New Beginnings: What Is Our Future Story

“Absolutely joyful, but scary too”

“It’s absolutely joyful, but scary, too,” says Michael Davis, associate presbyter of congregational development for the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee. He’s reflecting on the change happening in the church he serves. Glencliff Presbyterian, a congregation of fewer than 50, recently decided to allocate a percentage of its resources to join a “parallel start” for a Hispanic new church development (NCD). The decision to partner in this Presbyterian mission came after the congregation went through a “New Beginnings” assessment offered by the office of Church Growth. We were in decline,” says Davis. “God used ‘New Beginnings’ to help our congregation understand that our future as a Presbyterian church in this community would be through ministry to a different culture … [Read More...]