Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

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The Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church places on emphasis on five specific practices that help to make a local church vital and dynamic.  These five practices are from the book, “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” by Bishop Robert Schnase.  Bishop Schnase attended the 2010 Annual Conference in order to lead our conference to a better understanding of these five practices.  St. Paul seeks to live out these practices as part of the larger United Methodist Church.

1.    Radical Hospitality :  We seek to be a welcoming, inviting community of faith.   Our church is very friendly and one can feel very comfortable and at home.

2.   Passionate Worship:  We offer two different styles of worship.  Our 8:45 service has more contemporary music and is led by a worship band.  Our 11:00 service is more traditional and is led by our church choir.  Both services use multi-media to help share the message of Christ.

3.   Intentional Faith Development:  The early disciples grew in their faith by learning and growing together.  Sunday School classes are available at 10:00 every Sunday morning and various small group/classes are available throughout the year.

4.   Risk-Taking Mission and Service:  Our church sends our mission teams every year to serve in many different settings.  We’ve been on international trips to Calnali, Mexico and Haiti.  Teams have also served in the wake of national disasters.  Locally, we support many ministry needs in the Bloomington area and each year run a soccer league for children in the community.  We seek to be the hands, feet and voice of Christ around the world through missions.

5. Extravagant Generosity:  As we grow in our relationship with Christ we also grow in the giving of ourselves.  The Bible teaches that we are to give joyously, generously and consistently in ways to make a positive impact in God’s world.  Others do receive a blessing when we give, but givers always receive a greater blessing.    Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give, than to receive.”