BY Boyce Bowdon

“Project Transformation has put a spirit in our church that’s unbelievable,” declares Robert Metcalfe, pastor of Hillcrest UMC in Oklahoma City. “Now we really are in mission. Prior to Project Transformation, I could not have made that statement.”

Hillcrest is located at 5801 S. Pennsylvania. Like countless urban churches in declining communities, it has declined during recent years. Average worship attendance in 1970 was 147; by 1990 it had dropped to 93; last year it was 63.

“Many people who used to be our key leaders have either died or moved out of the neighborhood, and now a high percentage of our members live several miles away on the other side of I-240,” Metcalfe said.

Recent efforts to welcome people from the neighborhood have attracted several Hispanics, Native Americans and African Americans. Several children and youth are also attending now.

“Project Transformation came along at just the right time for us,” says Metcalfe. “It was the next logical step for us to take in our efforts to re-engaged with our neighborhood. It’s already helped us become more aware of our opportunities for ministry in our neighborhood. Probably a fourth of the kids in Project Transformation are from our church. The others are prospects for us.”

Even though Project Transformation is staffed by college interns, the eight-week long project has called for considerable help from the congregation, and Metcalfe says members have stepped forward and assumed responsibilities. As a result, new leaders have surfaced.

“Even if Project Transformation doesn’t bring many new people in right away, it has already generated the spirit of mission and of giving. And that’s been a big step forward for our church,” Metcalfe says.

“Our five interns have different personalities and gifts, and they have blended together wonderfully. I’ve seen each of them grow and mature a lot.”

Metcalfe says Hillcrest plans to build on the foundation that Project Transformation has established. “This fall we are going to work on a rotational Sunday school ministry model for children. It’s just the next logical step for us.”

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