East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org

2013 Dir. o f C hu r c h P la nt ing R eport • Jason R. Condon • April 13, 2013 • pg. 1 of 4

This ECConf “Orchard” is a Family Adventure!We’ve been blessed over the years with a few of our largest churches sending church planters, support, and launch team members.

Now, for the first time, we have a new model for Church Planting Partners that opens that possibility to over 80% of our churches:

Cambridge Fellowship (Larry Kim), Covenant Congregational (Fred Elliot-Hart), & Cornerstone (Eugene Lee) are bravely going first, partnering together to support New City Boston (T.C. Moore).

Like most family adventures, details are still being worked out. We’re thrilled they’re taking on the challenge!

REPORT2013 Dir. of Church Planting

Planting an OrchardA Faithful, Fruitful, Family Endeavor

Last year, not long after settling into our new

house, we planted a small orchard. While I didn’t do

it (primarily) for the metaphors, they are quite rich.

Soil prep, tree selection, placement, support,

protection, and more… all speak to the deep

truths of planting the Gospel through church multiplication.

During these first two-and-a-half years in this role, this concept of “planting

an orchard” has only grown stronger. Yes, selection, assessment, and prep on

the individual level is crucial. But it’s all part of the greater “ecosystem” God is

shaping throughout our Conference: Our growing

Cohorts are reaching critical-mass and cross-pollinating the

Gospel into whole regions. Purposeful resourcing and

care are producing greater missional health. Evidence of

a reproducing movement is starting to blossom.

As you go over all these materials (print & online),

know that your prayers, support, and shared ministry

across the Conference are bearing truly amazing fruit!

Much grace,

Associate Superintendent & Director of Church Planting

2013 Dir. of Church Planting

REPORT“I planted the seed,

Apollos watered it,

but God has been

making it grow.”

~ The Apostle Paul ~(1 Corinthians 3:6)

Along with “planting” & “watering”, I mostly try to protect and support our planters (and not mess up what God is doing!)

East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org

2013 Dir. o f C hu r c h P la nt ing R eport • Jason R. Condon • April 13, 2013 • pg. 2 of 4

EQU IPP IN G T H E “ SA INTS ” : )

Some of the crew at one of our NY/NJ Metro Cohorts (Promised Land hosted)

Special Guest John Teter joined us to challenge & encourage on Evangelism

Current Cohorts: Greater Boston/New England & NY/NJ Metro. Future Plans: Baltimore/DC/VA

Church Planter Training Intensive (NEW)Pilot Program Launched Nov 2012

This week-long intensive is designed to equip brand-

new church planters as the local “expert”, able to train

and lead his or her Launch Team in the entire church

planting process. Offered twice/year, we expect 15-25

church planters at each event, making for a more

focused, intimate, and ultimately more effective training

experience. Next CPTI: June 4-9, 2013

Follow-up: Launch Team Training Day. This

main companion piece allows the Church Planter, DCP,

and Coach to train their entire Launch Teams in one

day with the key principles and practices of Covenant

Church Planting. We’ve already successfully launched

this with nine of our Launch Teams, most recently T.C.

Moore’s & Kimberly Wright’s church planting projects.

Regional Church Planter CohortsEncourage, equip, and multiply church planters for a sustaining church planting movement

Creating Regional Cohorts may be the single most impactful new

addition to our church planting efforts here on the East Coast Conference.

These life-giving cohorts are a simple way for church planters – Covenant,

candidates, or simply friends – to support and sustain one another in these

very challenging roles. It’s a powerful time of bonding, equipping,

resourcing, and encouragement, as well as a great introduction to our

culture for those exploring church planting.

This past year has especially seen these Cohorts further evolve as a key

component to the discernment process for potential candidates. It’s now

standard operating procedure for those exploring planting with us to

attend, interact, and “know and be known” in these settings.

Our first ECConf crew to go through the NEW CPTI (L-R): Eli Hernandez - Baltimore, ECConf church planter candidate,

T.C. Moore - New City Boston, our newest church plant, (Touger Thao, Minneapolis Covenant planter and friend :)

Kimberly Wright - Harlem, “Recommended” ECConf planter, on track to be our next official church plant

East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org

2013 Dir. o f C hu r c h P la nt ing R eport • Jason R. Condon • April 13, 2013 • pg. 3 of 4

SP IR IT-LED “ Q UAL ITY CONTROL”Assessment ProcessGrace-filled, High Standards, Very Thorough

An effective assessment process is a key component to our fruitful

church planting approach. A potential candidate spends 6-12 months

going through various assessment tools, site visits, interviews, and

participation in our Cohorts. Together we discern their sense of calling,

capacity to plant, and Covenant compatibility - all are required.

If progress continues, the Candidate and spouse (if married) are

invited to an official Covenant Assessment Center. Preparation and

participation involves significant personality testing, references, 360

evaluations, interviews, personal presentations, group interactions, and

sessions with a trained Christian Counselor. We do this because we take

seriously our stewardship of the resources and people involved in

reaching many for Christ through church planting. Please pray for:

Upcoming Assessment CentersMay 15-18 Assessment Center (hosted at Trinity Manchester, CT):

For the ECConf, we’ve invited a very diverse group of six

candidate couples, our largest single group yet. Potential areas

include Baltimore, Virginia, NJ, NY, and Greater Boston. They’ll join

with another dozen candidate couples from across the Covenant.

Sept 19-22 Assessment Center (Denver): I already anticipate inviting

2-4 candidates that are currently in the assessment process.

Stewardship & AccountabilityMonthly Online Reporting for Plants & Planters

In January we piloted a new

online approach that allows for

even greater accountability and

ease (hopefully!) of the reporting

we require for every church plant.

With both qualitative and quantitative measures, everyone involved has

far better insights for ministry planning and fruitful stewardship.

Seasoned Coaches Our investment and care doesn’t stop with Assessment & Training, but includes ongoing Coaching from seasoned pastors:

Newest Coach: Larry Kim coaches our newest Boston area planter, T.C. Moore (New City)

Josh Throneburg coaches two of our newer church planters in Greater Boston: Aaron Engler (Highrock North Shore) & Stephen Sharkey (Highrock Quincy)

Michael Carrion coaches our newer Bronx church planters: Efrain Alicea (Elements), Phil Bonano (New Season), plus significant “at-large” coaching

East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org

2013 Dir. o f C hu r c h P la nt ing R eport • Jason R. Condon • April 13, 2013 • pg. 4 of 4

2013 (so far!)

Kimberly Wright, Church of the Resurrection (Harlem NY)

T.C. & Osheta Moore, New City Boston (South End/Lower Roxbury)

2012

Stephen & Kathleen Sharkey, Highrock Quincy (MA)

Aaron & Ariel Engler, Highrock North Shore (MA)

Drew & Tina Hyun, Hope Church NYC (Astoria)

Andrew & Corrie Mook,Sanctuary (Providence RI)

2011

Phil & Betsy Bonano, New Season (Bronx NY)

Efrain & Erika Alicea, Elements (Bronx NY)

2010

Michael & Liz Carrion, Promised Land Covenant (Bronx NY)

Monyroor & Amou Teng, Sudanese ECC (Manchester NH)

2009

Derrick & Linda Jackson, Life Covenant(Morganville NJ)

2008

Kiho & Sunseong Lee, Worship Frontier (Brookline MA)

Frank & Austin Catalano, Evergreen (Sanford ME)

Josh & Minhee Throneburg, Highrock Brookline (MA)

2007

Jose & Mayra Humphreys, Metro Hope (Harlem)

Not Pictured (but still pray!):

Pre-2005• Eugene Lee, Cornerstone

(Boston, 2004)• Conway Boyce, Brooklyn

Covenant Ministries (NY, 2004)

• Peter Ahn, Metro (Englewood NJ, 2003)

Closures• James Kim (Queenswest NY,

Concluded in 2013)• Peter Chin (Riverside DC,

Concluded in 2012)

FURTHER I N F R U ITF ULNES S“So Christ himself gave

the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,

the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the

body of Christ may be built up…”

~ The Apostle Paul ~(Ephesians 4:11-12)

Paul, a veteran church planter and discipler of church planters, got things started, kept them going, and multiplied them faithfully. My prayer and commitment is that we do all three well here on the East Coast Conference.

If you or your church would like to know more about partnering in church planting, we welcome the invitation!

Contact Info:• jasonrcondon@gmail.com• (860) 479-2020• www.jasoncondon.com• facebook.com/jasoncondon

Pray for Your Church Planters