Outreach Vision Team Meets ECBC

INTERACT! >>> After reading this, check out the discussion for the vision (click here).

On Sunday, June 8, the ECBC outreach vision team met with the English congregation to touch bases on the future vision of the English congregation outreach goals. After prayer and a short comment on the great commission by pastor Tawa, the team consisting of Michael Brown, Anita Liao, Grace Law (not present), and Melissa Duong facilitated a discussion on the strengths and things to work on as a reflection of past outreach opportunities.

The team has currently suspended all outreach events by the English congregation as it evaluates past outreach impacts and feasibility of events. The purpose of the meeting was to redefine ECBC's vision and finding ways to mobilize resources and capital to shape these objectives. The team, as with the general consensus of those who attended, has felt that past outreach actions have been fragmented without a clear vision of a demographic aggregate target.

In the general discussion of past strengths, congregation members pointed out great outreach examples of already existing organisations and groups. These include the Bechoko mission team, sports outreaches, usher & welcome team, and the rebounding Hope/Timothy Fellowship. People also pointed out past outreach in partnership with inner-city organisations such as the Mustard Seed, Hope Mission, Edmonton Gleaners' Society (Edmonton Food Bank), and Habitat for Humanity. In addition to these, Austen Chan pointed out that ECBC is also a giving church in times of need both in economic and human capital. An example is of the recent relief offering for Sichuan Province and Myanmar as it raised over $16,000 and many contributors helped to donate material goods and their time to assist with the silent auction luncheon for the same cause. Kam Chan noted that ECBC is a young aggregate which is energetic and willing to try new things for the advance of the Gospel. Michael Brown ended the segment with a note on ECBC's partnerships with satellite CCSB groups like BSM, the church in Cochrane, and the Bridge as a strength.

The facilitators then moved to discuss on things the congregation can work on in outreach. Some comments included developing a long-term relationship with friends and community members, overcoming stumbling blocks to evangelise, and overloading tasks of leaders and active members. Others brought up discipling and mentoring to train new leaders, inclusivity of events, and the geographic location of residences as other things that may be issues in outreach. As the outreach team had already introduced at the beginning of their meeting, comments were repeated by various speakers that they felt the vision was fragmented and objectives needed to be made or tasks of members needed to be limited.

Since the vision of the congregation cannot possibly be discussed and decided upon in a short meeting, another meeting is scheduled after Sunday School on June 22. All are invited to attend and discuss upon which type of outreach is most suitable for the needs and capabilities for the English Congregation vision. The types of outreaches highlighted in the meeting include neighbourhood, mission, service, and evangelism outreaches.