Evangelism Action Plan Commitment Form
A Plan for Evangelism and Discipleship
May 2003

We, the members of St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Jersey City, New Jersey, commit ourselves to strengthening the evangelism and discipleship ministries of this congregation during the next two years.

Our vision is to be a caring and diverse community of Christ, growing deep in the word and wide in the world.

We covenant to develop and implement an action plan for the following ministries:

 
Evangelism
We infuse all that we do with our core values of Gospel Passion, Community, Lay Ministry, and Forgiveness.
1. Listening: In-Reach and Visitation Campaign -- During the weeks of Lent, we will focus primarily on growing in our relationships with God and one another. Our visitation campaign will enable us to do the latter. The sole purpose of these visits is to build relationships and community. We will get to know one another’s stories, share our dreams and passions, as well as our fears and frustrations. We will talk together about our hopes for our families, communities and world.
2. Outdoor Services – One Sunday during each summer month we will celebrate and worship outdoors in the neighborhood park. Using our hands, voices and folk instruments we will make a joyful noise for all to hear.
3. Caroling – Immediately prior to Christmas, we will gather to carol throughout the neighborhood, thus sharing the good news and increasing our visibility.
4. Cold Calls – As often as possible on a weekly basis, our pastor and a lay leader will make cold calls to businesses and residents throughout the parish.
5. Printed News – Each month we share printed highlights of the upcoming events at St. Matthew’s with members and friends. Every other month we share printed articles, photographs, and news of our recent activities with our extended family. We distribute leaflets and post fliers for every major festival and activity.
 
Discipleship
As disciples, our vision is to grow spiritually through prayer, bible study and speaking the truth in love so as to lead St. Matthew’s in transformation.
1. Meetings – We open each meeting with scripture, discussion and prayer.
2. Exploration – Each season our adults gather to explore scripture, theological writings, and current events. Readings, homework, journals, and discussions are the principal tools of these faith nurturing studies.
3. Jubilee Interfaith Organization – Jubilee Interfaith Organization is a coalition of faith-based, community and labor leaders from across Northern New Jersey united for justice and equality. Our participation in JIO enables us to develop disciples who have solid leadership skills and to reach beyond our parish to affect positive change within New Jersey.
4. The Barrow Mansion Development Corporation – The BMDC is a partnership between St. Matthew’s and neighborhood leaders who work to manage our historic parish house as a center for community service.
5. Health Fair – Each year we sponsor a block party where residents can meet with healthcare providers, advocates, and social service representatives. 


In partnership with the other congregations of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and in cooperation with all synods, agencies, colleges, seminaries and units of the churchwide expression of this denomination, we commit ourselves to sharing faith in the new century by telling the good new of the death, resurrection and life in Jesus Christ, be proclaiming Christ in word and deed, and by bearing witness to this faith in daily life and through the total ministry of this congregation.

We commit ourselves to the spiritual, geographic and numerical growth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in faithfulness to God the Father, Jesus Christ our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit.

The Congregational Council and the Transformational Ministry Team commit themselves to this plan for evangelism and discipleship.

Congregational Council: Timothy Andrews; Lisa Bishop, vice president; Laird Ehlert; Nathan Hanson, treasurer, ex officio; Roger Hostetler, secretary; Peter Jensen, president; Gladys Moore, pastor; Andy Rhode; John Seppanen; James Splond; Nancy Thomas

Transformational Ministry Team: Gladys Moore, pastor; Earlyne Muamba; Deanna Seppanen, leader; James Splond; Tom Schwalenberg