History of Creekside Church and the former Elkhart City COB

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

The Long-Range Planning Committee (Dream Team) presented this mission statement to the April Council meeting: "Because we are God's beloved in Christ, we strive to be a community - helping one another know his love in our lives…responding in His love in vital worship…sharing His love in service and witness." The Church Board instructed the Committee (1) to develop a mission statement; (2) to assess where the church stood compared to the mission statement; and (3) to establish goals which could be met within the next three years. A congregational profile was done this year by the Andrew Center and consultant Steve Clapp.

It was reported at the May Council meeting that the Stephen Ministry had begun with nine Stephen Ministers serving nine persons; the Altruist church school class had been disbanded; and the former parsonage had been leased to REAL Services for one year. The church profile done in 1994 by the Andrew Center and consultant Steve Clapp was presented to the Long-Range Planning Committee. It showed the major strengths of the church, including strong pastoral leadership, love of music, openness/warmness, high attendance in the adult education program, thoughtful people who were willing to "introspect," and connections to retreat centers and Camp Mack, etc. The profile also suggested that the congregation would need to make some changes in reaching out to people in the area around the church in order to avoid a decline in membership or move to another location where there would be more probability of growth in membership.

The first stage of the Centennial Garden in the front lawn of the church was put in place in May and June with trees, shrubs, and perennials. A fence with more bushes, benches, chairs, a pond, and waterfall rock were added in late summer. Funds for the project came from the Centennial account, classes, and persons who sponsored various items in the garden in memory of a loved one. The project was completed in August, and dedication was August 16, 1996.

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