Natural Church Development
The Oxford United Methodist Church is stepping forward with revitalizing our spiritual and congregational life using the Natural Church Development (NCD) program. This program was first initiated in 2006. NCD is a plan to renew and revitalize our congregation, and it is so simple:
(1) We pray for our church and its future.
(2) We find an area of our church life that most needs improvement.
(3) We make a one-year plan for improvements and we work on making those improvements.
The next year we repeat the process. In this way, we will steadily make improvements in the areas that need it the most.
The NCD program is guided by the Church Health Team: Bruce Denson, Steve Gabel, Marilyn Knox, Doug McVeigh, Brenda Gabel, and Rev. Paula.
PRAYER: The team asks you, our church family, to pray for the future of our church. Prayer is the most important place to begin, for without God’s blessing we won’t find God’s plan for us. Will you join us in applying the power of prayer? There are two ways to participate: (1) You may pray for the future of our church in your personal prayers, and (2) you may join a team of “prayers”, who will meet from time to time to pray together. Please let Rev. Paula know if you will help. Of course, your prayers are just as powerful if no one knows you are praying, but our Team and our Church will feel encouraged and strengthened knowing that they are lifted up on the wings of your prayers. Thanks so much!!
SURVEY: Each year a survey is filled out by thirty members of the congregation. The responses will enable us to select the area of our church life that needs improvement. Those who filled out the surveys had been selected based on several factors: activity in the church, age, and gender. With a limit of thirty surveys, not everyone could be asked. So…if you were not asked to fill out a survey, know that the reason was in part due to “chance factors”.
If we are to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, our church needs YOU and YOUR PRAYERS.
“I know the plans I have for you”
declares the LORD,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.”
Jeremiah 29:11-12
To help improve our abilities in faith sharing and Christian witness, the Health Team has recommended that all church committees & groups use a lay person to initiate the opening prayer. Rev. Paula is also beginning each meeting with a provocative faith question that the group takes up in discussion.
Three “Prayer 101” workshops are planned following service on May 18th, 25th and June 1st. All are welcome and refreshments will be served.
On April 6th the NCD survey was given to 30 members of the congregation. The results of this latest survey will tell us whether we should continue the focus on “Needs Based Evangelism” or move to another factor.
