blessing and celebration. Think “Mom & Dad”

nearby or regional mission, seek to “tithe” members, tangible support & encouragement, short-term missionaries. Think “grandparents” and “older brothers & sisters”

Opportunity for measurable healthy missional efforts for the support church, picture on the fridge, care packages, project volunteers. Think “aunts and uncles”, “first and second cousins”

OPPORTUNITIES 1: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Greater Boston, and NY/NJ Metro are current top candidates for fully-parented projects

2 Probably 60-70% of the ECConf geography, limited only by a critical mass of regional Covenant Churches partnering together in mission

Opportunities across entire Conference, with even greater potential when also joining with “partner churches” to reach our more northern and southern areas

CAPACITY 3: At least 6-8 ECConf churches have the missional capacity and potential vision for this level

40-50 churches 3 across the ECConf, all in the Healthy-Missional/Stable spectrum, could partner in this way

One and All 3. There’s literally no church too [fill-in-the-blank] that can’t pray, take a love offering, hold babies, and more!

1 Based on close proximity of potential Parent Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (the most constraints)2 Based on regional proximity of a critical mass of potential Partner Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (fewer constraints)3 Based on combination of self-reporting and Conference-staff insights on ranges of healthy missional vitality of various Conference churches

1 Based on close proximity of potential Parent Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (the most constraints)2 Based on regional proximity of a critical mass of potential Partner Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (fewer constraints)3 Based on combination of self-reporting and Conference-staff insights on ranges of healthy missional vitality of various Conference churches

1 Based on close proximity of potential Parent Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (the most constraints)2 Based on regional proximity of a critical mass of potential Partner Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (fewer constraints)3 Based on combination of self-reporting and Conference-staff insights on ranges of healthy missional vitality of various Conference churches

Parent & Partner ChurchesA Significant ECConf Family Need Going Forward

Every church had a beginning. Whether days, decades, or centuries old, every congregation had it’s birth. Yet no “birth” takes place without parents. And “surviving and thriving” won’t sustain without family support.

As a new generation of ECConf Church Planting grows and moves forward, the need and opportunity for Parent, Partner, and Support churches grows with it. You–leaders, pastors, congregations, followers of Jesus–are indispensable members of both your local and larger church family that grows and reproduces. Prayerfully consider how you might join in birthing and raising up of newborn congregations. God wants his family to grow.

It Takes a Village Conference...

Let’s Start the ConversationSr. Pastors: I’d love to take you out for lunch or coffee to hear your thoughts & dreams and answer any questions (no pressure or commitments implied)

Church Leaders: Schedule a two hour meeting for an initial conversation and consultation

Contact Me Anytime (or soon :)• jasonrcondon@gmail.com• facebook.com/jasoncondon• (860) 479-2020

“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of

your mighty acts.”~ Psalm 145:4 ~

East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org

2014 D i r. o f Ch u r c h P la nt ing R eport • Jason R. Condon • May 3, 2014 • pg. 4 of 4

2014 (so far!)

Dan & Amanda Sadlier, Hope Roosevelt Island (NY)

Chris & Becca Bannon, The Commons Covenant Church (Rochester NH)

Grant & Miho Buchholtz, Tokyo Life (developing special partnership, Japan)

In DevelopmentTwo more “Recommended” Candidates working toward official status later this year

2013

Chih Lung “Paul” & Lee Lin, Christ’s Mandarin ECC 大波士頓國語基督教會(Quincy MA)

Don & Tana Schiewer, Dust Covenant Church(Blacksburg VA)

Eli & Yashida Hernandez, Charm City Covenant Church (Baltimore MD)

2013 cont’d

Kim Wright, Church of the Resurrection ECC (Harlem)

T.C. & Osheta Moore, New City Boston ECC (South End/Lower Roxbury MA)

2012

Stephen & Kathleen Sharkey, Highrock Quincy ECC (Quincy MA)

Aaron & Ariel Engler, Highrock North Shore ECC (Salem MA)

Drew & Tina (Park-Hyun) Hyun, Hope Church NYC ECC (Astoria NY)

Andrew & Corrie Mook,Sanctuary Church ECC (Providence RI)

2011

Phil & Betsy Bonano, New Season Cov (Bronx NY)

Efrain & Erika Alicea, Elements Cov (Bronx NY)

2010

Michael & Liz Carrion, Promised Land Covenant Church (Bronx NY)

Monyroor & Amou Teng, Sudanese ECC (Manchester NH)

2009

Derrick & Linda Jackson, Life Covenant Church(Morganville NJ)

2008

Kiho & Sunseong Lee, Worship Frontier ECC(Brookline MA, 2008)

2008 cont’d

Frank & Austin Catalano, Evergreen Covenant Church(Sanford ME, 2008)

Josh & Minhee Throneburg, Highrock Brookline ECC (Brookline MA 2008)

2007

Jose & Mayra Humphreys, Metro Hope ECC (Harlem)

Not Pictured (still pray!):2014 Candidates

We’ll have about a Dozen Candidates for upcoming 2014 Assessment Centers! (5-6 in May, 4-6 in Sept)

7-10 Years Old• Cornerstone - in Pastoral

Search (Boston, 2004)

• Conway & Deborah Boyce, Brooklyn Covenant Ministries (NY, 2004)

• Paul & Kelley McCart, Parkside Covenant (Clifton Park, NY 2004)

• Peter & Jenny Ahn, Metro ECC (Englewood NJ, 2003)

THE FAM I LY T H AT PRAYS TOGETHER . . .

Therefore encourage one another and build each other

up, just as in fact you are doing.” ~ The Apostle Paul ~(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Please regularly lift up in prayer these current and future church planting pastors & their families. Visit, engage, encourage, and partner as God leads!

Pray For & Encourage Your Church Planting Family