JANUARY ELDER UPDATE   

Dear Faith Community Church,   

Your Board of Elders desires to inform you of our recent activities and request your prayer for us as we collectively pursue our Spirit-led mission of making more and better disciples of Jesus Christ. Below is a summary of our January activities. If you desire to learn more about a given subject, please don’t hesitate to contact a pastor or elder. Thank you for your interest and desire as we seek to help thousands more experience Jesus in a gospel inspired life.   

January 13, 2026: Regular Elder Meeting:  This meeting was cancelled. 

January 27, 2026: Regular Elder Meeting: 

Updates   

• The elders were updated on the building expansion project. Overall, the project is going well and staying within the expected budget.  The contingency budget continues to be spent lower.  The occupancy permit for newly completed Kids Wing expansion has been obtained.  Separately, a needed fire alarm permit was obtained from the State.  A number of additional areas should be completed and become fully open in the coming weeks including: the Refuge room, the balcony, the Café, the kitchen, the work room, the mom’s room, the family room, and the hallway.     
• The elders update concerning recent efforts regarding campus planting. 
• The elders were updated on various elder-related activities concerning the drafting of a Roles, Responsibilities and Authority Structure in the Local Church initiative. 
• The elders were updated on various metrics regarding activities in December. 
• The elders were updated about an upcoming men’s discipleship conference that will include several men from FCC. 
• The elders were updated about recent the Christianity Explored cohort. 

Topics   

Prayer: The elders discussed various needs and situations and spent time in prayer for our church.   

Quarterly Finance and Metrics Report: The elders were presented with a report on various metrics from the most recent quarter (Sept.-Dec.).  Our church continues to experience ongoing growth regarding those who are calling FCC home and other metrics.   

Annual Vision Script: As discussed in the previous elder update, the annual vision script is an effort focused upon establishing elder-desired goals for FCC for the coming three ministry years (July-June).  The goals associated with the upcoming year are more closely held than the latter two years. Additionally, all goals are held loosely knowing that the Holy Spirit may have plans we are not yet properly aware of.  The elders affirmed the direction that was presented at the previous meeting.   

LEAD Team and Campus Planting Update: The elders were updated about recent efforts regarding Converge Great Lakes’ LEAD team activities in our region and the Converge churches therein. Various expectations and understandings regarding potential partnerships were reviewed and discussed. How these activities may relate toward FCC’s campus planting initiative were also considered. 

Pastor Licensing Update: The elders were updated about on-going efforts to formally license pastors at FCC.  These activities include the Pastoral Licensing Manual.  The elders were requested to review this document for additional discussion at our next meeting. 

Annual FCC Celebration Meeting Agenda: Each year FCC holds a meeting to highlight and review how God has been active in the many ministries at FCC.  The meeting is held in February. The elders were informed about the format and planned agenda. 

Transitional Housing Occupancy Extension: The elders were advised about the request for an occupancy extension concerning our transitional housing ministry.  After discussion, the elders approved an extension. 

Sense of the Elders, Regarding Community Missions: Recent turmoil in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area has led to several requests for increased community mission funding.  The elders discussed various possible options, complexity, and the need for accountability. Directional feedback was provided regarding three matters. Further discussions at a future meeting will be held. 

 How you can pray us:   

• In thankfulness to God for his continued and faithful provisions to FCC and his work in drawing many more in joining with us.   
• For God’s guidance and wisdom as we contemplate how to best develop a discipleship initiative to meet the needs of FCC and specifically for the recent men’s discipleship activities. 
• For God’s guidance and wisdom as we continue efforts to shepherd those who call FCC home, in part, via a pilot diaconate. We earnestly desire to do this well while being a church of our size.   
• For the unity of our body as we experience a number of changes that our present growth and our recently commenced building project is bringing about. Pray for safety for the workers involved in the building project and for our staff and volunteers as they work diligently to faithfully serve the increasing number of people who are calling FCC home during this season of disrupted spaces.  Pray that as our new spaces open that they will enable our ultimate desire that they be effective for our mission of making more and better disciples of Jesus. 
• For God’s wisdom and guidance as FCC contemplates what church planting via a campus planting model means in practice.   
• For our students who completed evangelism training, that they would be empowered to live and share the gospel with others and that God would spark a revival in their generation.   
• For God’s wisdom, guidance, and unity for the elder board as we continue to contemplate and discern many matters of importance, including our continued discussions concerning roles, responsibilities, and authority within the local church and specifically how it applies to our context at FCC.   
• For peace and unity. 
• For God’s wisdom and guidance as we experience the recent turmoil in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area and the needs that are being presented.

In Love and Peace,   

Gregg Bennett – Chairman of the Elders on behalf of your Elder Board:   

(Gregg Bennett, John Blum, Bill Brinkman, Jim Duffey, Dan Fosterling, Jon Gross, Eric Lent, Tim Porter, Tim Prince, Pat Stream, and Jan van Amerongen)