As a pastor in our city for nearly twelve years, I have observed that residents today are bound to Plainfield's history. Perhaps the best example of this emerged in 1967, when racial tensions from the Newark riots spilled over to Plainfield, causing rapid changes. The city saw looting, rioting and demonstrations against police. These tensions were quelled in ten days, but the resulting stigma remains today. Many businesses and affluent residents moved to neighboring, better protected suburban communities. Plainfield rapidly became home to a decimated commercial environment and mostly low-income residents. Efforts to revive Plainfield have been challenged by socio-economic inequity, low performing schools, gang violence and other depressive factors. However, as a diverse city of 49,500, Plainfield remains part of the vibrant New York City region. It is an inexpensive commuter hub, with quality bus and railway services, affordable housing, and has a growing spirit of revival.

Given this environment, my professional project focused on seeking a new ministry approach to foster community missional goals, and Mt Zion's readiness to pursue them. Our team discovered the need to engender ongoing spiritual growth for what I refer to as Great Commission missional readiness. Thus we conducted a Transformation Worship Event to share the framework we crafted and entitled: 'Our Personal Journey with Christ' (see Appendices D and E). Our scope included the Mt. Zion Church family, and we turned a typical worship service into a transformation teaching event. This framework, and its companion biblical foundation, grew out of our discovery over five work sessions that Mt Zion's primary focus must be to ensure personal readiness to 'make disciplines' in our evolving community. And our subsequent focus must evolve into enhancing our ministry goals to extend Christian benevolence beyond Mt Zion's walls, targeting emerging community needs.