April 2007 News
March Service Day
On March 17th, Mission Indy was privileged to work with groups from five different churches, totaling 60 participants - a new record!

In addition to the large number of churches and participants, Mission Indy was also blessed with site leadership from several friends, and full time staff could not have pulled this off without them. So, a great big "Thanks" to Sarah Brubaker, Jim Giblin, Don Ralston, James Aldrich, Bruce Pfeiffer and Marsha Greiner.

The group from Lebanon CC worked with Rebuilding the Wall. & got some experience building a deck and painting. The group from The Church at Mt. Gilead showed their skill with drywall at Neighborhood Fellowship.
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A group of young adults from Grace Missionary Church removed an old chimney and hung some drywall for a lady from Garfield CC. The other half of the group of young adults from Grace removed old radiators and piping from the Englewood CC building. The Rocklane CC group worked at Urban CC in Fountain Square, building some clothing racks and moving & sorting bags of clothes. Finally, a group from Maryland Community Church in Terre Haute worked hard on tearing out walls and ceilings for Englewood CC at one of their rehab projects on Oxford Street.
Spring Break 2007
For the first time ever, Mission Indy offered a week-long Spring Break trip for the week of March 18th - 23rd.
Chapel Rock hosted the inaugural event for 33 from Legacy Christian Church near Kansas City. Jed Fuller, the Youth Minister, is one of the sons of John Fuller who was formerly the pastor of New Paradigm CC in Broad Ripple, one of the MI supporting churches.
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26 students and 6 adults loaded up after church on Sunday March 18th in Overland Park Kansas, and made the long drive to Indy for a week of service and learning. They arrived late Sunday night, so our sleep was cut short. God provided us all strength for a great day on Monday.
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The day began with breakfast and a time of introduction to the week. Pastor Rick Hall from City Light Ministry talked with the group about urban ministry as he has experienced it over the past 11 years. His motto is "Show Up, Share Jesus & Build Relationships"
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Then the group participated in a skill training session in the Chapel Rock barn. In the above photo, students learned how to properly and safely use a hammer, under the instruction of John Hicks. All participants rotated thru 6 different training stations, including the hammering, ladder safety, painting (and clean-up); power tool use, cordless drill use, and tool check-out / in procedure.

Mission Indy, Inc.
57 North Rural Street
Indianapolis, IN 46201
Phone: 317-423-3505
Fax: 317-423-3508

Following the training session, the Legacy CC group was split into three service teams assigned to different ministry projects.
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This service team spent most of the week at Our Home Ministry near 21st and College.
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Working on this metal ceiling was just one of the many jobs accomplished.
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Moms & dads probably didn't realize their students could hang ceiling fans and lights!
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April 2007 News (Page Two)
Another service team spent most of the week continuing the demolition work at one of Englewood's projects. By the end of the week, the four apt. unit was looking much better.
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One project was planned to remove all the old roofing from this house, and then to replace it with new roofing.
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The first part was accomplished, but the weather precluded the second from being done that week.
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These ladies did a fine job painting inside the same house.
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A large amount of painting was accomplished at Christian Unity Missionary Baptist Church.
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An important part of each day is the time spent in studying the Devotional Guide. Mission Indy prepares an extensive set of materials to challenge and inform the participants. The projects are important, but not more so than the training and challenging we can provide for church groups to go back home and be involved in their own communities.
Project Manager
We continue to stand AMAZED as we see the hand of God moving among the people associated with Mission Indy. Don Moline has officially joined Mission Indy as Project Manager, and we are so thankful to the Lord for His leading in this way! Don got a "trial by fire" though with the largest ever Saturday Service Day on March 17th, followed directly by this "First Ever" Spring Break week.
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Don's skills in the construction world as well as his gentle way of teaching and encouraging were so appreciated and needed during both of these events. Several compliments were passed on to Niccole and me, by people from the groups Don worked with.

Please join with us in thanking the Lord, and for holding up Don and Shari in this bold step of faith. Then also please pray for those churches and individuals that God will raise up to support Don's position with Mission Indy.

Don had this to say, "After many months of prayer and consideration, I believe that this is where God has called me to be. I am now a part of Mission Indy as a project coordinator."
Urban Ministry Institute
Please join us in prayer for the continued growth and impact of the Urban Ministry Institute. God willing, a full residential program will be offered beginning in the Fall '07. The vision for this institute is to prepare and train students from three different perspectives or tiers; namely, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, and students from local church leadership and laity (Non-Credit).

The first course for Fall '07 is
"The Church in the City: An introduction to asset-building and community development"
taught by Dr. Richard White from Portland State University.

The second course
"Ethnic Relations in Urban Ministry"
will be taught by Dr. James Lewis from Anderson School of Theology.

The third course
"A Theology for the Urban Context"
will be taught by Dr. Michael Pabarcus from St. Louis CC.

The fourth course
"Strategies, Methods and Models of Urban Mission"
will be taught by Dr. Robert Douglas of Lincoln Christian Seminary.


In addition, seminary students who come to spend a semester or year here in Indianapolis, can get an additional three to six hours of Supervised Ministry working alongside current church and ministry leaders that we partner with.

Many of you may be interested or know someone who is. You cannot beat the price and the quality of education! Call the office today at 423-3505 to sign up.

We need your help to promote this Institute to our churches and to local students. Would you consider being a contact person at your church to make announcements, talk to people and keep brochures available for those that may express interest. Please call Ron if you can help!
 
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Mission Indy, Inc.
57 North Rural Street
Indianapolis, IN 46201
Phone: 317-423-3505
Fax: 317-423-3508

Thank you for your support!

Last Updated: Nov 17, 2007