T he Baltimore Washington Conference has adopted the following goals for each congregation throughout the conference. These goals are based on Acts 2:41-47 as well as John 15:1-11 and Luke 13:6-7. Some of these anticipated fruit are already present at Good Shepherd (Confessions of Faith, mission involvement, financial support). The one area where we currently are falling short is in increasing our average worship attendance each Sunday. What follows below is a list of the goals or anticipated fruits as we move forward in the Discipleship Adventure. The text in bold after each item indicates how well Good Shepherd Church is doing in each of these four areas.

-Pastor Steve

Anticipated Fruits of the Discipleship Adventure Congregations are accountable to work in collaboration with their pastor to engage and work with the community to bear Acts 2 fruits. The anticipated fruits within the congregations are based on Acts 2:

1. Acts 2:47 - Receive people by confession or reaffirmation of faith into the faith community (every congregation will be expected to receive one person for every 25 worshipers).
   Accomplished at Good Shepherd Church.
   Average worship attendance in 2006: 290
   New Confessions of Faith needed to meet the goal: 12
   Confessions of faith in 2007: 20
   Confessions of Faith to date 2008: 12
   
   
   
2. Acts 2:41 - Increase worship attendance (every congregation will be expected to grow worship attendance by 2 percent over the percentage growth of the community where the congregation is located).
   
   Not yet accomplished at Good Shepherd Church.
   The population of Charles County is expected to continue to grow at a rate of approximately 2.0 percent per year, reaching a total of 182,000 persons by the year 2020.
   Average worship attendance in 2007: 287
   287 + 4% = 12
   Target worship attendance for 2008 = 299
   Average worship attendance through the end of August: 265 (This will go up during the fall.
   We are actually ahead of where we were at this point in 2007).
   
   
   
3. Acts 2: 44-45 - Mission engagement
   a. Address poverty and community development through ministries of mercy, justice & development.
   Accomplished at Good Shepherd Church through such ministries as:
   - Safenights/Helping Hands ministry
   - Angel Tree Christmas
   - English as Second Language adult tutoring
   - Care for returning service personnel, Maryland House
   - Adoption of Dr. Brown Elementary School
   
   
   b. Activate 90 percent of the worshiping congregation in ministry within five years.
   
   Accomplished at Good Shepherd Church using the Ministry Menu and other tools. We can continue to encourage more participation and refine methods for measuring how many are involved in direct ministry.
   
   c. Financially support mission through locally identified community and world mission projects and fulfill 100 percent of apportionment giving (accountable: Pastor).
   
   Accomplished at Good Shepherd Church.
   Paid 100% of conference apportionments in 2007 to support the conference & denomination mission and ministry ($49,411).
   On track to pay in full once again for 2008 ($50,664).
   
   
4. Acts 2:43 - Demonstrate signs of God’s power and wonder. Ministry results that are more than human ability and are clearly God’s movement through the congregation.
   Accomplished at Good Shepherd Church. See #3a above.

   See you at Church,
   -Pastor Steve Larsen