My first Annual Report as Associate Superintendent and Director of Church Planting for the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

1. April 30, 2011
2011 Assoc. Superintendent
REPORT
Finding a Rhythm Planting a Movement Vital Congregations Closing Thoughts
Family move, ministry From “just” planting churches Purposefully pursuing God’s Great challenges, greater
dynamics, making this “home” to a church planting movement Healthy Missional calling opportunities. God is at work!
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
FINDING A RHYTHM,
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS
It’s hard to believe my family moved to the
East Coast Conference this past September.
What an incredible adventure so far!
It was barely one year ago when I stood before the congregation I loved,
pastored, and had planted over the previous six years and announced, “my
ministry at Artisan Church is coming to a close.” While they were sad to hear
A Family Adventure
the news (thankfully!), they knew God was calling us to a wonderful new work.
Lisa, Jaron (13), & Bryn (10)
These brief months I’ve served as your Associate Superintendent have been are thoroughly enjoying our move
fast-paced, fruitful, and deeply rewarding. What other job can include everything to Connecticut. We’ve been
from hip-hop worship to hand-bells, “harvesting” chickens, hearing four blessed with fast friendships
different languages, and collaborating with colleagues across the country? with Howard, Anne, & Terra
Working with Howard has been a joy as well. I couldn’t ask for a better blend (12) (and Taylor when he’s
of collaboration, mentoring, creative freedom and friendship from a around), a wonderful new
Superintendent. I’m grateful for the privilege to serve and lead in this ministry church family and pastor (that’s
role for the starting and strengthening of our churches across the ECConf. not me), and opportunities to
Now that we’ve begun to settle into the rhythms of family life, friendships, occasionally travel together.
Thank you for the
and the dynamics of a new ministry we’re looking forward to putting down
welcome, prayers, and
roots. Following our Annual Meeting we’ll close on a beautiful home in
support we’ve received!
Columbia, CT. We’re thrilled that this is where God has graciously brought us.
2011 Assoc. Superintendent Report • Rev. Jason R. Condon • April 30, 2011 • pg. 1 of 4

2. April 30, 2011
P LA N TIN G A M O V EM EN T
Equip, Encourage, Multiply Regional Coaches & Cohorts
A Sustaining Church Planting Movement Because of the blessings and
We’re blessed to have incredibly gifted church planters challenges of our anticipated growth,
who take calculated risks at significant personal sacrifice we’re enlisting seasoned church
to see the Gospel break through in new contexts among planters as Regional Coaches and
unreached people. I can confidently say that each church organizing our planting efforts into
plant has some level of growth in their reach and impact Regional Cohorts:
over this past year. The struggles and joys are just as • NY/NJ Metro: Peter Ahn will
continue as our Sr. Regional
present as with any established church, though sometimes
Coach here. Michael Carrion
felt more intensely in these young congregations.
joins Peter with this Regional
So far, I’ve been able to visit all our church plants still Cohort, focusing on the Bronx
in the 5-year coaching cycle and have nearly completed • Greater Boston/New
the first round with those who’ve transitioned out of full England: Josh Throneburg will
“church plant” status but are still in the 5-10 year range. serve in this Regional Cohort
Building rapport and relationships, and early strategic • D.C./Baltimore: developing
coaching have been the main focus thus far. We’ll meet in May for our first
Along with the rewards of coaching individual church strategy retreat outlining plans for our
planters, there’s a growing sense that God is birthing a monthly Regional Cohort gatherings where every
movement here on the East Coast Conference. Much is in church planter is encouraged, equipped, and multiplied
motion and taking shape. We’re entering an exciting for a sustaining church planting movement!
season of church planting throughout the ECConf !
Many Seeds, Good Soil, Great Harvest
Blessed with an Abundance of High-Caliber Candidates
God continues to bring a huge influx of high caliber candidates for
potential church planting on the East Coast Conference. We just held a very
successful regional Assessment Center where four candidates received a
“Recommended” or “Recommended with Conditions.” Another regional
Assessment Center is coming in July where we’ll see four or five candidates.
Elements, a hip-hop church plant As church planter agreements are signed and projects become official, we’ll
in the Bronx, will have a fall share more details through the website and Covenanter. High-potential areas
“Grand Opening” now that
include Providence RI, Bronx, Queens, So. Maine, Northern VA, D.C. and
Pastor Efrain Alicea received a
Greater Boston. I believe we’re on target to sign over a half-dozen church
strong “Recommended” at our
Regional Assessment Center! planter agreements in 2011, with as many again on the radar for 2012.
2011 Assoc. Superintendent Report • Rev. Jason R. Condon • April 30, 2011 • pg. 2 of 4

3. April 30, 2011
VITAL CONGREGATIONS
Our “Navigate” Churches
Pilot Program for Churches Intent on Healthy Missional Ministry
I get to share with Howard in the significant
work of Congregational Vitality. One of the
newest developments in the Covenant and
across the various Conferences is the launch
of “Navigate.” This 12-14 month framework
guides Critical Moment or Stable churches God’s Words of Vitality
toward Healthy Missional. Features include a One of the great privileges of this
large national gathering, regional cohorts, part of the role are opportunities
monthly pastor “triads,” and two retreats. to preach God’s Word. The
challenge and encouragement I’ve
Our Three Pilot Churches shared with each “vitality” church
I’ve enjoyed coming alongside our three pilot is to enter these new waters
churches and their pastors, with preaching, together as pastors, leaders, and
consulting, and collaborating together. Pray congregations, following the
for much fruit and that other pastors and congregations would follow the great leading of God, “so that you
may know the way you
example of these churches: 1) Haddam Neck Covenant Church, Rev. Shelly
should go, for you have
Timber, 2) Hilltop Covenant Church, Rev. Scott Jones, 3) Orchard Covenant
not passed this way
Church, Rev. Nancy Ebner. Though still early in the process, the pastors and before.” (Joshua 3:4)
vitality teams report great encouragement from being in it together!
Veritas & EPIC at Trinity Manchester
A “Stable” Church Pursuing the Vitality Pathway
Another encouraging development across the Covenant and here on the
East Coast Conference is the willingness of pastors and leaders of “Stable”
congregations to boldly engage the Vitality Pathway. Rev. Phil Hakanson and
Trinity Church (Manchester, CT) are seeking to be more Healthy and
Missional even though by some measures of success things may appear “fine.”
The largest Veritas & EPIC I believe that the earlier a church examines its own healthy missional
gatherings from any single markers, the greater its chances for even greater faithfulness and fruitfulness. If
Covenant congregation
you’re part of a Stable church, now is the time to address missional change.
happened right here on the
Please don’t wait until you’ve reached Critical Moment when the challenges
ECConf at Trinity Manchester
with Rev. Phil Hakanson! are far more daunting, or At-Risk when the issues are often insurmountable.
2011 Assoc. Superintendent Report • Rev. Jason R. Condon • April 30, 2011 • pg. 3 of 4

4. April 30, 2011
C L O S I N G TH O U G H TS
Living Into Our Calling
Though these are often A Panoramic View
turbulent times we find ourselves What God Sees (and We Get a Glimpse of)
in as pastors, leaders, and
congregations, we know who
Captains the ship. Ours is to
faithfully ride out the storms,
hold fast to Jesus and one Sudanese ECC (Manchester, NH) block party for friends & neighbors
another, and offer rescue to all
we’re called to reach.
I bring with me a seed verse
that profoundly shaped my last
ministry; it continues to serve well: Metro Hope ECC (Harlem, NY) worship gathering
“
For we are God’s
masterpiece, created in
Christ Jesus to do good
St. Paul’s Wolf’s ECC (York, PA), oldest church in the Covenant, est. 1763
works, which God
prepared in advance to
be our way of life.”
– The Apostle Paul (Eph. 2:10)
Worship Frontier ECC (Brookline, MA) Korean congregation
Let us live into that calling,
though we may never live up to it.
Much grace,
Jason R. Condon
Associate Superintendent Twice-monthly community lunch at New Sweden ECC in Northern Maine
www.facebook.com/jasoncondon www.flickr.com/photos/ecconf/
Feel free to connect with me and follow along as You can also find hi-res images from church visits
I post highlights from church visits and events. and events at our ECConf Flickr photo sets.
2011 Assoc. Superintendent Report • Rev. Jason R. Condon • April 30, 2011 • pg. 4 of 4