Codex Singularity: Search for the Prisca Sapientia
2014 Annual Report as Director of Church Planting for the East Coast Conference
1. East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org
2014 Dir. of Chur ch P la n t i n g R e port • J ason R. Condon • May 3 , 2014 • pg. 1 of 4
Diverse Family of Faith
Our Covenant Agreement
Signings in recent months
Pastor Chih Lung “Paul” Lin,
Taiwanese pastor, culturally
diverse Mandarin-language
church plant in Quincy MA
Pastor Kimberly Wright,
African-American, reaching
ethnically & economically
diverse Harlem & Manhattan
Pastors Eli Hernandez &
Don Schiewer (our newly
planted Mid-Atlantic Cohort).
Eli: Puerto Rican, reaching
Anglo, African-American, and
Hispanic peoples
Don: Anglo, reaching post-
modern college town with
culturally & increasingly
ethnically diverse church plant
REPORT
2014 Dir. of Church Planting
A Growing Family on Mission
Birthing Healthy, Missional, New Congregations
Healthy families grow. Whether biological, adoptive, or even as a spiritual
metaphor, adding new families members is a sign of health, movement, and
greater purpose. For the East Coast Conference, this is an increasing blessing.
The picture above is just one of many “family portraits” that showcase the
blessings God brings through calling men and women to start new families of
faith within the larger family of the East Conference Conference, the
Covenant, and God’s Church in the world (Spring 2013 Assessment Center
“Recommended” candidates). Our church plants also help us further a fuller
reflection of the image of God and Jesus’ kingdom purposes of “every nation,
tribe, people and language” joining in his worship (see sidebar).
As you go over this report and the other church planting materials in
print and online, consider them in a fresh ways: “school pictures”, family
“Christmas Letter”, report cards and artwork
you proudly display on the fridge. Know also
that your direct prayers, tangible support, and
shared ministry across the Conference are
indispensable to your healthy, growing family!
Much grace,
Jason R. Condon
Director of Church Planting
2014 Dir. of Church Planting
REPORT
“Be fruitful and
multiply [...] I will be a
Father to you, and you
will be my sons and
daughters, says the
Lord Almighty.”
(Gen. 1:28b, 2 Cor. 6:18)
2. East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org
2014 Dir. of Chur ch P la n t i n g R e port • J ason R. Condon • May 3 , 2014 • pg. 2 of 4
Make & Deepen Disciples
Our Greatest Goal is Disciples Growing in Christ
Driven by a shared conviction that making disciples is the highest
call of any Christian, pastor, or church, ECConf church planters
and friends spent our 2013-2014 Regional Church Planting Cohorts
Season focused on Discipleship. Challenges, opportunities, models, and
measures are all part of the in-depth conversation. Discussion, debates,
attendance at two discipleship-themed conferences, and peer-led
presentations of best-practices, all added to the richness of this pursuit.
The two-part culmination of this multi-month “Discipleship Series”
began with our first-ever “Full Day” Cohort gatherings in NYC and
Boston. The two keynote speakers were: Don Schiewer and Eli
Hernandez. both part of our newly planted Mid-Atlantic Church Planter
Cohort. The final installment and application will take place at our annual
All-Church Planters Retreat in May
Special Cohorts Invite to All Pastors: Church Planter Cohort gatherings
are “open” and listed at eastcoastconf.org/calendar. Topics and conversations have broad
ministry application beyond church planting. We’ve already been blessed to have other
pastors often joining in! Just RSVP jasonrcondon@gmail.com whenever interested.
LIFE & MINISTRY TOGETHER
One Big Covenant Family
East Coast Conference, Covenant, and
Your Congregations “In It Together!”
“A cord of three
strands is not
quickly broken” is a
fitting metaphor for
the Covenant family’s
shared mission. Each
church planting
project is a tangible partnership at every level:
Denomination, Conference, and Local Churches.
Prayer, relationships, mission giving, and direct partnerships
are vital ways established churches invest in the future of
their “spiritual kids and grand-kids” through church planting.
A ”Family Portrait”- Covenant Agreement Signing, (L-R):
• Chris Bannon - Planter/Pastor, The Commons, Rochester NH
(+ developing partnerships with other Covenant Churches)
• John Teter - Covenant Church Planting Team Leader
• Jason Condon - ECConf Director of Church Planting
New Covenant Church Planting Logo &
Branding with ECConf Customization
Feb“Full Day”Cohort Gatherings:
• (L): Eli Hernandez:“Spiritual
Discipline of Physical Health”
• (C): Jason:“Enlisting the‘Science of
Influence’for Discipleship Success”
• (R): Don Schiewer:“The Principles &
Practice of Discipleship”
“Discipleship Series”Resources:
• posted at www.jasoncondon.com
• includes handouts, video, tools,
seminar materials, and much more
Three Current Church Planter Cohorts:
• Greater Boston/New England
• NY/NJ Metro
• Mid-Atlantic (newly“planted”in 2013)
3. East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org
2014 Dir. of Chur ch P la n t i n g R e port • J ason R. Condon • May 3 , 2014 • pg. 3 of 4
GENERATION TO GENERATION
Parent Churches Partner Churches Support Churches
DEFINITION: Provide initial core of at
least 30 Launch Team members and
“third stream” funding of $50-70k over
3-4 years. Significant relational
connection between both churches
Provide substantial portion of initial
Launch Team members and some of
the “third stream” funding over 3-4
years, equivalent to roughly 1/2 to 1/5
of a “parent church” commitment
Commit as an entire church or through
individual members to provide tangible
support through prayer, resources,
volunteering, and the occasional
celebrated Launch Team member
FEATURES: primarily nearby mission
field, full support, fishing license for
Launch Team, baby shower for start-up
equipment, blessing and celebration.
Think “Mom & Dad”
nearby or regional mission, seek to
“tithe” members, tangible support &
encouragement, short-term
missionaries. Think “grandparents” and
“older brothers & sisters”
Opportunity for measurable healthy
missional efforts for the support church,
picture on the fridge, care packages,
project volunteers. Think “aunts and
uncles”, “first and second cousins”
OPPORTUNITIES 1: Connecticut,
Rhode Island, Greater Boston, and NY/
NJ Metro are current top candidates for
fully-parented projects
2 Probably 60-70% of the ECConf
geography, limited only by a critical
mass of regional Covenant Churches
partnering together in mission
Opportunities across entire Conference,
with even greater potential when also
joining with “partner churches” to reach
our more northern and southern areas
CAPACITY 3: At least 6-8 ECConf
churches have the missional capacity
and potential vision for this level
40-50 churches 3 across the ECConf,
all in the Healthy-Missional/Stable
spectrum, could partner in this way
One and All 3. There’s literally no church
too [fill-in-the-blank] that can’t pray, take
a love offering, hold babies, and more!
1 Based on close proximity of potential Parent Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (the most constraints)
2 Based on regional proximity of a critical mass of potential Partner Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (fewer constraints)
3 Based on combination of self-reporting and Conference-staff insights on ranges of healthy missional vitality of various Conference churches
1 Based on close proximity of potential Parent Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (the most constraints)
2 Based on regional proximity of a critical mass of potential Partner Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (fewer constraints)
3 Based on combination of self-reporting and Conference-staff insights on ranges of healthy missional vitality of various Conference churches
1 Based on close proximity of potential Parent Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (the most constraints)
2 Based on regional proximity of a critical mass of potential Partner Churches and likelihood of church planter candidates (fewer constraints)
3 Based on combination of self-reporting and Conference-staff insights on ranges of healthy missional vitality of various Conference churches
Parent & Partner Churches
A Significant ECConf Family Need Going Forward
Every church had a beginning.
Whether days, decades, or centuries old,
every congregation had it’s birth.
Yet no “birth” takes place without
parents. And “surviving and thriving”
won’t sustain without family support.
As a new generation of ECConf Church Planting grows and
moves forward, the need and opportunity for Parent, Partner,
and Support churches grows with it. You–leaders, pastors,
congregations, followers of Jesus–are indispensable members of both
your local and larger church family that grows and reproduces.
Prayerfully consider how you might join in birthing and raising up of
newborn congregations. God wants his family to grow.
It Takes a Village Conference...
Let’s Start the Conversation
Sr. Pastors:
I’d love to take you out for lunch or
coffee to hear your thoughts & dreams
and answer any questions
(no pressure or commitments implied)
Church Leaders:
Schedule a two hour meeting for an
initial conversation and consultation
Contact Me Anytime (or soon :)
• jasonrcondon@gmail.com
• facebook.com/jasoncondon
• (860) 479-2020
“One generation
commends your works
to another; they tell of
your mighty acts.”
~ Psalm 145:4 ~
4. East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org
2014 Dir. of Chur ch P la n t i n g R e port • J ason R. Condon • May 3 , 2014 • pg. 4 of 4
2014 (so far!)
Dan & Amanda Sadlier,
Hope Roosevelt Island (NY)
Chris & Becca Bannon,
The Commons Covenant
Church (Rochester NH)
Grant & Miho Buchholtz,
Tokyo Life (developing
special partnership, Japan)
In Development
Two more “Recommended”
Candidates working toward
official status later this year
2013
Chih Lung“Paul”& Lee Lin,
Christ’s Mandarin ECC
大波士頓國語基督教會
(Quincy MA)
Don & Tana Schiewer,
Dust Covenant Church
(Blacksburg VA)
Eli & Yashida Hernandez,
Charm City Covenant
Church (Baltimore MD)
2013 cont’d
Kim Wright, Church of the
Resurrection ECC (Harlem)
T.C. & Osheta Moore,
New City Boston ECC (South
End/Lower Roxbury MA)
2012
Stephen & Kathleen
Sharkey, Highrock Quincy
ECC (Quincy MA)
Aaron & Ariel Engler,
Highrock North Shore ECC
(Salem MA)
Drew & Tina (Park-Hyun)
Hyun, Hope Church NYC
ECC (Astoria NY)
Andrew & Corrie Mook,
Sanctuary Church ECC
(Providence RI)
2011
Phil & Betsy Bonano,
New Season Cov (Bronx NY)
Efrain & Erika Alicea,
Elements Cov (Bronx NY)
2010
Michael & Liz Carrion,
Promised Land Covenant
Church (Bronx NY)
Monyroor & Amou Teng,
Sudanese ECC
(Manchester NH)
2009
Derrick & Linda Jackson,
Life Covenant Church
(Morganville NJ)
2008
Kiho & Sunseong Lee,
Worship Frontier ECC
(Brookline MA, 2008)
2008 cont’d
Frank & Austin Catalano,
Evergreen Covenant Church
(Sanford ME, 2008)
Josh & Minhee Throneburg,
Highrock Brookline ECC
(Brookline MA 2008)
2007
Jose & Mayra Humphreys,
Metro Hope ECC (Harlem)
Not Pictured
(still pray!):
2014 Candidates
We’ll have about a Dozen
Candidates for upcoming
2014 Assessment Centers!
(5-6 in May, 4-6 in Sept)
7-10 Years Old
• Cornerstone - in Pastoral
Search (Boston, 2004)
• Conway & Deborah
Boyce, Brooklyn Covenant
Ministries (NY, 2004)
• Paul & Kelley McCart,
Parkside Covenant
(Clifton Park, NY 2004)
• Peter & Jenny Ahn, Metro
ECC (Englewood NJ, 2003)
THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER...
Therefore
encourage
one another
and build
each other
up, just as in fact you are doing.”
~ The Apostle Paul ~
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Please regularly lift up in prayer these
current and future church planting
pastors & their families. Visit, engage,
encourage, and partner as God leads!
Pray For & Encourage Your Church Planting Family