Dear Friends,
“This is not a fluke. Royal Oak First has experienced a rebirth that will continue to propel you through these early decades of the twenty-first century. I fully expect you to be a flagship church for United Methodist ministry in the Detroit area for years to come…You currently have about 400 persons joining you in worship on a weekend. I see the possibilities for 1,000 in just a few years!”
That quote comes from the opening paragraph of the consultation report that Paul Nixon wrote after spending the last weekend of January with us. Let his words sink in for a minute.
There is something special happening among us.
The Spirit is alive and moving.
We have an opportunity to work together to build a church that truly makes Christ’s love real. Imagine hundreds more people experiencing real love through an inclusive community, developing real friendships, and making a real difference in the world around us.
In order to live into this opportunity Paul Nixon recommends that we prioritize the following:
- Increase the number of groups and short-term experiences where relationships form and deepen.
- Refresh our Sunday strategy for fellowship and welcoming.
- Plan for a Grand Opening month in September 2019 with double the normal building traffic.
- Plan for a fall 2019 capital campaign, simultaneous with our regular budget pledge drive.
In the weeks to come, we will be reaching out, asking each of you to find a place to help build this movement. We cannot do this with you.
Thank you for being a part of this moment. You are a blessing.
As Paul Nixon reminded us in his report, “Grace is winning out at Royal Oak First, so it is important to keep the challenge of leaning toward your neighbors and community in the consciousness of your leaders.”
Let’s keep leaning into this future!
Grace and peace,
