Congregational Development An Oasis In a Desert Congregation

This thesis details the formation and life of a contemplative Celtic prayer community formed within a dysfunction pastoral size parish church recently built on an obscure and marginal site. This contemplative prayer community has become a vehicle for training deeply spiritual leaders who facilitate and assist the parish in three specific areas of congregational development. These areas are the development of the parish’s spiritual health, the expansion of the paradigms of existing ministry models as well as the development of new models for ministry and the restoration of financial security. The shared spirituality of the members of the community has permeated the congregation and restored hope and confidence in the parish.