September 14, 2023 | by Tom Widlund
Starting new ministries, new churches, and new things is a difficult process.
For our teams of innovators from the California Nevada Annual Conference, this difficult process was spurred on by the opportunity to participate in the 2023 Western Jurisdiction Hatch-A-Thon. The Hatch-A-Thon is a 3-day event put on by Ministry Incubators. This year it was held in Denver Colorado from August 28-30. Our CNUMC team was accompanied by Mary Cheng, Conference Director of Leadership Development.
For our four teams, and those teams from the Mountain Sky Conference and the Desert Southwest Conference, these few days were jam packed with learning, sharing, working out the details, the timeline, the budget, and the key components to new ministries. The last day was spent participating in a pitch party. Each team had the opportunity to give a 3 to 4-minute pitch in front of all the other teams and a panel of folks that represent funding sources across the Western Jurisdiction. Bay Area District Superintendent, Kristin Stoneking took part in the funding panel, along with leaders from across the Western Jurisdiction.
As chair of the California Nevada Committee on New and Vital Congregations and as a member of one of the teams pitching a new ministry, this was an invaluable time for all. It was far more than just passive learning. It was days spent working hard to develop ministries that would bring new life to churches in our Conference. As we move forward from this event, each team will be paired with a Ministry Incubator coach to help them continue to implement the ideas and ministries that were hatched at the conference.
Please be in prayer for our teams as they continue to develop and grow their new ministries.
Café Agape – Lesila Leger, Esther Taufa and Melekoloa Afu
Kin-Dom House at Sac State - New Immigrant Campus Ministry at Sacramento State – Reverend Fel Cao and Ryland Fernandez
Sounds Space Music School and Ministry at Calusa UMC – Reverend Molly Knappen
Adalente Juntos – Latino Ministry at Woodland UMC – Reverend Thomas Widlund and Pastor Joe Gonzales
