reFocusing Testimonies
“I am serving a congregation that has tried Natural Church Development, but finding out what our lowest factors are didn’t help us find ways to improve them. ReFocusing has helped me as a pastor, and I believe will help my congregation, move from being inwardly focused to outwardly focused in life and ministry. I know that the process has helped me as a pastor of 22 years to regain clarity of my call and focus of God’s vision for the rest of my life and ministry.” (Rev. Ivan Corbin, Peace UMC -- Kissimmee)

“Our churches will be healthier places because of our ReFocusing Retreat and small group work. The ReFocusing Network process, materials, and leader will benefit all pastors, leaders, and churches who want to first work on their personal vision in preparation for discovering God’s vision for your faith community. ReFocusing will help our churches prepare for the work of congregational transformation. I am thankful for the ministry of Vicki Blose and Church Resource Ministries (CRM). It does all begin with clarifying and focusing on God’s activity in the life of the person of faith.” (Rev. Rusty Belcher, First UMC -- Winter Garden)

“I am grateful for being one of eight pastors selected to participate in a two-year pilot transformation process, which focused on discovering God’s unique call upon my life and ministry. At first I was a little apprehensive, but came to realize how important this learning tool was. One area I found very interesting was in regards to a group project. Each member of the group had to develop a ‘personal vision statement.” Prior to that assignment, I never thought about coming up with a personal vision statement for myself. I was always taught as a pastor going into a new church you had to first come up with a corporate vision statement for the church. (Rev. Walter Monroe, Stewart Memorial UMC -- Daytona Beach)

I’m coming to the end of my sixth year of ministry at the church I am serving. We experienced quick growth and vitality in the first three or four years together. But over the last two years, we have plateaued and stagnated. We attempted NCD and found that our minimum factor precluded us from experiencing the turnaround we were anticipating or hoping for. I discovered I had lost vision, direction, and even hope for meaningful and lasting transformation. Through the ReFocusing Network, I have been able to clarify a new sense of purpose, vision, direction and hope for the ministry to which I have been called at the church I am serving. Some key individuals and leaders have already noticed this new passion and energy in me, and as we begin to train our leaders in this process, I am discovering a sense of expectation and hope for the journey. (Rev. Steve Binkley, Grace UMC – Lake Mary)