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Letter From the President
Click here to return to the Church Innovations web site. Dear Partners, The end of the year causes reflection on the past and on the future. Advent does the same in that it points back to the first Advent of our Lord and looks forward to the next. At Church Innovations, we tie together these two occasions for looking back and forward. As an organization, we evaluate and assess our success in “innovating your church’s capacity to be renewed in God’s mission.” We look to the New Year and try to envision how we might better accomplish the same mission. And, as a part of the Church, we look back with an ever-fuller appreciation of the richness of our Lord’s first Advent and yearn for the second. In the meantime, we live hoping God will find us fulfilling God’s mission. As an organization, this past year has been strong, quiet and one of intense growth. The year has seen the Partnership for Missional Church gain tremendous organizational strength. Pat Taylor Ellison engaged the entire organization and many PMC partners in completing a new documentation of the Partnership’s spiritual journey. This included three volumes of the local church guide and the consultants’ guide, as well as significant training processes for the growing number of coaches, consultants, researchers, listening leaders, judicatory staff persons, and other partners around the world. In May, Bob Armstrong became managing director of PMC in North America. Bob has brought such abundant strength to our team. He is a critical part of PMC’s organizational growth. We finish the year fiscally stronger than in any year before. While the realities of the worldwide economy have already taken toll on PMC’s growth rate internationally and in North America, we believe that 2009 will be an even stronger year fiscally. Most importantly, we see very good reasons to see our vision for mission realized on a scale only hoped for in past years. And, while that hope has been strong, the advent of this long-hoped-for growth in breadth and depth makes a major difference in the life of Church Innovations. To those of you who have supported us with your partnership, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks. For those of you who watch our modest enterprise with interest, I offer an invitation to join us. To those who make up CI’s staff, I thank God for your commitment and delight in our future opportunities. Peace, Patrick
R. Keifert Please support Church Innovations Thank you for your continued interest and support of Church Innovations. We ask for your prayers and, if so moved, your financial support, which is always needed to help us have the greatest impact for God. God has a preferred and promised future for all congregations, and with the support of individuals, foundations and partner congregations, we will be financially able to help them discern and respond to God’s call. Church Innovations is a 501(c)3 non-profit so provides a tax deduction – please consider us in your charitable contributions. Please click here for more information or to make a donation. |
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