Preaching Point Information

The concept of the “Preaching Point” is simple:  utilize the people and financial resources of an existing church to provide “on-location” ministry for people in small communities with few or no churches. Utah and Colorado have many towns with populations of 1,000 or less. As a general rule, it is not wise stewardship to send a fully funded church planter into low-density population area. However, it is very possible, viable and valuable, for an existing church to take on these smaller communities as ministry outreach locations. 

What does a “Preaching Point” look like?  I asked Pastor Dan Matney of Minturn New Life Center to jot down some thoughts about his journey with developing a “Preaching Point” in Gypsum, Colorado. 

Here are some highlights from Dan’s experience in his own words:

Gypsum Preaching Point Story

  “…We have quite a few men and women who have speaking and leadership ability both in our Minturn and Gypsum congregations.  I’ve had several of them speaking for me in our Wednesday and Tuesday evening services….Also, I have different people provide the greeting and opening prayer, lead the music, the testimony service, take up the offering, say the closing prayer, etc.  Also, we have several people leading Home Care Groups on various nights of the week.  We actively schedule our youth to be involved in learning leadership also. The leaders who are more advanced, I then schedule into three to five minute ministry spots on Sunday mornings -- greetings and opening prayers, etc.  We also schedule Sunday School, Missions Reports, and other ministry reports too, giving different people an opportunity to develop their speaking and leadership gifts.  Members from each congregation travel with us and speak in the other service too. 

…In addition to shared speaking and leadership ministry, the people from the Minturn congregations help from time to time with children’s ministry, music ministry, community outreach dinners, etc. at Gypsum.  We have combined services, picnics, singspirations, campouts and other events.  Our combined activities give each of our three congregations (Minturn also has an Hispanic congregation) a sense of being a part of something bigger than us individually.

Though we consider ourselves one church, I am very aware of the personality differences between Minturn and Gypsum.  I try to allow for that and enjoy it, although it is challenging at times, Minturn tends to be more expressive and demonstrative in their service to God, Gypsum quieter and more reserved.  Various things account for this.  For example, we have drums at Minturn, but not at Gypsum, and most of the people at Gypsum are older in the Lord than the ones at Minturn.  I try to simply be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not insist that both services be uniform.  I usually preach the same sermon at both services on Sunday mornings, but with applications specific to each congregation.

I truly believe that by sharing ministry expenses and ministry gifts and pulling together with common purpose, the congregations are stronger together than apart.  I believe that any pastor who will prayerfully consider preaching points outside their own walls and will share ministry opportunities with others, will experience increased synergy and cross-pollenization of spiritual vitality.  There are many blessings in this.

On Saturday evenings, Bilinda and I prepare our box of bulletins, offering envelopes, guest cards, Pentecostal Evangels, sermon outlines, and other things going to  Gypsum, along with my guitar, and set them out for Sunday morning.  We are up at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings and leave the house at 7:15 a.m. with our box of supplies to get to Gypsum by 8:00 a.m.  Anyone going with us from the Minturn congregation meets us at the church and we head for Gypsum.  There I meet with the praise team for a 30-minute practice.  Bilinda and others set out the Evangels and other materials or prepare for communion on the third Sunday of the month.  We also carry portable bulletin boards with us about each month’s Missions emphasis.  Service starts at 8:30 a.m. sharp.  We have 20 to 30 minutes of worship and special prayer time.  I schedule 3-5 minute spots for ministry reports and announcements.  Then I preach a  20-30 minute message.  We let out at 9:30-9:45 a.m., take a few minutes to reload the van, visit briefly with people and then no later than 10:00 we head back for Minturn.  We arrive there at 10:30 a.m. just as Minturn’s Sunday school is ending.  The Minturn service starts at 10:45 a.m.

…One Sunday so far this year, we stayed in Gypsum and had a breakfast after service with everyone in the Gypsum congregation at the Town Hall that we are renting.  It was really enjoyed by all and we have scheduled several more Sundays this year for doing that again.  At Minturn I had one of our student preachers fill in for me.  It was good for him, for Minturn, and good for Gypsum to have us stay with them longer than usual.

As the Gypsum ministry matures and our other speakers and leaders mature, I believe that Bilinda and I will not have to travel quite so much.  More Sundays and Tuesdays will be handled by the other speakers and leaders.  That is part of our vision.”

Make your Preaching Point a positive experience for everyone!

The following text is a copy of a letter that Pastor Dan Matney sent to Dick Eisenach who serves as Presbyter of the Northwest Section.  Even though a “Preaching Point” is not a full-blown church plant, communication with fellow pastors, District and Sectional leadership is appropriate and valuable. If you are considering opening up a “Preaching Point” this letter will be a helpful model for you to follow.  

Dear Bro. Dick:

Just a brief note informing you of our progress in the Eagle/Gypsum area.  As you know we have been holding Tuesday night Bible studies in various homes for almost three years now.  My motivation has been to provide a midweek service for the families who attend church in Minturn but who live in Gypsum, with the hope that the group would grow and we could eventually begin holding weekend services there for them in Gypsum.  It appears that things have progressed to that point.

About six months ago the Welkers from Glenwood First began attending our Tuesday studies and expressed a desire to join us in our efforts to establish a congregation in Gypsum.  Since then, others from Glenwood First who live in the Eagle/Gypsum area have begun attending.  Counting the folks who have joined us from Glenwood, we currently have close to thirty people meeting with us.

For the time being, the Gypsum ministry will remain a part of New Life in Minturn and I will continue to serve as the pastor.  At some point in the future, the work may become a separate church.  We are currently calling the Gypsum congregation Eagle Valley New Life Center.  All offerings collected from Gypsum have been and will continue to be placed in New Life’s bank account, but earmarked for the Gypsum work.  The Gypsum ministry will contribute toward New Life’s insurance, office supplies, curriculum, telephone and other shared expenses.  They will also contribute toward my salary and travel expenses.  We are hoping to hire a youth pastor and the congregations in Minturn and Gypsum will share those expenses also since we envision that he will serve the youth in both communities.

My current plans include holding services on Saturday evenings at the Gypsum Town Hall and continuing to lead the Tuesday night Bible study for a while.  At some point, I will probably want to turn the Bible study over to someone from the Gypsum area.  We have had and will continue to have combined services with both the Gypsum congregation and the Spanish congregation.

I hope this brief summary of what is happening in the Eagle/Gypsum ministry will help.  Thank you for your continued help and prayers for our ministry in the Eagle, Vail Valley.

Respectfully,

Dan

Steps to setting up a Preaching Point

  1. Prayerfully identify a location in need of a ‘Preaching Point.”

  2. Notify your Presbyter and the Director of Church Planting and Development of your plans. (This is for communication purposes not control.)

  3. Contact Dan Matney for advice and counsel.

  4. Proceed with developing the preaching point.

If you have any further questions regarding “Preaching Points” please contact Pastor Dan Matney at  (970) 827-4102. You may also contact Jerry Cassell at the office of Church Planting and Development, (719) 522-0195 or jcassell@rmdcdo.org.