Longview United Methodist Church is a beacon of diversity in our community. We encourage each individual in their spiritual journey as they become a disciple for Jesus Christ.
Leadership Team met this past month to check in with our process of following our mission and our goals. When the mission statement emerged in our strategic planning sessions this past winter we also created a set of focus area’s to go with them. It was helpful to notice that in just a few months we have already done much and a few of our goals have been reached.
Focus area: Ministry with the deaf community and people hard of hearing.
Efforts we made with more banners and liturgical art to improve the overall acoustics of the sanctuary. Some of our hard of hearing folks are still report that they can’t hear the pastor well. An Assisted Listening System will be here for a try out in June. We are in conversation with people familiar with American Sign Language so that we can have regular interpretation at our worship services.
Focus area: Acceptance and Celebration of Diversity.
Plans are underway for a LUMC entry in the 4th of July parade. A design with a lighthouse (beacon of diversity) and a rainbow will be used.
Focus area: Decreases Drug Abuse in the Community.
We are hosting an NA meeting at LUMC each Tuesday evening. Church members and I are involved with local groups and agencies working with the drug abuse problem.
Focus area: Increase membership of LUMC.
The wheelchair accessible bathroom was completed in April helping us to be more welcoming. We continue to receive new visitors. Improvements need to be made with visitor follow up and creating tools to help church members invite friends, relatives, associates and neighbors. May worship attendance average was 74 people (2005 was 68).
We have not achieved perfection yet but we are continuing to do a lot to fulfill the mission that God is calling us into. I ask that you continue to pray for our mission and for the goals we will set and achieve as we grow together.
Grace and Peace,
Bruce
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