	Churchill Meadows Christian Church Mississauga Ontario Canada <<Home>> <<Mass Personal Contact>> <<Church Planting >> <<CMCC Web Site>> <<Map >>
	Churchill Meadows Christian Church held its first service on September 30th 2001. A very small core group launch team diligently worked to put the programs together under the vision and leadership of Pastor Jim Tune.
	The photographs here were taken on November 18, 2001 in the 8th week of the church's public existence. The attendance that Sunday was an all-time low of 220. Since then the numbers have improved. On September 30th there were 470 people at that first service. Of those in attendance, there were 300 from the community who were self-described as unchurched people at the time they were contacted by Churchill Meadows.	The Lobby at Edenwood Middle School Where CMCC Meets
	The extensive outreach campaign that achieved these amazing results was anchored by the MPC program designed, coordinated and managed by Kainos. Missionaries from Kainos blended with a few church volunteers to conduct a focused personal conversation with each of 17,000 households in the Meadowvale/Churchill Meadows area of Missisauga. This took 43,000 contact attempts during the month of August. Approximately 1.900 households agreed to receive printed information about the church. Five pieces of literature were sent to each home one week apart. A small group of faithful people committed to participation in the church conducted the final step prior to the opening Sunday. Beginning in mid September they telephoned each of the families to give a personal invitation to church. Over the telephone, approximately 500 families indicated their intention to attend representing 1,200 people. Results from previous campaigns have taught us that 20 to 25% of such people actually attend. Churchill Meadows was no exception! Predictably not everyone comes back. But many do! Over 300 people in three short months have decided to make Churchill Meadows their spiritual home. Many have come to faith in Christ. Ten were baptized on November 18th. 30 families indicated in the first few weeks their readiness to attend membership classes. Six small groups have been started with 60 adults registered. The children's ministry has 100 children involved on Sunday mornings. The average attendance as of March 2002 is over 270 with offerings averaging $4,200 per week. Since inception the church has had over 30 baptisms.	Sunday November 18th ~~ a low attendance week
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	Approximately 40% of the attendance on a given Sunday is involved in "Fingerprint Planet" for children. After some worship together with the adults the children up to grade 5 break out to their own program. Volunteers rotate helping in the Nursery and Pre-School areas. The teaching in the Pre-School is semi-structured with hand work and "Veggie Tale" type videos. The grade school children have one department with three classes and three permanent teachers. Each class has a teen/adult helper.
	"Fingerprint Planet" Three school classrooms. 1. Nursery 2. Pre-School 3. Grade School (three classes)

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How Did That Happen?

It all started with a vision in the heart of Jim Tune. And the faith to believe in the process. Many churches and individuals partnered to provide the start up funds.

Many have said, " this must be your most successful campaign!" No. Actually it is the largest and therefore most remarkable. But every campaign that we have ever conducted has seen similar results in terms of the ratios of people who actually get involved. Therefore, every campaign is just as successful!

The thing that impresses is the number of people in church. But the thing that actually drives the system is the 43,000 contact attempts that, in this case, were made in the hot summer months. The rest is somewhat like dominoes if each step is prayerfully and carefully conducted. Trying to make sense of the results people mentioned 9/11. People hypothesize that Mississauga being a growing community must be exceptionally responsive. Not! Others are desperate to see the literature that was sent. Nice but not bell ringing. Some wonder about the giftedness of the pastor. The people of the community couldn't evaluate that from a photograph!

There is always a concern that at the next point of required commitment people will fall away. There has been no evidence of that in any campaign we have conducted.

The most remarkable questions I have heard are these. "Is it not too soon to baptize that many people?" "Do you think they will come back after next summer?"

I have my own set of questions to ask. "Why is it so difficult to believe that there is ripe fruit in the community ready to be harvested?" " If the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, why is it so hard to believe that the power works when you invite people to get plugged in?" Why would anyone believe the process is too expensive when the people won will more than pay the cost of having been won through their giving within the first several months?" "How is it possible to fulfil the Great Commission if it is presumed that the money to reach people must come from the existing church? Why can we not believe that the harvest field brings its own financial commitment to the process?"

It you would like more information on the process please contact Gary Carter at Kainos Enterprises about this ministry concept.

Would It Work in My Community?

The process works because the Gospel is powerful. Strictly speaking the MPC process is not evangelism. It is pre-evangelistic. But it does apply the power of the Gospel to the lives of those who are not now attending church. The key is that the process is not a convincing process. It is an identification process. We systematically identify people who are ready to respond.

Existing churches find the process useful but the results are usually 50% of those achieved in church planting. People simply respond better to something new than something old.

At Kainos we supply the expertise, the software, the literature design, printing and mail preparation as required. We also augment the volunteer personnel available as necessary with missionary personnel.

The process is best applied in a city context because of the volume of people available to be reached. The threshold for a church planting situation that can anticipate a fully self-supporting church right out of the box is about 60,000.

Of course, the results vary somewhat. And if you don't dispense living water for thirsty people they won't come back in sufficient numbers. But contrary to current mythology, it doesn't take a super star Pastor and an award winning band. It takes people who will work hard and simply befriend those who are ready to respond. There are no new magic ingredients. There is no need for special twists, new wrinkles or fresh winds. A simple culturally sensitive Bible based ministry is all that is needed. They come for the message not the bells and whistles. There is a need to start with their felt needs. And often their felt need is for their children and teenagers. But the workers are raised up out of the harvest in short order if you love them, ask them and provide appropriate training.