On Sunday, October 7th, the Tabor United Methodist Church gathered to be led by Pastor Blaik in beginning the second half of the Tabor Timeline.
The first half of the timeline (which was done roughly a year ago) is about the past of Tabor Church. It charts where we believe God has moved in significant ways in and through Tabor Church. (We looked at it briefly on October 7th.)
The second half of the timeline is about the future of Tabor Church. After praying for God to grant us wisdom, insight and sensitivity to His leading, we looked at a summary of demographic information about our community, came up with a list of community needs (developed from those demographics, community leader interviews and our own observations), listed the current community ministries of Tabor Church, listed the strengths and resources of Tabor Church and then recorded intersections we found between the needs of our community and the strengths and resources of Tabor Church. From the list of those intersections we generated a list of possible future community ministries for Tabor Church.
The following is a summary of the result of that process!
INSIGHTS FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE TIMELINE
We have little awareness of what happened during the early (founding) years of Tabor Church.
The “heyday” (when the congregation was thriving most) of Tabor Church is perceived as being in the mid-1980’s to the mid-1990’s.
There was an emphasis on personal spiritual development which preceded that heyday.
The hallmark of that heyday was deep and lasting spiritual formation of young adults.
In the late-1990’s to the mid-2000’s, more emphasis was placed on global mission.
COMMUNITY NEEDS
Increase of at-risk youth (female)
Alienation of people with disabilities from community
Help for veterans returning from war
Depression/Hopelessness
Ravages of faith based on feelings only – anxiety, fear, etc.
Needs brought on by downturn in economy
10% of adults in Montgomery County do not have enough food
Issues related to immigration
Bi-lingual services
Lack of public transportation
Lack of knowledge of how to navigate social services
Advocacy
Confusion with healthcare changes
Cost of healthcare
Companionship
Decreased ability to ask for help in affluent area
Lack of participation in community programs
Services for the deaf
Help for families with special needs (even in the church!)
Training for godly parenting
Parental guidance
Lack of clinical placements for healthcare-related students
Christian counseling
Prayer ministry in community
Young adult drug use
Help with grief
Help with separation and divorce
TABOR MINISTRIES
Community Day
Back to the Grind
Use of building by community organizations
The Project
I.F.H.N.
Basketball
Food pantry
Blood drive
Tabor Hill Nursery School
Disciple-making
Backpack giveaway
Flood buckets
Disaster relief
Coat collection
Pastor’s Discretionary Funds
AfterShock Conference (in development)
Ugly quilts
Caroling
Senior lunch
V.B.S.
Grief ministry
Prison ministry
Christmas breakfast
Crisis meals
College student ministry
Coupon ministry
TABOR’S STRENGTHS
Sense of family
Prayer
Empathy
Genuine
Sunday school
Bible study
Loving
Intergenerational
Humor
Food
Musical ability
Arts
Retired people
Friendliness
Presence of the Holy Spirit
Wealth of knowledge
Hospitality
Diverse backgrounds
TABOR’S RESOURCES
Food pantry
Space
Technology
Land
Age Range
Dedicated committees
Sanctuary
One floor
Dedicated staff
Quick communication
Handicapped accessible
Air conditioning
Playground
Location
Cemetery
Sound system
Big screen
People
God
Financial faithfulness
Chapel
INTERSECTIONS
Alienation of people with disabilities from community/ Help for families with special needs (even in the church!) X Empathy/ Loving/ Friendliness/ Hospitality/ Space/ One floor/ Handicapped accessible
Needs brought on by downturn in economy/ 10% of adults in Montgomery County do not have enough food/ Decreased ability to ask for help in affluent area X Food/ Food pantry/ Hospitality
Prayer ministry in community X Prayer/ Presence of the Holy Spirit/ Chapel
Depression/Hopelessness/ Companionship X Sense of family/ Empathy/ Genuine/ Friendliness/ Hospitality/ People
Lack of public transportation X Retired people/ People
Help with separation and divorce X Sense of family
POSSIBLE NEW MINISTRIES DRAWN FROM INTERSECTIONS
Community garden
Monthly dinner
Family movie night
Breakfasts
Transportation
Advocacy
Reaching out to people with special needs
Marriage ministries
Babysitting
Prayer for community organizations