Ministry Team: Congregational Growth

Last meeting: Aug. 14, 2007

Attendees:

Gary Akgulian

Jeff Diehl

Rich Flamang

Collin Goldschmidt

Bob Heil

Jen Wageman

Staff: Jan Sommerfeld

Excused:

Lance Schmidt

Important items of information:

FELC communications update: Jan reported the following statistics for the church’s electronic publications:

• FELC NewsUpdate subscribers: 106
• FELC YouthUpdate subscribers: 37
• Confirmation Connection: 9
• Subscribers for e-mail link to online newsletter: 260

Fox Cities Guide ad: Most of the team members had a chance to review last year’s ad and recommended FELC run the ad this year. The guide is distributed to major employers in the area, as well as Coldwell Banker and other realtors, who send it to prospective home buyers in the Valley. Jan will update info in the ad and work with the rep.

FELC Connection Center update: Bob reported that discussions are continuing regarding design concepts of the structure. Jeff Diehl will ask an acquaintance who is skilled in business marketing communications for ideas on building a connection center.

Rich Flamang will research trade show booths on the Internet.

Midweek worship: Ministry teams were requested to brainstorm special activities it could offer attendees to the midweek worship services. Our team suggested:

• Meet & greet session (would create retention and motivate people to come back)
• Create games that help people to get out of their comfort zone, such as “Find Your Match,” in which bumper stickers are cut in half and distributed to people who must find the other half.
• Perhaps give folks an overview of the Connection Center when it is completed.

Volunteer fair:

The team discussed the redesign of this year’s display for the Sept. 16 volunteer fair and decided on a construction zone theme as a tie-in to the Connection Center being “under construction.”

The following members will meet after the 10:30 a.m. service at the North Site on Sunday, Sept. 9, to design the display boards:

• Jen Wageman (will bring cones, CD player)
• Jeff Diehl (may have construction tape at home)
• Collin (will bring construction stuff)
• Jan will send e-mail reminders to above on Sept. 6.

Jan will make sure name tags, two boards and two copies of the chosen photos will be in the office labeled “Congregational Growth Ministry Team.”

The following members will be present at the display between worship services at the Downtown Site during the fair:

• Bob Heil
• Collin Goldschmidt
• Jeff Diehl
• Jen Wageman

The following member will be present between worship services at the North Site during the fair:

• Rich Flamang

Lance Schmidt also will be asked if he can assist Rich.

New member guides: New member guides will be needed for the New Member Sessions set to begin on Sunday, Sept. 16. Jan will include a request for guides in the announcements.