God loves SPOKANE OUR L AUNCH PL AN

Transcription

1 God loves SPOKANE OUR L AUNCH PL AN

2 from GOD

3 Dear Potential Partner, Thank you for your interest in our plans to start a new church in Spokane, Washington. We value your time and appreciate you investing some of it into finding out more about the launch of Sun City Church. We understand that a fundamental piece to our launch plan is who we are as the lead pastors. Because of that, we want to take some time before getting into all the details to give you a little insight into who we are and why we feel confident that God has called us into this new role for our lives. Do you remember when the teacher used to ask you who you wanted to be when you grew up? Jamie would probably have said something along the lines of a nurse or doctor. Danny might have said he wanted to be a musician. And both of us began pursuing careers along those lines in college. Can you recall the moment that you awakened to what God actually designed you for? We hadn t met each other yet, but individually God began to stir something in our hearts for church leadership and pastoral ministry. Without knowing it, our paths began to shift towards one another. The following year we enrolled in a leadership training program through the church we were attending and met the person who would become our future spouse., Remember when you realized that you had a part to play in a much bigger plan, one that has been unfolding since the beginning of creation? During those early conversations we tried to wrap our minds around God s master plan and how we would fit into His eternal story. Personally, each of our lives had been transformed by an encounter with God. We knew that we wanted to spend our time, energy, and resources to give away that same experience to others. And the dream of becoming lead pastors of a church with that same heartbeat was born. v David, Hudson, & Annie Lead Pastors Danny & Jamie Schulz

4 Over 450,000 people live in the Spokane area. Homelessness, high crime rates, and widespread drug addiction WEIGH HEAVY ON THESE STREETS It s time for that to change Ministering to people has consistently been a defining mark of our relationship. When we were first married, we moved to Bend, Oregon where we served a volunteer leaders. Whether it was leading worship, hosting small group discussions, teaching doctrine classes, preaching to the youth ministry, meeting with individuals one on one, or strategizing for ministry structure, we loved investing in the local church. And looking back, it was during this season that God began to clarify some of the details of our dream. We realized that we loved doing life together with others through small groups and team ministry. In 2005, Pastors Steve and Taunia Meistrell asked us to move back to the Treasure Valley and become youth and worship pastors for their young church plant. The opportunity gave us an inside look at starting a church. From raising funds, to building a leadership team, to developing a service, we learned more than we could have ever imagined from the hands-on training. We began a youth ministry from scratch, learned how to put on a conference for the youth of Idaho, and helped grow a intern program that has become a satellite campus of Portland Bible College. Throughout the years, God further clarified the original dream in our hearts. Little by little, we have come to understand who God has uniquely created us to be and the specific work He has called us to do. The dream of God that we have been carrying inside of us for the past decade is becoming a reality. We are confident that starting a new church in Spokane, Washington is the next step in our journey and that becoming lead pastors is the role God is calling us to. David Shapiro has said, The good life is living in the place you belong, with the people you love, doing the right work, on purpose. As we pack up everything we own, say goodbye to our friends, and set out on this adventure, it is with the assurance that this is exactly where God has called us to be. This is our good life. And we hope that you will join us as we buckle up for the ride. With resolute faith in God s plans, Danny and Jamie Schulz

5 THE NAME - SUN CITY CHURCH Knowing how easy it is for a church family to become focused on who is already there instead of who is still coming, we were looking for a name that would always remind us of who we are as a church and why. A name that says, We exist for the people of Spokane. We wanted a name that honored the past, engaged in the present, and painted a picture of a future in Christ. The city of Spokane gets its name from the Native American tribe, the Spokane, which means children of the sun. Just as Jesus stepped out of Heaven and became one of us to help people far from God to know Him and become like Him, so we are going to become part of a community that already exists. With that in mind, it is only fitting to us that our name is drawn from the original identity of the Spokane people. Secondly, the name Sun City Church speaks of the calling we feel in our spirits from God to embark on this work of starting a new church. The commission that God gave Abraham so many thousands of years ago has been fresh on our hearts as we leave family and friends to start a new church: It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance... Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. Hebrews 11:8,10 We aren t setting out just to build another building to have church in. Our work is to come alongside God in constructing a spiritual city; one whose impact will touch individuals, families, and whole communities. Finally, as we step into this divine work, we remember that we are only one piece of the Church of God that will eventually make up the prophetic picture of the heavenly city we see in Revelation 21:22-24, I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. It is our heart that Spokane, the children of the sun, will become a part of that great city whose sun will be the glorious Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Pulling from the past, embracing the present call of God, and looking into the future, Sun City Church is a prophetic name of redemption, transformation, and promise.

6 Why ANOTHER CHURCH? An estimated 8-10,000 churches are closing their doors every year in America. At the same time, studies tell us that the percentage of people who believe in God and want to have a relationship with Him are not declining. u Over 450,000 People live in the Spokane area. While the population of Spokane, WA is consistently growing, overall church attenance in America is declining. There has never been a greater need for the Church to bridge the gap between the unchurched and the love of God U.S. Church Attendance Spokane Population , ,721 1 in 3 children are responsible for taking care of themselves after school Some estimates range as high as 86% for divorce rates in Spokane 14.5% of the population of Spokane, WA currently attend church With the Cascade Mountains on the West, the Rocky Mountains to the East, and the Spokane River cascading right through the middle, the city of Spokane is a beautiful place to live. The mountains shield the city from the weather that most of the Pacific NW region is known for; Spokane experiences less than half the rainfall that Seattle does. Because of this, the people in the region enjoy hiking, fishing, skiing, and camping in the beautiful mountains and countryside. You would think that with its beautiful landscape, gorgeous weather and attractive colleges, Spokane would be a city bursting with promise. However, large numbers of homeless, high crime rates and widespread drug addiction have weighed heavy on the city over the decades. It is a city ripe for the message of the gospel and looking for those who will meet practical needs.

7 The SOLUTION Every generation needs to hear the Gospel communicated in its own language. While the message never changes, the way in which it is communicated is always changing. This leads us to the conclusion that there is always a need for a new church, a new way of communicating the gospel, and a new vision of what it means to be the church in the 21st century. Finally, studies have told us for years that the most effective way to reach unchurched people with the Gospel message is through a new church. A couple of reasons for this include: 1) A new church community tends to adopt an on mission mindset of reaching out to their city. They must reach new people in order to survive as a church. 2) Unchurched people have an easier time connecting in relationships within a new church setting where everyone is still getting to know each other. 3) A freshly formed leadership team often thinks outside of the box in how to be relevant, relational, and engaging in today s always changing culture. Our STRATEGY "There are many things that will catch my eye, but there are only a few things that will catch my heart. It is those I consider to pursue." - Tim Redmond Weekend Worship Experiences Our primary method of evangelism is creating a worship experience that people will want to bring their friends to. If we were inviting someone to come into our home we would do everything possible to make them feel comfortable and cared about. The weekend service at Sun City Church is exactly that. From the parking lot attendants to the greeters to the children s workers to the worship band to the preacher...everything is intentionally done to make our guests feel welcome and at home. Small Groups Experience tells us that people will become like who they hang out with. We want to inspire people to grow in their relationship with God by encouraging them to develop friendships with other people who are becoming like Jesus. Our small groups will be made up of people who are in the same season of life, want to grow in the same area, live close to each other, or enjoy the same activities together. Service Opportunities It is a natural process for people to become less inward focused and more outward focused as they mature in Christ. As people discover a desire to serve others, we at Sun City Church want to help people find a perfect fit to serve based on their gifting and passions. When people discover their sweet spot where they love to serve others, the whole church is better because of it. Next Steps We want to make it easy for someone to take the next step in their relationship with God. Each week we will host a gathering designed to help newcomers take the next step in connecting with Sun City Church. From getting to know our leaders, to becoming a member of the church, to learning how to grow in their relationship with God, to finding a spot to serve, each week will help them take another step in becoming a part of our community.

8 VISION The CHURCH we SEE HELPING FROM GOD KNOW AND BECOME. We see a Church that looks like Jesus inside of our community. A people who rally to meet needs, extend grace and proclaim salvation. Unafraid of getting their hands dirty, they are a tribe of people who want to bless others in the same way they have been blessed. We see a Church that has thoughtfully created a welcoming environment for people who are far from God to be introduced to His Presence. It is a place where friends can bring friends because they are confident they will be treated like family coming home. We see a Church known for its generous giving both in the community and extended Body of Christ. Whether it is time, resources, talent, or money, they are people who are always looking to invest in eternity by blessing others. We see a Church that prioritizes people over programs. Just like Jesus modeled for us, they always have time to touch a life and make an eternal impact. They can say with confidence and conviction, People are my gold. We see a Church that intentionally focuses their gaze upon the people who are not yet here. They make time to be involved in their community, serving and caring for people. Their heart is to lead people home to the love of God. We see a Church with leaders who function as a team. With the same heart and spirit, each is committed to something bigger than themselves. When each one plays his or her part, something that can only be described as God-breathed takes place: the love of God is visibly expressed to a city.

9 Our Values These convictions will GUIDE how the VISION becomes REALITY OUTWARD FOCUS We exist for those who aren t yet here We believe it takes intentional focus to keep our attention on the people who have yet to walk through our doors. In every planning conversation we want to give careful consideration to the community, individuals and families who aren t a part of our church yet. GENEROSITY We make a life by what we give We believe that we are blessed to be a blessing. When people talk about Sun City Church, we want them to say, Those people are always giving something away. THOUGHTFULNESS We sweat the small stuff We believe that everything we do should communicate thought, care, and excellence. As guests visit our church, as families return home, as we reach out and touch our community, we want people to know that we were planning with them in mind. TEAMWORK We are better together We believe that working as a team brings out the best in each individual. Doing so requires humility, a commitment to communication, and a passion to serve each other which causes each of us to grow in Christ-like character. People are our gold We believe that the most important part of what we do is interacting with and valuing people. Everything we do is to demonstrate the love of God for people and lead them into the good plans He has in store for them.

10 Timeline March - God confirmed the dream of starting a church that we carried in our hearts. We began having conversations with Pastor Steve about transitioning. February - We started praying about Spokane, WA as a possible location for the church October - We trained in Alabama with ARC in order to be equipped and assessed as church planters November - Sun City Church was officially incorporated 2014 March - Our plans were made public to move and start a new church July - The Schulz s relocate to Spokane, WA. August - Develop launch team, raise funds, and nuture community relationships January - Launch Weekend Sun City Church will hold it s first service Launch Weekend: JANUARY 2015

11 Cost EQUIPMENT $80,500 Sound Equipment & Instruments $35,000 Staging & Backdrop $3,000 Lighting $3,000 Video $9,000 Truck and Trailer $9,000 Children s Ministry $15,000 Chairs $6,500 MARKETING $23,500 Web Design (Hosting & Graphics) $1,000 Social Media $1,000 Google $1,000 Direct Mail $12,000 Door Hangers & Invite Cards $5,000 Signage $3,500 OUTREACH $10,000 Local Outreach $5,000 Ministry Partners & Causes $5,000 START UP $18,000 Launch Team Development $2,000 Office Equipment $4,000 Software $2,000 Facility Rental (3 Months) $6,000 Traveling/Training $3,000 Insurance $1,000 Our launch goal is $132,000 *Itemized listing is available upon request. All financial support is 100% tax deductible.

12 HOW TO HELP Pray If you would like to partner with us in prayer, we would like to invite you to subscribe to our prayer newsletter. Periodically, we will send out updates on things we are praying for. We will also keep you in the loop about how God is answering those prayers. You can sign up to receive our prayer newsletter at the link below. suncitychurch.com/pray Give Unashamedly, we need money. We have a big vision that is going to take a lot of money. Honestly, we don t think this would even be worth doing if that were not the case. So, we are asking for you to partner with us in this endeavor by giving. Our goal is to raise the funds for the first year budget by the time we launch in January of suncitychurch.com/give Join If you have been reading through this and it has been resonating with you then maybe you are called to join us. Our greatest resource will always be people and we are praying for like-hearted individuals and couples to add themselves to the launch team of Sun City Church. Together, we can help people who are far from God to know Him and become like Him. suncitychurch.com/join Share If you have friends or family in the Spokane area, we d be honored if you d share this great news with them. Even if you don t know anyone you can help us spread the word through social media. It is quickly becoming one of the biggest ways that news travels. Please follow us on Twitter, Instagram and like us on Facebook. You will not only help us get the word out but you will also be able to follow along with our story as it unfolds. suncitychurch.com/share

13 ASSOCIATION OF RELATED CHURCHES We are excited to partner with the ARC (Association of Related Churches). They have been training and coaching us as church planters and providing us with valuable resources. In addition, they are willing to match what we raise in support (up to $70,000) and sow it as an investment into Sun City Church s launch. We have asked the following pastors to serve as elders in our church and oversee the launch and establishment of the church: Pastor Marc Estes City Bible Church (Portland, OR) Pastor Steve Meistrell Family Life Church (Nampa, ID)

14 KNO L NOW + PE CONNECT PLE W + KE HIM f from GOD [email protected] [email protected] Becom