Indianapolis, April 5, 2010 — New Church Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) works in concert with general, regional and local Disciples ministries and global/ecumenical partners to extend witness into neighborhoods and mission fields in the United States and Canada. All of this is made possible with the support of the Pentecost Offering. This year’s Pentecost Offering, will be May 16 and May 23. However, the offering can be collected on any Sunday from May 16 through August.
 
The Pentecost Offering raises awareness and support for New Church Ministry. And because of the New Church movement, 657 new churches have started since 2001 and more than 42,000 new Disciples have been reached and the momentum continues to grow. The goal for Disciples is to start 1,000 new churches by 2020.
 
Expanding the Table is once again the theme for the Pentecost Offering. According to Rick Morse, vice president of New Church Ministry, as the Christian Church, we welcome and embrace with the love of Christ, all who will come to the table. The good news is that our Christian table is constantly expanding and reaching beyond social and economic boundaries to extend a witness. By supporting the Pentecost Offering you are expanding the efforts of the New Church Movement.
 
Money collected through the Pentecost Offering is evenly divided between New Church Ministry, which represents the wider church, and the region where the giving congregation is located. The portion that goes to New Church Ministry is used to support the wider church in recruitment, training and coaching of new church planters. Regions use their portions to help meet the more local and regional needs of the new church movement.
 
Our challenge remains great and assistance is needed to help New Church Ministry help Disciples share the witness of Christ and to continue to expand the table, reaching more people and bringing God’s message to new places and new communities. To support the Pentecost Offering, mail your gift to Disciples Mission Fund, P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 46206 or visit www.disciplesmissionfund.org select remittance form and print. For more information about the Pentecost Offering, call Rick Morse, vice president of New Church Ministry at 800.274.1883.
 
You can also visit the New Church Ministry website at www.newchurchministry.org to obtain additional information and downloadable materials for the Pentecost Offering.