SamSteiner: SamSteiner moved page Communion Fellowship (Goshen, Indiana, USA) to LifeSpring Community Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)

2024-06-17T14:37:14Z

SamSteiner moved page Communion Fellowship (Goshen, Indiana, USA) to LifeSpring Community Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)

SamSteiner: Created page with "TOC The Communion Fellowship in Goshen, Indiana, began in the fall of 1977 when student Doug Fike led a Bible study group at ..."

2024-06-17T14:36:50Z

Created page with "__TOC__ The Communion Fellowship in Goshen, Indiana, began in the fall of 1977 when student Doug Fike led a Bible study group at ..."

New page

__TOC__
The Communion Fellowship in [[Goshen (Indiana, USA)|Goshen]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], began in the fall of 1977 when student Doug Fike led a Bible study group at [[Goshen College (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Goshen College]]. It moved off campus in 1983 and became a congregation. it affiliated with the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]] of the [[Mennonite Church (MC)]] and the Northern Indiana District of the [[Church of the Brethren]] in 1984. The group worshipped in various homes, at [[Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship]], at [[Bethany Christian Schools (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Bethany Christian High School]], and at Peddlers Auction, before buying a bank data processing center in Goshen in 1993. At that time, attendance was about 175.

Communion Fellowship functioned with an elder-led cell group organizational model. It has been described as a combination of Anabaptist and [[Charismatic Movement|Charismatic]] traditions.

In 1986, the Fellowship began to provide a nine-month School for Equipping and Nurturing Disciples (SEND), which offered church-based training, real-life integration, world-vision development, and spiritual renewal.

In the 1990s, Communion Fellowship became the lead congregation in "Friends of the Wolof," a church-planting venture among the Wolof, a traditionally Muslim group in Senegal.

In 2004, Communion Fellowship withdrew from the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference of [[Mennonite Church USA]].

Soon thereafter, Communion Fellowship changed its name to LifeSpring Community Church and continued as an independent community church, using an elder team model of leadership.
= Bibliography =
"Church-planting effort gets underway in Muncie, Ind." ''Gospel Herald'' 81, no. 43 (25 October 1988): 737.

Green, Stanley W. "Transformed by the Spirit." ''theMennonite'' 4, no. 24 (26 June 2001): 6-7.

Jones, Timothy K. "A church no back pews." ''The Messenger'' 135, no.10 (October 1986): 11-14.

Preheim, Rich. ''In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference''. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 296, 310.

Price, Tom. "Nomadic congregation finds a new home in an old bank." ''Gospel Herald'' 86, no. 24 (15 June 1993): 12.

Zuercher, Melanie. "Partnership of friends reaches Senegal." ''theMennonite'' 1, no. 33 (20 October 1998): 10.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 116 South 3rd Street, Goshen, Indiana 46526

'''Telephone''': 574-533-0315

'''Website''': https://www.lifespringgoshen.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://www.im.mennonite.net/ Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference] (Until 2004)

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2004)

[https://www.brethren.org/ Church of the Brethren] (Until 2004?)
== Pastoral Leaders/Lead Elders at LifeSpring Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
|-
| Douglas L. Fike || 1977-1989
|-
| Charles Buller || 1988-2000s
|-
| Mike Lechlitner || 1989-1993?
|-
| Jeanette Buller || 1995-1990s
|-
| Tina Stoltzfus Horst || 1998?-2000s?
|}
== LifeSpring Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1985 || 70
|-
| 1990 || 156
|-
| 2000 || 107
|}

{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=June 2024|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Independent Community Congregations]]
[[Category:Indiana Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

LifeSpring Community Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA) - Revision history

SamSteiner: SamSteiner moved page Communion Fellowship (Goshen, Indiana, USA) to LifeSpring Community Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)

SamSteiner: Created page with "__TOC__ The Communion Fellowship in Goshen, Indiana, began in the fall of 1977 when student Doug Fike led a Bible study group at ..."

SamSteiner: Created page with "TOC The Communion Fellowship in Goshen, Indiana, began in the fall of 1977 when student Doug Fike led a Bible study group at ..."