Calvin Reed, a prominent resident in the 1800's, named the land we worship on Mandarin. It was named after the Mandarin Orange. In its earliest beginnings, the little village of Mandarin had no churches, and then shortly after its beginning in 1874, Methodism began to spread in the Mandarin area. We are the recipients of faith sharing that occurred 142 years ago!
Interestingly, 142 years later, we see new life beginning in a new area called County Road 210 and faith sharing with United Methodist roots is beginning to branch out among a new group of people.
Throughout the last year, after studying MissionInsite demographic information, leadership at Mandarin UMC identified County Road 210 as an area of exponential growth. Over the next decade, estimates of 42,000 homes will be built in Northern St. Johns County, making it the third fastest growing counties in The United States.
Part of our call as followers of Jesus Christ here at Mandarin is to share our faith in new ways. Longleaf @ 210 is a movement of the Holy Spirit by the people of Mandarin UMC to share our faith in Jesus Christ in new and exciting ways. Longleaf @ 210 is a branch of Mandarin United Methodist Church. A "branch" identifies this ministry as an extension of our church, or a link to the ministries of this church. "Branch" does not mean an actual physical structure, but instead ministries that are extensions of our church family to the greater community. A plan was introduced to Church Council in November 2015 laying out ministry in the next three years along the County Road 210 Corridor.
Our hope in 2016 is to begin 10-15 Discipleship Groups and 5 Fresh Expressions. A Discipleship Group is very similar to a small group at church where people will meet in homes, restaurants, amenity centers to study God's Word in different ways. A Fresh Expression is a form of church in our ever-changing culture. Fresh Expressions go to where the people are at.
For example, there are many kayaking advertisements related to kayaking in St. Johns County. God laid it on my heart to begin a Fresh Expression of Kayaking for the CR 210 community. On January 9, 2016, we launched our first Kayaking Fresh Expression. This journey included both people from church as well as people who do not go to what we think of as church. On the kayak trip, there was prayer, there was Scripture reading, there was a brief message and their was discussion, and thus, a new community of faith developed.
Fresh Expressions are a way to reach people in new ways. Kayaking Trip Video (Click to watch)
This along with other fresh expressions being offered in the CR 210 area will be on display THIS Sunday, January 31, at Johns Creek Amenity Center II from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
We invite you to come out this Sunday, January 31. The address to Johns Creek Amenity Center is 251 Huffner Hill Circle, St. Augustine, FL 32092. We invite you to be part of our first community invitational event and be sure to invite your neighbors and friends to join you!
We invite you to join us in prayer as God leads us in new ways of sharing our faith along the County Road 210 area in the coming years.
