Middle Island Presbyterian Church

Mission Study - July 2001

 

History

                               

                We are a church family with a rich history that dates back to 1766. At that time, the Long Island Presbytery established a preaching point in Middle Island for the pastor of the Old South Haven Church.  MIPC was formally organized in 1767 and has been serving what was primarily a farming community for its first 200 years of service.  In 1965, Elbert Smith of the Longwood Estates donated 6.3 acres of land on Longwood Road in Ridge to the church.  The building on Middle Country Road that had served the church since 1837 was left by MIPC at that time.  The new building, MIPC’s present location, included classrooms for Christian Education, office space and a multipurpose room that was used both as a worship area, social area and gymnasium.   A spurt of growth occurred in church membership with the establishment of Leisure Village nearby in the early 1970’s. In 1982,the multipurpose room was extended and became the current sanctuary with pews instead of chairs.

In 1985, a split in the church family occurred with many members leaving the church.  Of those who remained, many were hurting.  Guiding the congregation through this painful period was the Interim Pastor A. Wayne Benson who effectively prepared the congregation for a full time pastor.  From 1989 to 1999,  MIPC was led and served by the Reverend Dr. Douglas McGillivray.  Pastor McGillivray was serving in his first senior pastorate. He brought unity and gifts needed to fulfill the new vision of the church.  During Pastor McGillivray’s tenure, with an influx of new members the church transitioned from a senior population to a youthful one which reflected the growing community around us.  In 1999, feeling that his ministry here was completed, he sought God’s will and was called to another congregation in Pennsylvania, nearer to his to his family and boyhood home.  The congregation was eager to move on with its ministries and after three months, the Lord led our interim pastor to us.  We took a leap of faith and hired a Baptist minister. 

 

Background

 

MIPC is located in the town of Ridge.  As a church, we draw from the communities of Ridge, Middle Island, Shoreham, Wading River, Shirley, and East Yaphank .   These communities are centered on either the William Floyd Parkway or Middle Country Road.  Reflecting the commuter nature of Long Island, and our location, about one half of our congregation travels between 3-10 miles to church. Ridge, as most of these towns, does not have a recognizable town center making the sense of local community weak.  Being the nearest church to the Brookhaven National Laboratories, we draw about a quarter of our congregation from the lab.  This adds a transitory nature to our church membership since many of the lab personnel work on term contracts.  In contrast to most Long Island Presbyterian Churches, we are statistically younger than the local population while still reflecting it in nearly all demographic categories (see Revision Status Report).  Where we differ is in areas which are directly and indirectly tied to our faith in God.      

 

Beliefs

 

We believe that Jesus is God’s only son and through that belief in Jesus, we will be saved from our sins and live forever. 

 

                For God so loved the world that he gave his only beloved son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

 

Perish implies that without belief is God there is a consequence.  There can be no consequence without a cause; that cause is sin. 

 

                “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23

 

A belief in God alone is not enough; it is not sufficient. We must also believe that Jesus is God’s only son and through that belief in Jesus, we will be saved from our sins and live forever.

 

That belief is the beginning of faith. 

 

                “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

 

Faith is what sustains us, grows within us, attracts others to us and is personally uniquely ours.

 

However, faith alone is not enough.

 

But some will say,” You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works and I by my works will show you my faith”. – James 2:18    

 

Faith is inseparable from works.  We must have the faith and use the faith (works).

 

Love is the key to doing our works.

 

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”  Galatians 5:6b

“Do everything in Love.” I Corinthians 16:14

 

God is concerned how and why we do things so he showed us his love by giving us Jesus and teaching us about love in his word.

 

“…. Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast…..It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…When I was a child, I reasoned like a child….When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me… And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  I Corinthians 13

 

Love means having to continue to mature in our faith as from a child to an adult.

 

“Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” – Ephesians 4:13

 

Love aims at knowing God and pleasing God.

 

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” - Colossians 1:5

 

We know God through his Word.

 

                “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” II Timothy 3:16-17

 

We know God through his Holy Spirit.

 

                “But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you in into all truth” - John 16:13

 

We know God through his Church.

 

                “and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another”  Hebrews 10:24-25

 

The church is made up of many different people with different purposes, talents and dispositions.

 

                “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ. ….  Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body…. But in fact, God has arranged the parts of the body everyone of them just as he wanted them to be…  Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it”  I Corinthians 12: 12-17

 

While each person has a role to play in the church so each individual church has a role to play in the larger church body.  That role is peculiar to each church and each church must seek to define and shape that role.

That role is the vision of the church. 

 

 

VISION

 

Our vision is that the Middle Island Presbyterian Church be a place where all can seek, establish and nurture a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In this committed spirit, we continue to strive to make Him the center of our individual lives, His church body and each of its ministries. Fully experiencing and compelled by God’s love for us, we desire to be a church body that truly cares about one another. We envision a faithful caring church body that recognizes, develops and uses its gifts to serve one another, the community and the world.

 

 

                                                                Three to Five Year Plan

 

I.                     Our vision is that the Middle Island Presbyterian Church be a place where all can seek, establish and nurture a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

        (Christ centered individual lives)

 

A.     FAITH DEVELOPMENT

1.  We need to develop a comprehensive and measurable discipleship process program for all ages.

a.        Define meaning of discipleship   (1yr) 

b.       Develop the keys of discipleship (1yr)

c.        Teach these keys in sermons, studies or small groups (2yr)

 

2.  Provide meaningful worship

a.        Biblically based sermons (In Progress)

b.       Gospel message clearly stated (In Progress)

c.        Provide opportunities for people to make a commitment to Christ (1yr)

 

3.  Education

a.        Adult Bible Study (1yr)

b.       Biblically Based Sunday School Program (In Progress)

c.        Equip people to share faith  (2yr)

d.       Provide opportunities and challenge people to share faith      Ex. meetings, worship etc. (3yr)

 

II.                   Fully experiencing and compelled by God’s love for us, we desire to be a church body that truly cares about one another.

(Christ centered church body)

 

A.     PROVIDING CHRIST’S LOVE

1.  Shepherding Ministry

a.        Find the person with the gift to lead this ministry  (3yr)

b.       Provide training (3yr)

c.        Reexamine the existing program (3yr)
Explore a deacon program

 

2.  Visitor Contact Team

a.        Program to welcome visitors (In Progress)

b.       Train Contact teams for visitation (1yr)

c.        Encourage members to be aware of and greet newcomers  (1yr)

 

B.      RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

1.  Fellowship Events

a.        Provide opportunities for people of all ages in congregation to gather in fun, informal settings (In Progress)

 

2.  Develop small group programs

a.        Provide support and study (3yr)

b.       Mentoring (4yr)

c.        Presbyterian Women (In Progress)

d.       Men’s Group (6yr)

3.  Sports

a.        Softball (1yr)

b.       Basketball     (1yr)

 

C.      STEWARDSHIP

1.  Develop year round stewardship program

a.        Biblically define stewardship – giving of time, gifts, money (2yr)

b.       Educate congregation (2yr)

c.        Set challenges (1yr)

d.       Keep congregation updated on progress (2yr)

 

III.                 We envision a faithful, caring church body that recognizes, develops and uses its gifts to serve one another, the community and the world.

(Christ centered church body)

 

A.     LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

1.  Create year round program that calls, equips and develops new leaders.  

    a. Develop program that helps people discern their gifts and how they might apply them  (2yr)

    b. Provide training for specific ministries. (Ex. Youth ministry, Sunday School teachers, VBS volunteers, Shepherding etc.)  (3yr)

    c. Equip mentors (4yr)

    d. Create leadership depth in all areas of service      (no one is alone) (3yr)

   e. Make note that people from Brookhaven National Lab with a history of church service may be on term contracts. We need to have system to “fast track” them to serving the Lord at MIPC  (1yr)

 

B.      OUTREACH

1.  Educate leadership and congregation about meaning of “outreach” (1yr)

 

2.  Examine present ministries, look for missed opportunities of outreach and develop new game plan accordingly.  (1yr)

 

3.  Provide new outreach opportunities

a.        Vacation Bible School outreach program (2yr)

b.       More intentional encouragement to  invite Little Lambs Nursery School parents to participate in MIPC worship and programs –i.e.  provide MIPC representative, Kitchen Bulletin Board, Mailings (2yr)

c.        Consider recreation programs (1yr)

d.       Consider a ‘Family Life Center’ building addition. This will serve as an outreach enabler. (4yr)

 

4.  Improve MIPC’s Presbytery connection

a.        Establish a group that keeps on top of LI Presbytery events, opportunities. (1yr)

b.       Encourage attendance (2yr)

 

5.  Define action plan that would allow us to be more of a lighthouse/beacon to surrounding community

a.        Possible areas of focus

  -Connection with Jr/Sr High

  -After school program

  -Parenting program (open to parents in

        community – ex. “Parenting a Teenager” (4yr)

 

6.  Improve church publicity

a.        Increase Yellow Page ad, investigate size and pricing then budget (1yr)

b.       Seek other advertising possibilities (2yr)

c.        Create Church flyers and pamphlets (2yr)

d.       Keep website up to date (In Progress)

e.        Post a 4 month Church Calendar in Hallway and keep up to date with Church events (1yr)

 

 

C.      MISSIONS

1.  Define and educate congregation about mission work (3yr)

2.  Make congregation aware of mission opportunities

a.        Provide listing of current involvement (1yr)

b.       Actively recruit participants (4yr)

c.        Verbal and visible presentations of participation (5yr)

3.  Reevaluate current missions we support (2yr)

4.  Find Yearly Hands On Mission Opportunities for all age groups (1yr)
ex. Soup Kitchens ,Midnight Run, El Salvador Partnership, Island Inn

 

IV.                 We strive to make Christ the center of every ministry

(Christ centered ministry)

 

A.     COMMITTEE REVISION

1.  Each committee needs to review “statements of purpose, goals and job descriptions” in context of new vision statement (1yr)

2.  Create “recipe book” for all events/actions that will be kept in binder for future reference

a.        Include evaluation of event   (1yr)

b.       Develop simple form for feedback (1yr)

c.        Keep minutes of meetings                (1yr)

3.  Each committee need to prepare yearly calendar including financial projections  (In Progress)

4.   Establish better communication between committees

a.        Post updated church calendar  (1yr)

b.       Develop MIPC Website with passwords to access church committees, calendar etc. (2yr)

5.  Consider merger of Stewardship and Budget and Finance Committees (1yr)

a.  Develop new structure and who does what

b. Develop presentation for session showing new  structure and benefits in line with vision

c.  Consult committee chairs

7.       Need to recreate Nominating Committee  (1yr)

a.  Define structure, purpose and ownership

b. Review by-laws

8.       Need to form Publicity/Marketing Committee (1yr)

a.  Fulfill Outreach goal on publicity

b. Provide church flyers/pamphlets

9.       Consider establishing Missions as its own committee (1yr)

10.    Create Personnel Committee or Personnel committee functions – Personnel Guidelines need to be reexamined and/or created. (2yr)

11.    Whether by employee or volunteerism – full time coverage for church office hours. (3yr)

 

B.      ACCOUNTIBILITY

1.  Session/Church retreat or day to reexamine progress of mission fulfillment. (yearly)

2.  In the beginning of Year 6 report to the congregation the status of the mission study goal attainment.