New Mission Start
in
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

There are no specific instructions or road maps to begin a new congregation.  One cannot look at how a church was started in one place and repeat the same process in another place.  However, much can be learned from those who have had the vision and boldness to provide leadership that resulted in the birth of a new community of faith.

The following information is made available for those who desire to become Mission Partners for the new Lutheran congregation in Eau Claire.  It is also one example of starting a new church that might be useful to others who are preparing to do the same in other places.  May God guide and direct your efforts to reach out in the name of Jesus Christ!

A Menu of Information

The following menu provides information and promotional material concerning the Eau Claire mission start.  Click upon each topic to retrieve specific information.

	Mission Partner Congregations - Churches committed to providing prayer and financial support
	A Case Statement: “A New Congregation in Eau Claire”
	Start Up Costs
	A Strategy for Financial Support: “Congregational, Synodical, Churchwide”
	Fund Raising Time Line
	Publicity
		Brochure #1 - Basic Information
		Brochure #2 - A Pastoral Letter
		Brochure #3 - Brief History of Eau Claire Congregations
		Bulletin Inserts (4)
			• Basic Information
			• Core Prayers
			• Questions and Answers
			• Support: Prayer, People, Financial
		Banner Design
	Invitation Letter - Advance Commitment (Phase I)
	Invitation Letter - Small Group Gatherings (Phase II)
	Invitation Letter - Congregation (Phase III)
	Follow Up Letter - Phase I
	Follow Up Letter - Phase II
	Follow Up Letter - Phase III
	Commitment Card
	Bulletin Cover - Rainbow Logo
	Worship Service - Great Commission Theme
	Synod Assembly Resolution

A Summary of Information Gathered and Decisions Made

In the two year preparation to begin a new Lutheran church, a Task Force of interested parties did the following:
     • Determined rate and patterns of growth in the city
     • Spoke with city officials about projected growth, new developments, and plans for water,
        sewer, utility, and street extensions
     • Studied demographic information
     • Utilized census data
     • Obtained statistics of worship patterns, unchurched population, and potential for outreach
     • Used push-pins on a map to determine church distribution throughout city (including non-
        Lutheran congregations)
     • Interviewed recent mission developer pastors to learn from their experience
     • Sought cooperation among neighboring Lutheran congregations for planning, fund raising,
        and prayer
     • Established the following work groups
	–Prayer Group:  to seek God’s guidance and direction
	–Finance Group:  to determine estimated costs for a three-year period
			     to develop a fund raising strategy
	–Publicity Group:  to provide information, encouragement, and support from potential
 			      Mission Partner individuals and congregations
     • Maintained ongoing conversation and cooperation with synodical bishop and ELCA
       Division for Outreach
     • Developed strategy to encourage the 200+ congregations of the synod to develop Mission
       Partner relationships with the new mission church
     • Sought supplemental funding from the ELCA Division for Outreach
     • Decided to start a new congregation rather than establish a satellite from an existing
       congregation  (The growth potential was great enough that it was important for a new church
       to have its own pastor and own identity rather than be a ‘step-child’ of an existing church)
     • Funded the new church start with leadership level support from neighboring congregations,
       Mission Partner relationships with synod congregations, and supplemental funding from the
       ELCA
     • Undergirded the entire mission effort in prayer
     • Engaged strong lay leadership throughout the planning and fund raising process
     • Requested a minimum of three-year financial commitments from Mission Partners

									Pastor Duane Pederson
									First Lutheran Church
									Eau Claire, Wisconsin
									revdcp@execpc.com