My 2013 Annual Report as Director of Church Planting for the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

1. East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org
2013 Dir. of Church Planting
REPORT
Planting an Orchard “I planted the seed,
A Faithful, Fruitful, Family Endeavor Apollos watered it,
Last year, not long after settling into our new but God has been
house, we planted a small orchard. While I didn’t do This ECConf “Orchard”
making it grow.” is a Family Adventure!
it (primarily) for the metaphors, they are quite rich.
~ The Apostle Paul ~ We’ve been blessed over the
Soil prep, tree selection, placement, support, (1 Corinthians 3:6) years with a few of our
protection, and more… all speak to the deep largest churches sending
truths of planting the Gospel through church multiplication. church planters, support, and
launch team members.
During these first two-and-a-half years in this role, this concept of “planting
Now, for the first time, we
an orchard” has only grown stronger. Yes, selection, assessment, and prep on
have a new model for
the individual level is crucial. But it’s all part of the greater “ecosystem” God is Church Planting Partners
shaping throughout our Conference: Our growing that opens that possibility to
over 80% of our churches:
Cohorts are reaching critical-mass and cross-pollinating the
Cambridge Fellowship
Gospel into whole regions. Purposeful resourcing and (Larry Kim), Covenant
care are producing greater missional health. Evidence of Congregational (Fred
Elliot-Hart), & Cornerstone
a reproducing movement is starting to blossom.
(Eugene Lee) are bravely
As you go over all these materials (print & online), going first, partnering
know that your prayers, support, and shared ministry together to support New
City Boston (T.C. Moore).
across the Conference are bearing truly amazing fruit!
Along with “planting” & Like most family adventures,
“watering”, I mostly try to Much grace, details are still being worked
protect and support our out. We’re thrilled they’re
planters (and not mess taking on the challenge!
up what God is doing!) Associate Superintendent & Director of Church Planting
2013 Dir. of Church Planting Report • Jason R. Condon • April 13, 2013 • pg. 1 of 4

2. East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org
EQUIPPING THE “SAINTS” :)
Church Planter Training
Intensive (NEW)
Pilot Program Launched Nov 2012
This week-long intensive is designed to equip brand-
new church planters as the local “expert”, able to train
and lead his or her Launch Team in the entire church
planting process. Offered twice/year, we expect 15-25
church planters at each event, making for a more
focused, intimate, and ultimately more effective training
experience. Next CPTI: June 4-9, 2013
Follow-up: Launch Team Training Day. This
main companion piece allows the Church Planter, DCP,
and Coach to train their entire Launch Teams in one Our first ECConf crew to go through the NEW CPTI (L-R):
Eli Hernandez - Baltimore, ECConf church planter candidate,
day with the key principles and practices of Covenant
T.C. Moore - New City Boston, our newest church plant,
Church Planting. We’ve already successfully launched (Touger Thao, Minneapolis Covenant planter and friend :)
this with nine of our Launch Teams, most recently T.C. Kimberly Wright - Harlem, “Recommended” ECConf planter,
Moore’s & Kimberly Wright’s church planting projects. on track to be our next official church plant
Regional Church Planter Cohorts
Encourage, equip, and multiply church planters
for a sustaining church planting movement
Creating Regional Cohorts may be the single most impactful new
addition to our church planting efforts here on the East Coast Conference.
These life-giving cohorts are a simple way for church planters – Covenant,
candidates, or simply friends – to support and sustain one another in these
very challenging roles. It’s a powerful time of bonding, equipping,
Some of the crew at one of our NY/NJ resourcing, and encouragement, as well as a great introduction to our
Metro Cohorts (Promised Land hosted) culture for those exploring church planting.
Special Guest John Teter joined us to
This past year has especially seen these Cohorts further evolve as a key
challenge & encourage on Evangelism
Current Cohorts: Greater Boston/New component to the discernment process for potential candidates. It’s now
England & NY/NJ Metro. standard operating procedure for those exploring planting with us to
Future Plans: Baltimore/DC/VA
attend, interact, and “know and be known” in these settings.
2013 Dir. of Church Planting Report • Jason R. Condon • April 13, 2013 • pg. 2 of 4

3. East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org
S P I R I T- L E D “ Q U A L I T Y C O N T R O L”
Assessment Process Seasoned Coaches
Grace-filled, High Standards, Very Thorough Our investment and care doesn’t
stop with Assessment & Training,
An effective assessment process is a key component to our fruitful
but includes ongoing Coaching
church planting approach. A potential candidate spends 6-12 months from seasoned pastors:
going through various assessment tools, site visits, interviews, and
participation in our Cohorts. Together we discern their sense of calling,
capacity to plant, and Covenant compatibility - all are required.
If progress continues, the Candidate and spouse (if married) are
invited to an official Covenant Assessment Center. Preparation and
participation involves significant personality testing, references, 360
evaluations, interviews, personal presentations, group interactions, and Newest Coach: Larry Kim
sessions with a trained Christian Counselor. We do this because we take coaches our newest Boston area
planter, T.C. Moore (New City)
seriously our stewardship of the resources and people involved in
reaching many for Christ through church planting. Please pray for:
Upcoming Assessment Centers
May 15-18 Assessment Center (hosted at Trinity Manchester, CT):
For the ECConf, we’ve invited a very diverse group of six
candidate couples, our largest single group yet. Potential areas
include Baltimore, Virginia, NJ, NY, and Greater Boston. They’ll join Josh Throneburg coaches two of
with another dozen candidate couples from across the Covenant. our newer church planters in
Greater Boston: Aaron Engler
Sept 19-22 Assessment Center (Denver): I already anticipate inviting (Highrock North Shore) & Stephen
Sharkey (Highrock Quincy)
2-4 candidates that are currently in the assessment process.
Stewardship & Accountability
Monthly Online Reporting for Plants & Planters
In January we piloted a new
online approach that allows for
even greater accountability and
Michael Carrion coaches our
ease (hopefully!) of the reporting newer Bronx church planters:
we require for every church plant. Efrain Alicea (Elements), Phil
Bonano (New Season), plus
With both qualitative and quantitative measures, everyone involved has significant “at-large” coaching
far better insights for ministry planning and fruitful stewardship.
2013 Dir. of Church Planting Report • Jason R. Condon • April 13, 2013 • pg. 3 of 4

4. East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church • eastcoastconf.org
FURTHER IN FR UITFULNESS
“So Christ himself gave Pray for Your Church Planters
the apostles, the 2013 (so far!) 2011 2008
prophets, the evangelists,
the pastors and
teachers, to equip his
people for works of Kimberly Wright,
Church of the Resurrection
Phil & Betsy Bonano,
New Season (Bronx NY)
(Harlem NY) Kiho & Sunseong Lee,
service, so that the Worship Frontier
(Brookline MA)
body of Christ may
be built up…”
~ The Apostle Paul ~
T.C. & Osheta Moore,
(Ephesians 4:11-12) New City Boston Efrain & Erika Alicea,
(South End/Lower Roxbury) Elements (Bronx NY) Frank & Austin Catalano,
Evergreen (Sanford ME)
Paul, a veteran church
2012 2010
planter and discipler of church
planters, got things started,
kept them going, and
multiplied them faithfully.
Josh & Minhee Throneburg,
My prayer and commitment is Stephen & Kathleen Sharkey,
Highrock Quincy (MA)
Michael & Liz Carrion,
Promised Land Covenant
Highrock Brookline (MA)
that we do all three well here (Bronx NY)
2007
on the East Coast Conference.
If you or your church would
like to know more about
partnering in church planting,
Jose & Mayra Humphreys,
we welcome the invitation! Aaron & Ariel Engler, Monyroor & Amou Teng, Metro Hope (Harlem)
Highrock North Shore (MA) Sudanese ECC
(Manchester NH)
Contact Info:
• jasonrcondon@gmail.com 2009
Not Pictured (but still pray!):
• (860) 479-2020 Pre-2005
• www.jasoncondon.com • Eugene Lee, Cornerstone
• facebook.com/jasoncondon (Boston, 2004)
Drew & Tina Hyun, • Conway Boyce, Brooklyn
Hope Church NYC (Astoria) Covenant Ministries
Derrick & Linda Jackson, (NY, 2004)
Life Covenant • Peter Ahn, Metro
(Morganville NJ) (Englewood NJ, 2003)
Closures
• James Kim (Queenswest NY,
Concluded in 2013)
Andrew & Corrie Mook, • Peter Chin (Riverside DC,
Sanctuary (Providence RI) Concluded in 2012)
2013 Dir. of Church Planting Report • Jason R. Condon • April 13, 2013 • pg. 4 of 4