Our church is selected as an Isiah Partner for Changemakers Initiative project. The first question that we face together was, “Whom do you serve?” We serve our church members and Stockton community in general, but they want to name specific groups of people for this project.
This project is a joint work with the Princetom Theological Seminary and the Changemaker Initiative. They want us to reflect on our church history and find out what is no longer works, what is happening now, and what the future will be.
We presented the beginning story of our church. A lay person (Mr. Westbay) put a tent, singing hymns, reading the Bible, and came out to find 70-80 people outside the tent who worshipped with him. We found four topicts from this beginning story.
We have music ministry, teaching ministry, and become a community center. We continues these three focuses led by lay people. Choirs, bell choir, children’s choir, orchestra and other musical events are one of our strengths. We also have strong relationship with University of Pacific and Central United Methodist Nursurey. Both are teaching ministry for adults and children. We are also community centers for homeless ministry, immigrants, and community outreach. It was a meaningful learning first day.
We want to continue these three areas with innovative ideas. I wait for the second day lectures and activities with other church pastors and laity.