New Windsor Church Plant Target Area

A report by Elder Monte Sahlin Center for Creative Ministry July 2010

Who is Monte Sahlin? n  An ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister for

40 years who has done assessments of more than 1,000 local churches. He is currently employed by the Ohio Conference after spending two decades at the General Conference and union conferences directing research and development. He teaches in the Doctor of Ministry program at Andrews University and the urban studies program at Eastern Baptist University. He is the author of 20 books, 50 research monographs and many articles.

What is the Center for Creative Ministry? n  One of the research and information

centers affiliated with the North American Division, the center provides information, resource materials, training and consultants to help local churches develop new approaches to outreach, evangelism and church growth. It provides the Sharing Scripture group Bible study guides, Friend2Friend training videos and other materials.

Goals of this Study n Profile the demographics of the

New Windsor community n Provide a community needs

assessment n Put information on the table for

planning and strategy development

n  A suburb in the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh Metropolitan Area

n  25,000 people living in 9,100 households n  Orange County has one Adventist for

742 people n  USA has 1 to 305 n  New Guinea: 1 to 25 n  Zambia: 1 to 22 n  Belize: 1 to 10

New Windsor as a Mission Field

Zip Code 12553 New Windsor

Who are the people living in this community?

CountryFamilies27%

SuburbanMid-LifeFamilies

16%YoungStarters14%

ProsperousDiversity12%

18Othergroups31%

LifestyleSegments

Country Families n  Live in the less built-up areas and commute to

jobs in urban areas in precision production and construction crafts; own many cars, power tools, riding lawnmowers, trucks.

n  High numbers of children and married people; most have above-average incomes, while some live in mobile homes.

n  Needs: parenting skills, fulfilling marriage, child care, financial worries, finding spiritual teaching

n  Below average religious involvement. Prefer churches with family life events, youth activities, day care and small group ministries.

Suburban Mid-Life Families n  Most adults are 35 to 69 years of age with high

incomes, white collar jobs; mostly home owners. Some have already retired.

n  Needs: Day care, time for recreation, parenting skills, retirement, long-term financial security.

n  Religious involvement is below average. Prefer churches with family life seminars and participatory music.

Young Starters n  These are young couples in their late 20s and

early 30s, two-career households. Most have attended college, but are paying high rents and not buying homes.

n  Needs: Finding satisfying jobs, affordable housing, parenting skills, finding life direction, aging parents.

n  Religious involvement is below average. Prefer a church with sports, camping, music, drama; twelve-step groups and family life ministries; contemporary music.

Prosperous Diversity n  Most adults are in their 30s and there are high

numbers of children. Large number of Asian and Pacific Islander people, and other minorities.

n  Needs: Parenting skills, fulfilling marriage, child care, good schools, satisfying job, and time for recreation.

n  Religious involvement is below average. Prefer a church that has parent training and marriage enrichment programs, a church school and contemporary music.

2015 is an estimate

Population Growth

Age Groups

Ethnic Minorities

Immigrants

Housing

Education

Married

Special Needs

Median Income

Occupations

Poverty

Cost of Housing

Source: Percept Group, Inc.

Religious Preferences of New Windsor Residents

Religious Involvement of New Windsor Residents

Source: Percept Group, Inc.

Religious Involvement of New Windsor Residents

Source: Percept Group, Inc.

Red line = boundaries of New Windsor

Beliefs about God

Social Values

Community Services

Ethnic Change

Top Needs in the Community

n  55% Achieving financial security n  45% Maintaining personal health n  34% Day-to-day financial worries n  33% Dealing with stress n  30% Finding time for recreation n  30% Getting health insurance n  30% Finding time for recreation n  25% Obtaining better quality health care

Source: Percept Group, Inc.

Source: Percept Group, Inc.

Needs in the Community n  24% Achieving a fulfilling marriage n  24% Finding good schools n  22% Neighborhood crime & safety n  22% Finding a satisfying job/career n  22% Planning for retirement n  19% Dealing with teen/child problems n  17% Finding friends n  17% Caring for aging parents

Needs in the Community n  16% Alcohol/drug addiction n  16% Developing parenting skills n  16% Finding direction in my life n  14% Finding a job n  12% Problems with school n  11% Dealing with racial/ethnic prejudice n  10% Dealing with social injustice n  10% Finding affordable housing

Source: Percept Group, Inc.

Low-priority Needs in the Community

n  9% Finding a good church n  8% Finding spiritual teaching n  8% Obtaining adequate food n  8% Getting an education n  7% Affordable child care n  4% Dealing with divorce n  4% Dealing with neighborhood gangs

Source: Percept Group, Inc.

Church Programs People Want

n  35% Family activities & outings n  31% Youth activities n  30% Active retirement program n  25% Bible study & prayer group n  23% Family & personal counseling n  22% Doctrinal study group n  20% Music/art/drama programs n  17% Care for the terminally ill

Source: Percept Group, Inc.

Church Programs People Want n  15% Marriage enrichment seminar n  13% Clothing & food for the needy n  10% Spiritual retreats n  7% Parent training class n  7% Day care n  6% Sports or camping n  5% Church school (day school) n  3% 12-step group for addictions n  2% Divorce Recovery program

Source: Percept Group, Inc.

Church Program Preferences Index

8 8

-4

-24

Recreation Socialservices

Personaldevelopment

Spiritualdevelopment

Worship Style Preferences

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Emotionallyuplifting

Intellectuallychallenging

Both Notinterested

New WindsorNational

Worship Style Continued

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Traditionalformal

Contemporary Both Not interested

New WindsorNational

Music Preferences

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Traditional Contemporary Both Not interested

New WindsorNational

Music Style Continued

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Performedby others

Participatory Both Notinterested

New WindsorNational

Music Style Continued

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Performedby others

Participatory Both Notinterested

New WindsorNational

Mission Emphasis

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Spiritualgrowth

Communityservice

Both Not interested

New WindsorNational

How I prefer for churches to contact me …

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Telemarketing

Doortodoor

Phoneforavisit

CableTV

Newpaperads

Radiospots

Directmail

YesNo

Source: Percept Group, Inc.

Analysis n Research has shown that growth in

Adventist churches comes from: n Community involvement n Rich spirituality n  Intentionality (goals, planning) n A positive atmosphere in congregation n Activities for the unchurched on

Sabbath

The Adventist Paradigm for Outreach & Evangelism n Christ’s method alone will give true

success in reaching people. He mingled with men as one who desired their good, showed sympathy for them and ministered to their needs. He won their confidence. Then, He bade them, “Follow Me.” – Ellen White, MH 143

Recommendations n Consider using the Heartbeat

screening program and a stress seminar as entering wedges; these are the Adventist outreach programs most related to the needs in the community.

n Use the Family Seminar approach to evangelism instead of the Revelation Seminar.

Recommendations n The new congregation needs to have

strong family outings and social activities and a strong youth program (perhaps a Pathfinder Club or the new Ambassador Club).

n Direct mail will be the most productive type of advertising for outreach events.

Recommendations n There is a strong attitude in this

community that if the new church does not have a substantial non-religious community service program, it is not really Christian.

Resources n  Understanding Your Community by Monte

Sahlin available at www.adventsource.com

n  Family Seminar manual and resources available at www.happyfamilyBSI.com

n  Stress seminar and other health outreach resources available at www.healthconnection.org/temp/new/

n ©2010, Center for Creative Ministry

n www.creativeministry.org

n  (800) 272-4664