Last Change: 05/13/2005
Adult Ministries Report
January 1, 2011
The purpose of Adult Ministry is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Let us share with you the faith journey of a person who has grown as a disciple here at FCCO over the past five years:
"Hi, I am Joe. I grew up in a non-Christian home but always wondered if God was real. Five years ago, a buddy at work invited me and my wife to join him and his wife at a Sunday service at FCCO That first morning we immediately felt these people were special. The love was incredible. We were impressed with the unity of the crowd in the worship service and then we enjoyed visiting an Adult Fellowship group where we met a lot of friendly people who were raising teens just like us. Over coming weeks in this group, I heard the Bible taught in terms that related to me and my life. My wife Suzie met Norma there as well. Norma cared for my wife and helped her with some issues she had been struggling with for years. After six months in this group, I became a Christian, largely through the help of our group leader. He explained to me that I should start studying the Bible and discussing my new faith in a small group which can offer even more intimacy than an Adult Fellowship. After being in an introductory small group, I was invited to a Growing Strong group. Here, I was challenged to develop the basic habits of a follower of Christ; like spending daily time with God, sharing my faith, tithing, discovering and using my spiritual gifts, and overcoming sin in my life. I saw tremendous growth in my life through this group and also through a short-term missions trip to Haiti, that Suzie and I joined. My wife also has a heart for those living locally, who don't yet know Christ. Just last Saturday she brought two co-workers to our Women's Outreach Breakfast. I am now serving as the outreach leader in my Adult Fellowship. God has gifted me in evangelism and I am thankful for the training I received to be an outreach leader. It is so exciting for me to be a part of our Ministry Community, where I am continuing to grow as a disciple, alongside all our other Adult Ministry leaders. I look forward to someday being able to help develop additional leaders. God has taken me on an incredible journey that has affected my life and my family's life forever. My love for Him is deepening more and more and so is my desire to serve Him on this church team to make disciples."
Joe's life is an amazing testimony to God's power, especially working through a church community committed to making disciples. We are thankful for the whole team God has put together here at FCCO. Every person and ministry has a vital role:
On weekends, we have 745 adults who travel to our church campus. This weekend experience includes worship as well as connecting with others in an Adult Fellowship. Each weekend, 475 adults (65%) participate in one of our 19 Adult Fellowships, each one made up primarily of either young adults, young marrieds, parents of preschool, parents of elementary, parents of teens, single parents, empty nesters and mature adults. Adult Fellowships are critical to providing an inviting atmosphere where new people can meet others, grow in their knowledge of God's Word, be involved in outreach, and pray and care for one another. Each Adult Fellowship has a leadership team of four, including a Teacher, an Outreach Leader and a Care/Prayer Leader and Missions liason. We also offer after each service, a Pastors Reception and an ongoing Connections class, to help newcomers take the next step in finding community here at FCCO.
During the week our small group ministry helps 370 people grow in different stages of spiritual growth. These groups are offered at different maturity levels and are led by trained small group leaders who lovingly lead, shepherd and create a caring environment for those in their group. Our small groups meet at the church, as well as in homes throughout our region. We have 8 outreach and new believer groups, 17 basic accountability groups for developing the spiritual disciplines, 8 groups for ongoing growth and accountability, and 4 support groups to minister to specific needs.
We are coaching 106 leaders as well as developing 50 apprentice leaders for our Adult Fellowships and small group ministries. These leaders meet regularly in our ministry community for ongoing discipleship, vision, training and prayer.
We are excited that in the last five years 150 people have become Christians and are now growing as disciples. Over 60% of our people are serving in some way in the church as well as reaching out to neighbors, coworkers, and friends, impacting their world for Christ. Over 300 have had a cross cultural ministry experience through a short-term missions trip over these past 5 years. God is truly growing us to be a church that is impacting our world, locally and across the world.