FBC’s Work in 2015
WIN TEAM 1
Goals: To create a vibrant weekend experience that connects guests to God in Christ and to First Baptist Church
- We pushed back worship to 11:00 am to accommodate the Gathering Time and possibility of 2nd Service
- Results: Enables families with special needs to attend Church School and / or Worship.
- We opened the wall between the sanctuary and Barker Hall.
- Visible connection between gathering and worship.
- Implemented and operationalized The Gathering
- Results: Increase in guests attending and connecting at FBC
- Is a consistent first step toward discipleship as a place to meet the pastors
- Eliminated the Greeting of Friends and Guests section of the Worship service.
- The Gathering time has become a place for connection.
- Introverts have thanked us for discontinuing the Greeting during worship.
- Developed role-specific training/information for Greeters, Ushers, and Welcome Center representatives.
- 8 New Greeters involved and trained.
- Greeters have become Sunday morning hosts, helping put on the Gathering time.
- Developed a FBC Welcome Packet for guests
- Describe weekly how Visitor Cards are used.
- Script was written and operationalized
- Developed a parent/child sign-in/out process for Worship Care.
- Operationalized a system of drop off and pick up. Move Katherine, Admin Assitant to have Sunday hours.
- Worship Care Preschool attendance has increased. On Sunday, Jan 31 and Feb. 7 there were 20 preschool children in Worship Care.
- Educated the congregation about being “visitor friendly.”
- Hosted FBC 101, now called “Exploring God at FBC” Guest Lunches quarterly.
- Learned that guest lunches are not for guests seeking to become members but guests with more questions.
- Completed and integrated a new Church logo.
- Consistent communication to visitors
- Able to update exterior signs
- Completed an attractive, friendly, informative church website.
- Determined service style and targeted demographic
- Dialogued with congregation regarding purpose of service and alleviate concerns of congregation by creating small group discussions
- 2nd Service Design Team worked with Worship committee, pastors, music staff, LOGOS leaders, and 2nd Service Design Team what the service needs will be and what resources are currently available
- Launched a “Trial Run” 2nd Service on Sunday, March 27, 2016 with follow up survey to determine planners, partners and participants.
WIN TEAM 2
Goal – To create a plan that shares the love of Christ with the community to serve their needs and brings them into a relationship with Christ.
- Expanded Community Garden
- New raised beds, keyhole gardens, watermelon patch and Saturday Small Group
- Great harvest to Home Sweet Home Ministries Bread for Life Food Co-op
- Partnerships
- Strengthened and expanded partnership with HSHM
- Sugar Creek Elementary – 22 volunteers serving as Reading Buddies, Math Buddies, and Lunchroom Buddies and Special Event Volunteers
- Star Literacy: ESL Tutoring – Monday and Wednesday evenings 10-12 students and 5-7 FBC volunteers
- Mennonite Church of Normal; Dismantling Racism
- Art of Neighboring
- Combined Adult Study in August; 2 Block Parties; Canvassing Neighborhood in August
- Trunk or Treat – The Big Block Party
- 24 cars and 350 Trunk or Treaters
- Frosty’s Gift Shoppe
- 3 days, 200 shoppers, 800 gifts
- An abundance of Personal Shoppers
- Generous donations from FBC members and Friends
- Land and Building Research
- Increased usage by outside organizations
- Yancy Family Concert in March 2016
- VBS-Autism will meet here in July 2016
- Forging a Better Way Conference April 2015
- Trustees are in the process of streamlining Building Use Requests, especially for smaller groups.
- Still need to optimize the use of our education space, so that it used more than one to three hours per week Christian Education Committee
- Proposal from LKM including the Field, Walking Path, Fruit Trees, and Patio
