Church Church PartnershipsPartnerships

Opportunities in challenging timesOpportunities in challenging times

Kirk Lyman-Barner, Director of U.S. Field Operations and pastor of Praxis United Church of Christ-Americus

In a challenging time for churches with a In a challenging time for churches with a growing number of people leaving and growing number of people leaving and self-identifying as “spiritual but not self-identifying as “spiritual but not religious,” we have a great opportunity to religious,” we have a great opportunity to be true to our calling as a Servant to the be true to our calling as a Servant to the Church by encouraging church leaders to Church by encouraging church leaders to use our housing ministry as a mission use our housing ministry as a mission outreach and evangelism tool. We will outreach and evangelism tool. We will discuss success stories and explore discuss success stories and explore strategies for partnering with churches to strategies for partnering with churches to turn the houses we build and repair into turn the houses we build and repair into sermons of God’s love.sermons of God’s love.

Our thesis…Our thesis…

The number of The number of Americans who claim Americans who claim to have no religious to have no religious affiliation is the affiliation is the highest it has ever highest it has ever been since the 1930s.been since the 1930s.

1930 5%1930 5%

1990 8%1990 8%

2013 20%2013 20%

*Pew Research Center October *Pew Research Center October 20132013

““Oh, I believe in God. I Oh, I believe in God. I just don’t go to church.”just don’t go to church.”

““I still love Jesus. It’s I still love Jesus. It’s his followers I just can’t his followers I just can’t really stand.”really stand.”

Introducing the “Nones” or Introducing the “Nones” or the “Spiritual But Not the “Spiritual But Not Religious”Religious”

In 2012, overall church In 2012, overall church giving decreased by $29 giving decreased by $29 billionbillion

In 2011, overall church In 2011, overall church giving decreased by $431 giving decreased by $431 millionmillion

Per capita giving $763 per Per capita giving $763 per personperson

Total membership in top 25 Total membership in top 25 churches: 145,691,446, churches: 145,691,446, down 1.15 percent.down 1.15 percent.

**Yearbook of American and Canadian Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches 2012Churches 2012

““CynicismCynicism

becomesbecomes

self-self-fulfilling.”fulfilling.”

Shrinking congregations and a Shrinking congregations and a tough economy result in tough economy result in smaller mission budgets.smaller mission budgets.

What is the impact on The Fuller Center for Housing?What is the impact on The Fuller Center for Housing?

Church giving to The Fuller Center Church giving to The Fuller Center for Housing home office is up 73%for Housing home office is up 73%

2010-2012% 2013%

Armenian 7% 8%

Baptist 29% 6%

Catholic 1% 1%

Church of the Brethren 0% 6%

Disciples 0% 0%

Episcopal 3% 0%

Independent 12% 7%

Lutheran 2% 2%

Mennonite 2% 0%

Methodist 13% 11%

Presbyterian 14% 4%

United Church of Christ 18% 56%

100% 100%

For FCH home office, our church giving is For FCH home office, our church giving is connected/motivated by the following in this order connected/motivated by the following in this order (greatest to least): (greatest to least):

1- Disaster projects 1- Disaster projects (sometimes U.S., sometimes international)(sometimes U.S., sometimes international)2- Mission Trips 2- Mission Trips (Global Builders or US Builders)(Global Builders or US Builders)3- International projects3- International projects4- Pass through to local CP's4- Pass through to local CP's5 - Misc. 5 - Misc. (Campaigns such as 40 Years in Africa, a few outright (Campaigns such as 40 Years in Africa, a few outright gifts, gifts, Bike Adventure churches, etc.) Bike Adventure churches, etc.)

Our international office’s appeal for #'s 1-3 is because we Our international office’s appeal for #'s 1-3 is because we really bring something to the table to help them do really bring something to the table to help them do something the church can't do without us.something the church can't do without us.

The increase in donations was due to a growth in our The increase in donations was due to a growth in our US and International Builder programs and US and International Builder programs and Hurricane SandyHurricane Sandy

The local covenant partners’ appeal is that we can create The local covenant partners’ appeal is that we can create meaningful service opportunities to help people in need meaningful service opportunities to help people in need right under the shadows of the steeple of the local church. right under the shadows of the steeple of the local church. Think about neighborhood revitalization storiesThink about neighborhood revitalization stories..

We continue to We continue to demonstrate that no demonstrate that no matter how bad the matter how bad the economy gets, God will economy gets, God will not go bankrupt.not go bankrupt.

A new narrative to combat cynicism….

How to work with How to work with churches at the local churches at the local level.level.

““Spiritual But Not Spiritual But Not Religious is Not Good Religious is Not Good Enough”Enough”

-Rev. Lillian Daniel-Rev. Lillian Daniel

Churches need to Churches need to return to building return to building communitycommunity

According to Lillian Daniel the According to Lillian Daniel the answer to “Spiritual But Not answer to “Spiritual But Not Religious” is community. Religious” is community. People People who feel allergic to institutions who feel allergic to institutions and are tired of church politics and are tired of church politics still long for community.still long for community.

Community Service and Mission Community Service and Mission Work are some of the best Work are some of the best opportunities for church opportunities for church evangelism to the unchurched.evangelism to the unchurched.

The rhythm of community life within The rhythm of community life within the church is more than Christmas, the church is more than Christmas, Easter and worship rituals and alter Easter and worship rituals and alter calls. calls.

BirthBirthBaptismsBaptismsChristian EducationChristian EducationCommunity Service and Mission WorkCommunity Service and Mission WorkWeddingsWeddingsVisiting the SickVisiting the SickFuneralsFunerals

The Fuller Center for Housing ministry The Fuller Center for Housing ministry is an excellent opportunity to not only is an excellent opportunity to not only do good work, but also to bring good do good work, but also to bring good news to the unchurched and reintroduce news to the unchurched and reintroduce them to a church community.them to a church community.

The definition of evangelism.The definition of evangelism.

The Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (pronounced The Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (pronounced ev-an-GEL-i-on ) originally meant good newsoriginally meant good news

εὔ = "good“ ἀγγέλλω = "I bring a εὔ = "good“ ἀγγέλλω = "I bring a message"message"

"This is the greatest illustrated sermon I have ever preached,"

~Pastor Derek Vreeland

Each year the Fuller Center Faith in Action Weekend is held the second weekend in October.

Two recent challenges Two recent challenges church leaders are church leaders are struggling withstruggling with

““Now you don’t have to read the book Toxic Now you don’t have to read the book Toxic Charity.”Charity.”

~Shane Claiborne ~Shane Claiborne

Helping

Agatha Fry, she made a pieAnd Christopher John helped bake itChristopher John, he mowed the lawnAnd Agatha Fry helped rake it

Now, Zachary Zugg took out the rugAnd Jennifer Joy helped shake itThen Jennifer Joy, she made a toyAnd Zachary Zugg helped break it

And some kind of help is the kind of helpThat helping's all aboutAnd some kind of help is the kind of helpWe all can do without

~by Shel Silverstein

The Fuller Center The Fuller Center ModelModel

Local leadershipLocal leadership Asset BuildingAsset Building Sweat EquitySweat Equity Partnership Partnership

between the poor between the poor and the non-poorand the non-poor

AffordableAffordable Capital not charityCapital not charity

Construction and Construction and Financial skills Financial skills trainingtraining

Cultural EducationCultural Education Public Public

accountabilityaccountability ReplicableReplicable SustainableSustainable Independence, not Independence, not

dependencydependency

Christian evangelism in its purest form: Christian evangelism in its purest form:

““We bring a message of good news for both the poor and those who have been blessed with abundance.”We bring a message of good news for both the poor and those who have been blessed with abundance.”

Clarence JordanClarence Jordan

“It has also become clear to us that as man has lost his identity with God he has lost it with his fellow man…. We must have a new spirit—a spirit of partnership with one another.”

“What the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers but co-workers. And what the rich need is a wise, honorable and just way of divesting themselves of their overabundance.”

-October 1968

Millard FullerMillard FullerThe “The “theology of the hammertheology of the hammer” is a term ” is a term Millard Fuller used to explain the idea that Millard Fuller used to explain the idea that we cannot just talk about our faith. We we cannot just talk about our faith. We must put faith and love into action. Faith must put faith and love into action. Faith must be incarnated. It must be acted out.must be incarnated. It must be acted out.This theology also is about bringing together a wide diversity of people, churches and other organizations to build houses and establish viable communities.

It is about acknowledging our differences: political, religious, philosophical, theological and cultural, while finding common ground in using a hammer to manifest God’s love.

The theology of the hammer is the belief that we are called by God to care for the poor.

Finally, this theology is about the realization that sufficient resources exist for solving the problem of poverty housing and homelessness. With God, all things are possible.

Pope Francis I Pope Francis I

““These days there is a lot of poverty in the These days there is a lot of poverty in the world, and that's a scandal when we have world, and that's a scandal when we have so many riches and resources to give to so many riches and resources to give to everyone. everyone. We all have to think about how We all have to think about how we can become a little poorer.”we can become a little poorer.”

7 Steps to Start the 7 Steps to Start the ConversationConversation

1.1. Begin with an attitude of Begin with an attitude of service. Churches are service. Churches are not ATMsnot ATMs

2.2. Meet with the pastor or Meet with the pastor or mission committee and mission committee and ask about their story and ask about their story and their needstheir needs

3.3. Share the Fuller Center Share the Fuller Center storystory

4.4. Ask if they have elderly Ask if they have elderly members, shut-ins or members, shut-ins or caregivers that may have caregivers that may have housing repair needshousing repair needs

5.5. Ask them to prayerfully consider Ask them to prayerfully consider engaging The Fuller Center to engaging The Fuller Center to help make the repairshelp make the repairs

6.6. Encourage the congregation to Encourage the congregation to use the project as an evangelism use the project as an evangelism opportunity to invite friends of opportunity to invite friends of members who are part of members who are part of “Spiritual but not Religious” “Spiritual but not Religious” crowdcrowd..

7.7. Ask prayers from the Ask prayers from the congregation and for help congregation and for help spreading the word about The spreading the word about The Fuller Center through their Fuller Center through their newsletter, minutes for mission newsletter, minutes for mission during the worship service and during the worship service and other opportunitiesother opportunities

7 Steps for 7 Steps for EngagementEngagement

1.1. Be very prepared and Be very prepared and very specific about the very specific about the scope of the projectscope of the project

2.2. Make sure that the Make sure that the family selection and family selection and family partnership team family partnership team has prepared the familyhas prepared the family

3.3. Help the congregation Help the congregation think through think through fundraising ideas if they fundraising ideas if they have no available funds have no available funds from their mission from their mission budgetbudget

4.4. Think about Think about opportunities to opportunities to maximize the story maximize the story within the congregation within the congregation and throughout your and throughout your service areaservice area

5.5. Make sure tools, Make sure tools, materials, and adequate materials, and adequate supervision are on site on supervision are on site on the day of the projectthe day of the project

6.6. Don’t forget to plan for Don’t forget to plan for safety orientation and safety orientation and allow time for volunteers allow time for volunteers to clean up the job site to clean up the job site and put away the toolsand put away the tools

7.7. Ask for help from the Ask for help from the church at the dedication church at the dedication servicesservices

Being a community organizer requires being organized.

7 Steps for Follow Up7 Steps for Follow Up

1.1. Visit with the mission leadership Visit with the mission leadership team after the build to discuss what team after the build to discuss what went well and what can be improvedwent well and what can be improved

2.2. Share with the congregation specific Share with the congregation specific needs for help on your board and needs for help on your board and committeescommittees

3.3. Continue to communicate with the Continue to communicate with the congregation through newsletters, congregation through newsletters, emails and other communication emails and other communication toolstools

4.4. Invite the congregation to all future Invite the congregation to all future house dedicationshouse dedications

5.5. Explore the possibility of Explore the possibility of connecting the church connecting the church with another area with another area congregation to take on congregation to take on bigger projectsbigger projects

6.6. Introduce them to our Introduce them to our Global Builders programGlobal Builders program

7.7. Interview and seek Interview and seek permission to share the permission to share the story of any new story of any new members who joined the members who joined the church family because of church family because of this mission project. this mission project. Their stories may inspire Their stories may inspire others.others.

7 Really Cool Church 7 Really Cool Church StoriesStories

Each one demonstrates examples of ways The Fuller Center for Housing is fulfilling its calling to be “a servant to the church.”

1. Bossier First United Methodist 1. Bossier First United Methodist ChurchChurch

2. Atlantic City and Haiti – UCC 2. Atlantic City and Haiti – UCC PartnershipsPartnerships

30 houses funded in Haiti!30 houses funded in Haiti!

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST GRANTS $25,000

FOR MILLARD FULLER LEGACY BUILD

One Great Hour of Sharing has turned into one great

boost for The Fuller Center for Housing's Superstorm

Sandy recovery work in Atlantic City, N.J.

One Great Hour of Sharing is the refugee, relief and

development offering of the United Church of Christ

and recently gave $25,000 to The Fuller Center to use

toward construction costs associated with the 2013

Millard Fuller Legacy Build that will bring more

than 200 volunteers to Atlantic City April 28-May 3 to

work on about 20 homes damaged by flooding from

Superstorm Sandy last fall.

“I think we are clear about The Fuller Center and

its reputation,” said Florence Coppola, executive

for the UCC's National Disaster Ministries. “(The

Fuller Center) is reliable and also a good partner.

And I know that the money will be put to good

use. We are obviously, from our side, wanting to be

good partners also in this adventure. And it's

recognizing the overwhelming needs in Atlantic City,

which is the focus of this Legacy Build, and the people

who live in poverty all the time — not just because of

Hurricane Sandy, knowing that these are people with

no way out.”

3. Louisville, KY3. Louisville, KY

Weekly prayer breakfast with area non-profits and churches in the neighborhood they are serving. The group has grown to 36 people who are committed to transform the neighborhood and restore hope.“What a great thing to see how Christ our Lord is truly with us, leading the way for all of us to serve him in so many ways.”

-Steve Marrillia

Shawnee and Portland Prayer Warriors

4. World Changers – Hammond, LA 4. World Changers – Hammond, LA

5. First Presbyterian 5. First Presbyterian Greenwood, MSGreenwood, MS

6. Main Street Congregational, 6. Main Street Congregational, Amesbury, MAAmesbury, MA

4 Trips to Haiti!

Last year we constructed a Haitian style home right on our own front lawn at Main Street Church in downtown Amesbury. Each cement block purchased brought us closer to Haiti. Well we did it again...and raised $1,800.00 throughout the evening.  Thank you for donating towards our ongoing efforts to send the next team to Haiti.  

7. Church Affiliated 7. Church Affiliated OrganizationsOrganizations

High SchoolsHigh Schools Colleges like Mercer Colleges like Mercer

University Women's University Women's Basketball TeamBasketball Team

Denominational Denominational Programs like Programs like Southern Baptists Southern Baptists World ChangersWorld Changers

Intentional Christian Intentional Christian Communities like Communities like Koinonia Farm and Koinonia Farm and The Simple WayThe Simple Way

Jonathan Wilson HartgroveJonathan Wilson Hartgrove

Q?Can a mission service project, be used as an experiencethat might attract the religiously unaffiliated?

A.A.““I think the answer is I think the answer is YES. As a matter of YES. As a matter of fact, it's probably the fact, it's probably the best best evangelism/outreach evangelism/outreach plan for these folks.”plan for these folks.”

David Snell, President and Co David Snell, President and Co FounderFounder

““The church is at The church is at the heart of the the heart of the success of The success of The Fuller Center for Fuller Center for Housing.”Housing.”

Thank youThank you

Questions? Stories to Questions? Stories to share?share?