Earlier this week I traveled to Delaware to discuss the upcoming “Embrace Wilmington” initiative with NAMB missionary, Mitch Dowell. Mitch served as Associate Executive Director of “Embrace Baltimore” until it ceased operations last year. He is presently in transition as he has begun his new duties as Executive Director of “Embrace Wilmington,” but at the same time has a house to sell in Baltimore. In the meantime, Mitch is staying in a house provided by one of the few Baptist churches in the Wilmington area.
Embrace Wilmington is still in the development phase, so most of the needs for Kentucky volunteer teams will not begin until 2011. Its vision statement, as well as its strategic focuses, however, have already been laid out.
VISION: People partnering together to embrace the City of Wilmington with the love of Christ.
Four strategic focus areas:
- Church Strengthening
- Church Starting
- Creative Evangelism
- Community Impact Evangelism
Latter Day Baptist is the only SBC church in the City of Wilmington, DE
During my visit I had the opportunity to sit in on an planning meeting with Mitch, Mal Utley, the interim Delaware Association Director of Missions, and five pastors and staff members from local Southern Baptist Churches. The meeting focused on the present status of Embrace Wilmington and how it can become most effective in reaching the city of Wilmington for Christ. Exisiting programs and events were evaluated and new ones discussed.
The leaders recognize that their churches are not ready to launch into a full fledged campaign at this time, but first need to prepare their churches in the following areas:
- Visioning/Strategic Planning
- Evangelism Training
- Discipleship/Follow-up training
- Leader Development
- Member Mobilization
- Community assessment/Outreach
- Church Planting in an urban culture
- Hosting mission teams
It’s not too early to consider partnering with one of the Wilmington area churches and begin making plans for your first trip. If you are interested in taking a vision trip, please contact the Partnership Missions office.
