TUL530 Church Plant Proposal

HOUSE OF GRACE PRESENTS: UPTOWN WHITTIER’S MINISTRY House of Grace Presents:

Uptown Whittier’s The Circle

Azusa Pacific University TUL 530

November 7, 2013

Author(s): Valerie Alms Sean Magana

Heidi Rico

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Why the Circle? Mission, Vision, Objectives, & Goals..................................3 Chapter 2: What are the Features of the Circle? Storytelling, Breaking Bread, & Worship……………………4 Chapter 3: Who Guides the Circle? Leadership Styles & Cell Group Structure……………………5 Chapter 4 How the Circle Obtains its Shape Steps & Seasons of Growth…………………………………………..6 Chapter 5: Become a Part of the Circle Invitation of Participation………………………………………….7 Chapter 6: When the Circle Transforms Plans for Future Community Development…………………8 Chapter 7: Where the Circle Finds Financial Support The Helping Hands…………………………………………………….9 References…………………………………………………………………………10

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Mission

Vision

Objectives

When asked, “What is the need for homeless here in Uptown Whittier?” a homeless man responded, “Sundays are the worst day to be homeless. There are no food options because we believe it is the day the Christians decide to take a break from being Christians and just go to church.” At this point we knew we needed to meet the physical need of providing a meal on Sundays. However, we believe we are to meet the spiritual need, by restoring hope with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through making disciples. Finally, when trying to envision how this could look, we were reminded of the parable of The Great Banquet. We see that in the kingdom of God, social structures, much like today’s, were broken through sending an invitation to the poor. It was a celebration with all people. Therefore, after a few weeks of praying, fasting, and training, The Invitation to our first of many celebrations was sent out to the streets and alleys of Uptown Whittier.

We aspire to restore hope and value through igniting transformative conversations and actions among the people of

Uptown Whittier. • Hope: Desire for the goodness of God in everyday living. • Value: Every person’s presence and story matters. • Transformative conversations: Everyday conversations integrated

with gospel-centered conversations. • Transformative actions: Actions that reflect peace, justice, and

liberation.

• Build Circles: We meet in circles because it represents equality among all people within the circle.

• Be Inclusive: We always include one empty chair within the circle(s) to represent that there is always room for one more person to invite into the conversation.

• Gather: We gather weekly to worship, break bread, and tell stories that allow us to celebrate together or cry together.

• Develop Leaders: We believe that the people of Uptown Whittier have the wisdom, skills, and ability to speak visions and create movements among the community.

• Make Disciples: We believe discipleship involves sharing life spiritually (praying), physically (breaking bread), and socially (telling stories).

Goals Our goal is to break social barriers and divisions across all socio-economic statuses to bring forth equality and justice. We believe this is established through the holistic gospel of the kingdom of God that Jesus came to proclaim in word and deed; therefore we are working toward redemption in spiritual, physical, and social realms.

“God is a circle whose center is everywhere, and

circumference is nowhere.”

― Empedocles

Freire (1970) states, “It is not our role to speak to the people about our own view of the world, nor to attempt to impose that view on them, but rather to dialogue with the people about their view and ours. We must realize that their view of the world, manifested variously in their action, reflects their situation in the world.” pp.96

This reflects the approach of our ministry in which there is value to the conversations of all members. Each story is unique to his or her situation. This model encourages dialogue that produces action.

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Setting

Worship

Storytelling

Worship is followed by biblical storytelling. • purpose is to allow people to share their stories

and relate to one another. • a practice that crosses cultural and

socioeconomic barriers • can be retold and passed on to others more

easily, allowing the gospel to circulate rapidly

Grigg, V. (2010)

We begin and end each gathering with musical worship, as a way of centering our thoughts and focusing our attention on the Lord.

What Does God Require of us? Micah 6:8

L ove Mercy

A ct Justly

W alk Humbly

Breaking Bread

Breaking bread has long been a symbol of fellowship and brotherhood/sisterhood. People from all backgrounds sit in circles and eat alongside one another, which provides opportunities to build relationships. Breaking bread with a person builds camaraderie and intimacy that allows a genuine sense of community between the ministry team and Uptown community to develop.

This Web of Belief Analysis reflects the story telling theology, which requires no specific entry point. This is an opportunity to develop transformational conversation(s). [Grigg, V. (2010), pp. 27]

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Grigg (2004) states, “Compassion means much love, a little response, and great pain. Compassion is the heart of ministry. It is the source of identification. It is the wellspring of proclamation. Its multiplication is the heart of church growth. It is the motivation of seeking justice.” (134)

Leadership Styles

Cell Group Structure

• Apprentice Leaders – A leader in training will eventually lead his or her own small, circle group, when they are ready. There should always be apprentice leaders, in order to foster the development of new leadership within each small group. This ultimately leads to the multiplication of small, circle groups.

• Small Circle Facilitators – Small group discussion leaders (always in pairs) facilitate discussion, based on the storytelling session.

• Core Group “Captains” – These are leaders who oversee each portion of the ministry (hospitality, serving, engaging the crowd, etc.). This includes those who are not in positions of lay leadership.

• Core Group: The ministry team is composed of about 15-20 people dedicated to transformative discussion and cell-group formation.

• Dynamics: In every gathering, there is a place for both large group and small group meetings, what we call Large Circles and Small Circles. Large Circles are a time of corporate celebration, with everyone present from the community. This includes practices such as worship and storytelling. Small Circles function to help people build deeper relationship(s) with God and with each other. This consists of aspects of transformational conversations and breaking bread together.

Parts of a Healthy Cell Group • Facilitator Leader • Apprentice Facilitator Leader • Host/Hostess • Coach • Growing Christians • Seeker • Babysitter (if needed) • Empty Chair

Hillsborough Baptist Church Cell Group Mission Training

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Stages of Growth Preparation

• Fast & Pray: Before starting the ministry and starting a new circle, we fast and pray together.

• Train/ Equip: Before starting the ministry and starting a new circle, we train and equip leaders.

• The Invitation: Before starting the ministry and starting a new circle, we model the “Great Banquet” by sending out invitations.

Stage 1: Security

• Party: Provide a secure, fun, and loving environment to build relationships.

• Tell Stories: Engage community through sharing personal testimonies and bible stories.

Stage 2: Commitment

• The Circle: Commit to either joining a circle or leading a circle.

• The Gathering: Some may not be ready to join a Circle but can commit to come hear stories, listen to worship music, and break bread.

• Gift-A-Gift: Commit to use his or her gifts in arts & crafts to provide for The Circle.

Stage 3: Quality

• Discipleship: God’s love being poured out from one life to another.

• Edification: Group and individuals actively practice spiritual disciplines and evangelism.

Stage 4: Gifts and Calling

• Lead New Circle: Opportunities to lead new Circles that have been birthed from the labor of intercessory prayer and evangelism.

• Find New Opportunities: Some have a unique gift or calling that will need to find opportunities to be used for the glory of God.

Eims states, “When you start spending individual time with another Christian for the purpose of ministry in his or her life – time together in the Word, prayer, fellowship, systemic training – something happens in your own life as well.” (26)

“Disciplemaking is the transmission of life-to-life. It is caught, not taught. It is a fire that breeds fire. It is not a method, a program, nor even the teaching and

preaching of the Word of God — though all of these are involved.

Disciplemaking is God’s love being poured out through one life into

another, until the second life catches that love. It is faith imparted by one to another. It is an absolute commitment to the Word of God, communicated in

the midst of ministry pressures as men and women co-labor together.” pp.17

Viv Grigg

Companion to the Poor

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“The philosophy of Ubuntu derives from a Nguni word, ubuntu meaning "the quality of being human." Ubuntu manifests itself through various human acts, clearly visible in social, political, and economic situations, as well as among family. "Ubuntu ngumtu ngabanye abantu" translation "A person is a person through other people". - Reverend William E. Flippin, Jr.

Invitation to Participate

Let's make a difference in our community together.

By partnering with The Circle, you are supporting an effort to transform your local community through spiritual, physical, and social realms. • Join The Circle- Come share your life and build

relationships within The Circle.

• Provide a Meal- Your gift of cooking a homemade meal

will enhance the intimacy of The Circle.

• Provide a Service- Any gift, skill, or trade that you would like to provide is welcomed and appreciated.

• Gift-to-Gift- Empower people of Uptown by purchasing a

gift to gift.

• Sacrifice a Donation- Give a one time or monthly

donation as a form of support and belief in our efforts.

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Plans for the Future What is a movement?

• Organized people • Commitment • An act

Freire (1970) states, "It is as transforming and creative beings that humans, in their permanent relations with reality, produce not only material goods— tangible objects—but also social institutions, ideas, and concepts." pp 101

In the Gift-A-Gift program, people have the opportunity to redeem the assets that reflect human character. Their items represent vehicles for change by providing hope.

Personalized Recruitment Fliers, Church Announcements, Word of Mouth

What does a movement do? • Causes personal/social

change • Involves active members • Requires recruitment

Environmental Challenges:

• Social: Division of class • Economic: Monetary funds limited within community • Justice: Social security & disability via government provides

a ‘needs model’ – creating lack of hope Solutions via the Ministry:

• Social: Harmonizing brothers and sisters through breaking bread

• Economic: Providing basic needs (i.e. food) & sharing good news creates discipleship – discipleship creates progress

• Justice: Eliminating social barriers through transformational conversations between city & faith-based communities

Opposition Which Caused Movement

The ministry was inspired to reach out to the community of Whittier due to the following information:

• About 90-100 churches in Whittier • Only 2 churches serve food to the underprivileged • No church offers food on Sundays

Commitment of Self

• Approx. 20 church members - trained to develop intimate, meaningful relationships

• Those relationships reflect the retention rate within the targeted community

Transformational Conversations

Include: • Entrance of a story • Context of the city • Emphasis of the faith

community • Change occurs when city and

faith conversations fuse together

[Grigg, V. (2010)]

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Funding: The Helping Hands

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47

This type of fellowship, described in Acts, is a model that The Circle wishes to foster.

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References Eims, L. (1978). The need for multiplying disciples. The Lost Art of Disciple

Making. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

Flippin, W. (2012). Ubuntu: Applying African Philosophy in Building Community

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/reverend-william-e-flippin-jr/ubuntu-

applying-african-p_b_1243904.html

Grigg, V. (2004). Cry of the Urban Poor. Waynesboro, GA. Authentic Media.

Grigg, V. (2010). Transformational conversations. The Spirit of Christ and

Postmodern City. Emeth Press.

Grigg, V. (2004). Breaking the poverty cycle. Companion to the poor. Waynesboro,

GA. Authentic Media.

Hillsborough Baptist Church Cell Group Mission Training. The mission of a cell

group church... Reaching unbelievers, and equipping Christians for

that task.

Steffan, T. (2005). Reconnecting God’s story to ministry. Waynesborough, GA:

Authentic Media.

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Contact Information: House of Grace

12222 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601 (562) 789-0080