I’m packing my gear and six years worth of Creative Missions tees, and heading to Vermont to serve churches with other creatives, May 21-27, 2016.
You want in on this?
Every year we invite 30 communication professionals to donate and give away a week of time to help churches better engage their communities with the gospel through videos, web design, social media, logo design, print, signage and tech.
Yeah, you want in on this!
Why Vermont?
A recent Gallup poll found only 23% of people in Vermont consider religion important and attend services regularly. Cities in Vermont regularly make Barna research lists—least Bible-minded and most post-Christian. In fact, Vermont ranks 48th in the nation for church attendance across all denominations with 34%. Some of the same pulpits once held by preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, during the Great Awakening, now proclaim universalism and other teachings that fall short of the gospel.
The need in Vermont is great, but the gospel is greater. There’s a good spirit of unity among pastors and planters. The state that, in recent years, has been referred to a “church planter’s graveyard” is changing as churches are planting, surviving and thriving. Per research by David Olson, New England evangelical church attendance has grown in the past decade, in contrast to other parts of the nation experiencing decline. The Vermont pastors we met with recently on a vision trip are all convinced that they are in the middle of an awakening.
“It’s not that we’re at the beginning … I think we’re actually in a great awakening.” -Tim Owens, Rutland City Church – Rutland, Vt.
I wholeheartedly believe that Creative Missions can make an impact in Vermont for the cause of Christ. The way God has allowed our teams to be a blessing and encouragement to under-resourced churches over the last six years and the feedback received from pastors in Vermont is humbling. They’re eager with anticipation for the unique ways our missionaries can serve. I always feel like a secret millionaire after I hear the list of items weighing pastors down, and then share how our Creative Missions team can knock these same burdens out of the park.
“I feel like I’ve neglected my people while worrying about tech and communication. You’re just in time. This is the coolest thing I’ve ever heard of.” -Branden Rogers, Faith For Life Church – Castleton, Vt.
What Can You Do?
1. Look for opportunities and places to use your gifts no matter if it’s Vermont or in your backyard. Whatever you are good at, do it well for the glory of God, and do it somewhere strategic for the mission of God.
2. Pray for the next 30 seconds for Creative Missions. Pray for pastors and churches in Vermont. Pray for gospel renewal. Pray for the task ahead for Creative Missions—that God prepares the way. Pray that he would do abundantly more than we ask or imagine for his great name.
3. Sign up on the email list for more information as it’s released, including when applications open in December.
4. Donate to the effort. God has blessed you to be a blessing. Each year it takes approximately $20,000 to operate Creative Missions. Consider giving sacrificially to see churches multiply efforts to spread the gospel in Vermont.
Details:
- Creative Missions is May 21-27, 2016.
- Serving 15 churches in Vermont.
- Inviting 30 creative missionaries—we’ll begin accepting applications in December 2015.
- Official Site
More:
What to know more about Creative Missions? We’re big fans and have supported this imitative since the start. Learn more about each trip:
- 2015: Boise, Idaho
- 2014: Baltimore
2013: Alaska- 2012: Northwest Arkansas/Joplin, Mo.
- 2011: Albany, N.Y.
To get a real taste for Creative Missions and the kind of knowledge the missionaries bring to each location, check out our book Dangerous: A Go-to Guide for Church Communication.
