This article was wrote by Pastor Bob and published in our February 2008 newsletter. This information is on the changes with SpringCreek United Methodist Church.

One of the things I truly have cherished about being in ministry with you is the openness to try new ideas. In 2004 we opened ourselves to birth a new congregation from our church. SpringCreek United Methodist Church launched their new ministry and new congregation in the fall of 2006 with thirty people from our congregation. The mission goals were to use a very aggressive numerical growth process to become a self-sustaining congregation in a relatively short period of time. In many ways SpringCreek reached its mission of attracting people who have not participated in a church or who haven’t been in a church for quite awhile. However, the numerical growth towards self sufficiency didn’t go as fast as the model called for. Thus, some new directions are necessary.

A direction we are pursuing with the members of SpringCreek is to welcome them as a satellite congregation of CLUMC. They would still be self sustaining in the areas of administration, finances and worship. We would share some resources to enhance their programming ministry. We will set new church growth goals that can continue the mission of reaching others who are unchurched or are uncomfortable in a traditional church setting. Our goal continues to be developing SpringCreek into a self sustaining congregation in the future.

So what does this change mean? This does mean that Pastor Joel Higgins will no longer be the pastor of SpringCreek. He will be reappointed to another congregation in the Dakotas. Pastor Rebecca and I will provide the preaching ministry at SpringCreek and we will provide limited administrative and programming support. SpringCreek will be worshipping at 10:00am each Sunday at Canyon Lake Senior Center. This service would be considered a fourth worship site for us here at CLUMC all be it keeping in mind that SpringCreek would be a self sufficient worship site.

 Our worship schedule will be as follows beginning Sunday, March 30^th:

Saturday, 5:30pm (@ CLUMC)

Sunday, 8:30am (@ CLUMC)

9:40am (Sunday school for all ages @ CLUMC)

10:00am (SpringCreek worship at Canyon Lake Senior Center)

10:45am (@ CLUMC)

We are exploring the possibility of having the SpringCreek children and youth being a part of our Sunday school, Wednesday activities and youth program until they have grown enough to sustain these programs on their own.

Though we all are experiencing grief with these changes, the ministry of SpringCreek is not finished. It is taking another form. I appreciate your willingness to try new things so we can continue to reach people in Rapid City with the good news of Jesus Christ.

 Blessings,

Pastor Bob