RWC NCD Update

Here’s an update on the RWC (Redwood City) NCD (New Church Development) research I’ve been doing the last four months. My hope is to start gathering a learning community in late September that will be part focus group and part “imagineering” (borrowed this word from Disney) team. I’m looking for people who know RWC well and/or who belong to Generation X or Generation Y (forties, thirties, twenties, and teens); I’m also looking for a mix of ethnicities (to reflect RWC). For a period of several months, this learning community will be imagining what a new faith community in, for, and with RWC might look like.

In no particular order, my work thus far has included the following:

·         Participation in a NCD training conference

·         Coaching from a Presbyterian Church (USA) church planter

·         Visits to 16 churches (11 established churches in RWC; 4 new churches and 1 multiethnic church in other parts of CA)

·         Many miles of walking RWC neighborhoods (I’ve now observed most of RWC on foot)

·         Many hours in RWC public spaces, eateries, and coffee shops (I’ve done my part for the RWC economy)

·         Reading 8 books relevant to starting a faith community

·         Conversations with 9 church planters

·         Conversations with numerous potential participants in the aforementioned learning community

·         Conversations with numerous people who live outside in RWC

·         Interviews of 10 people ages 17-30

·         Mentoring in a RWC public school (4 days a week beginning in September)

·         Planning toward starting a “street church” (to feed the homeless) in RWC

·         Study of RWC demographics (Mission Insite and other sources)