Begun in January of 2011, Sure Foundation is a training and equipping program that enables congregations to grow numerically and spiritually. Designed for parish leadership (clergy and lay) by the American Anglican Council, it addresses issues of vision, evangelism, discipleship, every member ministry and much more. Sure Foundation also helps parish leadership teams develop a strategic growth plan for their congregation.

Father Midgett and Christ the King, Winchester, are part of the first diocese to participate in the program, the Anglican Diocese of the South. Other Anglican Church in North America groups like the Gulf AtlanticDiocese and Reformed Episcopal Church are engagingin the program or considering participation. The program is also available to parishes in The Episcopal Church.

For the congregation of Christ the King, participation was an obvious choice. "We knew we needed a plan (for the church) and when we heard of Sure Foundation we knew it could help," said Father Midgett. "After our two consultations with Father Phil (Ashey), we now have a leadership team of seven people that have worked on putting our core values and beliefs, mission and vision statements and strategic plan on paper. Just last night the vestry endorsed it."

"I have gone from being overwhelmed to inspired." That is how Juanita Barry of Christ the King described the Sure Foundation program. "This is, for me, fantastic information on how to do ministry. I came into this program with the big question of 'How do we do discipling for Christ?' We must read, mark and inwardly digest over and over again. There is so much to absorb-to act upon-to put in play-to get our minds around."

For Lois Brown, the program is providing "good guidance in developing an effective plan" for the church. "We definitely were able to do our mission and vision statement, and we feel like those are the building blocks of our short and long-term goals." This plan, she says, helps Christ the King better use their limited resources because they "have a better idea of where [their] community initiatives need to fit in with their mission statement."

When asked if all of the strategic planning had produced any more tangible results, Fr. Midgett said "yes." For instance, one obstacle the church faced was that there were many ministry opportunities available but attempting to take all of them on at the same time could prove to be too much. "The Sure Foundation sessions got us thinking about one baby at a time." Instead of focusing on several ministries at once, Christ the King decided to start one ministry at a time. Their first ministry "baby" was born on Saturday, October 1 with a community-wide Fall Festival.

The event drew over 300 people from the community and featured bake sales, crafts, children's games and food among other things. "We had far more participation from the community and excitement about having a church in the neighborhood than with any of our other events," said Lois Brown.

With nine months left in the Sure Foundation program, Christ the King Winchester and the 10 other participating parishes from the Anglican Diocese of the South are well on their way to having a better defined vision for their future ministry, something Father Midgett says many churches need. "I think it's absolutely critical for churches like ourselves, who left The Episcopal Church, to have a method. Whether it's Sure Foundation or not, they need to have something in place to build up their own foundation so that they can begin to grow."

If you are interested in having a Sure Foundation program in your diocese or region please contact Carol Frederick at cfrederick@americananglican.org or go to www.AmericanAnglican.org/SureFoundation. +

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By Robert H. Lundy is the editor of ENCOMPASS Magazine of the American Anglican Council