 Chattanooga:
A Place for Everyone
From now through August 2007, individuals, families, and congregations have
the opportunity to help create a place where there is room for everyone to come
and experience the peace of Jesus Christ. Chattanooga Kids: Planting Christ’s
Peace, a designated-giving project with a goal of $600,000, will (1.) renovate
Chattanooga’s current center, add space for a safe, welcoming place of worship,
recreation, and education; and (2.) provide offices, classrooms, and
accommodations for the Church Planting Center, where planters will be trained to
open new congregations in diverse settings throughout North America.
The initiative has been blessed by several families who have generously
contributed lead gifts totaling $300,000 to help reach the $600,000 goal. Any
contributions received above the $600,000 goal will go toward endowments for the
Urban Ministries Center and the Church Planting Center.
Jimmy Munson, Urban Ministries Center, and Craig Lenfestey, Church Planting
Center, recently shared their thoughts about the tremendous faith and vibrant
witness of the kids, youth, families, and interns of Chattanooga with Sandra
Ferguson, Funding for Mission specialist.
What will it mean to the children, youth, families, and those who come to
learn about church planting in Chattanooga to know that their church family from
around North America is helping to raise the money needed to renovate and
improve the facilities and programs?
Jimmy: For the children, youth, and families in Chattanooga, this
effort is a giant blessing. Most of the local participants feel unwanted
usually, and knowing that the whole World Church cares about them enough to give
in this way, uplifts their spirits. It causes them to know that the Community of
Christ really is a “Big, Big House” with room for everyone, including even
hard-living folks from the streets of Chattanooga.
Craig: The people in Chattanooga certainly feel richly blessed by the
generosity of people from around North America. It gives them a sense of
connection to a much larger church community that cares specifically for them
and is willing to help with their needs. Those who come to learn about church
planting in Chattanooga will certainly benefit from such generosity for years to
come.
How will improved facilities and programs contribute to a more vibrant
ministry in Chattanooga?
Jimmy: It will allow us to have room for continued growth. Our church
family here, especially the kids, is very excited about having additional room
for new activities. They have been telling their friends about the plans for the
new facilities. Our kids are already inviting others because of the new planned
facilities.
Craig: The ministry is always vibrant. Our youth continue to invite
others, but we are limited with our existing facility. The improved facilities
will provide much-needed, quality space to expand numerically, as well as space
better suited for specific ministries currently offered. It will assist in
launching new ministries in our community that we currently cannot provide with
our limited space.
What kind of community interaction is occurring with the Urban Ministries
Center and the Church Planting Center? What future impact do you envision taking
place within the eastern Chattanooga community?
Jimmy: It will continue to help lead this neighborhood into an
uplifting attitude and bring great encouragement to a neighborhood that has
experienced great depression. Those who live here are already sharing excitement
about our faith in the longevity of the presence of Christ in this neighborhood.
Craig: The Urban Ministries Center has been a safe place for children,
youth, and young adults—and it will continue to be. The community’s needs are
great, and we envision having the capability through our renovated facilities to
become more involved by addressing some specific needs. We have applied to be a
partner with the local food bank to be a larger-scale pantry. We will have
classroom capability to assist with educational needs. Opportunities for being
involved in our community are endless.
What are some examples of successes as a result of the ministry in
Chattanooga during the time the Urban Ministries Center has been open?
Jimmy: Some of our early kids are now leaders in the congregation and
the neighborhood. We have seen about 175 baptisms, and new people participate
daily. Police tell us the crime rate is down due to the efforts of the Urban
Ministries Center and as more things begin to happen with the center, that will
continue to improve.
How will the plan for the Church Planting Center impact the Community of
Christ during the next ten years?
Craig: The Church Planting Center will continue to keep the focus of
church planting as a major emphasis in the mission of the church. Training will
be provided for mission center leadership, church-planting coaches, and
potential church planters. Once planters are identified, further practicum
training through internships will be available to equip them for planting new
ministries throughout North America.
Jimmy: The potential is there to have a great impact. If it were just
an education and a retreat place, the impact would not be as great. But to
become a place for true mentoring and where the mission to teach the lost is top
priority, I think the potential for churchwide growth and reaching new people is
very high and very exciting.
Are internships offered by the Church Planting Center and the Urban
Ministries Center?
Craig: Our specific training for potential church planters will
certainly be open to anyone who feels a sense of call to plant a new ministry.
From that training, interns will be identified and internships arranged. Thus
far, young adults from Graceland University and WorldService Corps have
participated in practicum church-planting training, but the identification of
potential church planters and internships is not limited to these two.
Jimmy: The Chattanooga Urban Ministries Center has had an intern
program for the past twelve years, and it has included young adults, adults, and
teens from several states. Most of these interns are now involved in church
leadership. All someone needs to do is to contact me and express interest. Once
we hear from them, we will begin to get to know them to see if they and the
Urban Ministries are a good match for one another.
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