The Indiana Central District has been strategically focused on an Urban Thrust to the Indianapolis region since April, 2010. An Urban Initiative Task Force, under the umbrella of Stewardship Outreach Strategies, has met together on several occasions to brainstorm, strategize and begin to facilitate an organized Urban Ministry Strategy. To do so, a feasibility study and exploration for the development of an Indianapolis Community Based Ministry and Cross-Cultural Training Center was begun. Our initial goal was to provide holistic ministry to Indianapolis as well as other urban areas of the District. It has been our goal to provide recreational/sports, theater/arts, educational assistance, tutoring, legal aid, child care advocacy, senior care, immigration counseling, medical care and educational/vocational assistance. To this point, the following initiatives and ministries have come into fruition, and have been implemented as a result of partnering and strategic planning efforts, by this Urban Initiative Task Force:

• Urban Pastor’s Symposium at Indianapolis Bethany Wesleyan Church, in which there were networking opportunities as well as motivational appeals to ramp up our urban ministry efforts. At that event, Rev. Jim Weinmann, Senior Pastor of Indianapolis Evanston Wesleyan Church, was introduced to Rev. Kenaze Navarre, Haitian Pastor who was planning to start a Haitian Church in Indianapolis. Out of that event, these two Pastors have partnered together to start a new Wesleyan Haitian ministry – Metanoia (The First Haitian Wesleyan Church) at the Evanston Campus.

• A Community Health Fair was jointly sponsored by ICD and Indianapolis Calvary Family Wesleyan Church, under the leadership of Rev. Barry Dixon, Pastor. This was an excellent opportunity to reach this urban Eastside Community with a free Health Fair. Several ICD Churches also sent volunteers and partnered in this event, including Indianapolis Trinity, Indianapolis Bethany, Indianapolis Eastlawn, Noblesville Lakeview and the Indianapolis Sanctuary Church.  Since then, the Calvary Family Church has started a new Food Pantry that feeds many people from the community one Saturday per month. The Indianapolis Bethany Church, under the ministry of Rev. Eric Key, has begun a Clothing Outlet ministry to their community. Bethany Church is also partnering with a neighboring American Baptist Church in compassionate ministries.  Noblesville Lakeview Church, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Carol Schenck, has a growing Food Pantry ministry that has helped underprivileged families in their community.

• The Indianapolis Sanctuary Church, under the leadership of Lead Pastor Rev. George Martin has joined The Wesleyan Church as an Affiliate. Rev. Martin also serves on our District Urban Initiative Task Force.  We are resourcing the Sanctuary Church in their Urban ministry efforts, as networking opportunities are being provided in partnership with Wesleyan Community Based Ministries. Rev. Martin and his new Youth Pastor recently attended the Pre-CCDA Conference Wesleyan Community Based Ministries event in Indianapolis, along with other Urban Initiative Task Force members.  Great networking took place there!

• The Indianapolis Eastlawn Church has started a not-for-profit Urban Ministry Corporation to facilitate their new outreach ministries to their community. Their Urban vision has increased over the last year, as they have initiated this new vision for Eastlawn Community Ministries. They particularly have a growing Men’s Basketball ministry to the community, as well as Bible Studies for unchurched men and women, along with other initiatives that they are presently working on. Assistant Pastor Tyler Smith, as well as Mechelle Polter and Thomas Johnson are leading this new Urban thrust for Eastlawn, under the Pastoral leadership of Rev. David Cox.

The Urban Initiative Task Force now returns to strategizing about the implementation of an Indianapolis Urban Ministry Center.  This Urban Center will be designed to provide a Worship Center that is multi-ethnic.  At this site, as well as others around the Indianapolis region, Community Based Ministries will be provided for the following:

• ESL
• Job Corp
• Tutoring
• Health Care Center
• Financial Planning
• Clothing & Food Ministries
• Legal Counseling & Services
• Immigration Counseling & Services
• Urban Ministry Training

Stewardship Outreach Strategies, under the leadership of Dr. Rich Schenck and the Urban Initiative Task Force, will continue to facilitate this and other new Urban Ministry Planting efforts, as we work with the ICD Evangelism & Church Growth Board. Other ministries we are partnering together on are as follows:

• Wesleyan Community Based Ministries/Department of Spiritual Formation Training events;
• Partnering with Noblesville Lakeview Wesleyan Church to start a new Ministry Worship & Training Center at the Indiana Wesleyan University Indianapolis North Education Center Campus;
• Community Based Ministry Outreach Symposiums across the District; and
• Exploring other Urban strategies for our additional Urban areas of the district.

As we continue to strategize and implement our goals for Indianapolis, in partnership with local churches that have a vision to reach deeper into their local communities to plant new ministries, and in some cases beyond their communities, the following goals are emerging out of the needs being addressed:

1. To provide resource and training opportunities to those preparing for community based ministries, particularly those involved in cross-cultural and urban ministries;
2. To keep current with present demographics and emerging trends, problems, and potential ministry opportunities in our Metropolitan region;
3. To educate the church at large, bringing to an increased awareness, of the need to take the Gospel to the physically and spiritually disenfranchised in our communities; and
4. To work in conjunction with District and Denominational leaders as we partner with churches in our region to strategize and implement local and regional ministries.

Dr. Rich Schenck
Director, Stewardship Outreach Strategies
Indiana Central District of The Wesleyan Church
lakeviewwesleyan@att.net
www.indianacentral.org

Tags: community, outreach

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