Meeting January 6 2009

Guiding Coalition Notes
January 6, 2009, 11:00 –1:30
Faith Baptist Church, Sioux Falls, SD


Introduction of each other

Purpose: To set focus and priorities of church planting with a strong focus on 2010 through 2015 in Converge Heartland.

Prayer: I Peter 1 & 2

Needs in the District (ND, SD, NE & KS)
- A point was made that we make sure we know the culture of each area.
North Dakota = 27.4% Population = 635,867
We have 2 churches in ND
1990 2000 2005
Evangelical 6.7% 6.8% 6.6%
Mainline 11.2% 9.9% 8.9%
Catholic 14.1% 12.6% 11.8%


South Dakota = 25.5% Population = 781,919
We have 18 churches in SD
1990 2000 2005
Evangelical 8.9% 8.8% 8.8%
Mainline 11.8% 10.2% 9.1%
Catholic 9.4% 8.6% 7.6%


Nebraska = 22.4% Population = 1,768,331
We have 32 churches in NE
1990 2000 2005
Evangelical 9.4% 9.0% 8.7%
Mainline 8.3% 7.0% 6.3%
Catholic 8.7% 7.7% 7.4%


Kansas = 21.9% Population = 2,764,065
We have 0 churches in KS
1990 2000 2005
Evangelical 10.4% 10.2% 10.6%
Mainline 7.1% 6.0% 5.5%
Catholic 7.6% 6.5% 5.8%





Biblical principles and examples that apply
Items suggested were:
Biblical solid, faithful to the gospel message
Prayer driven
Spirit lead
Know the “crossroad” communities within the district
Communities where a gospel witness is lacking

Starting foundation of a strategic plan

Here is a challenge given by Gary Rohrmayer for each district to consider.
ConvergeUSA is asking the district CP leaders to invite every church in their region to enter the resolution to multiply by committing to one of these:
- By faith our church desires to ignite a new church within 5 years.
- By faith our church desires to ignite a new campus congregation
- By faith our church desires to ignite a network of churches (3 or more in 5 years)
- By faith our church desires to ignite a church multiplication center (5 or more in 5 years)

Things discussed:
- The difference between what God does and what we do was discussed God is the one that draws men to him, yet we are the tools that He has chosen to use to clearly proclaim the gospel. What are the implications of setting numbers that only God can do?
- The question was asked, “Where is God and what is God doing in Converge Heartland. There was not a conclusive answer that reflected a distinct movement or working of God in the district.

Assignments as needed
- Walt plans to meet with each person to spend an hour in prayer.
- Each person was asked to get a person to regularly pray with about God’s desire for the future of church planting in Converge Heartland.
- A suggestion was made to research some target communities so we knew better what or where the need is in the district.






Determine next time to meet and where

Date: March 2 Time frame: 11-2 Location: Faith Fellowship, Sioux Falls


Adjourn