Daily Discussion Question: Is your church missional?
Jeremy Geerdes
phrases out there that all the "experts" say our churches must be if
we're going to succeed in ministry. The last couple of weeks, I've
been reading a book by Ed Stetzer and David Putman, "Breaking the
Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your
Community", about one of these: "missional."
Basically, a missional church is one that realizes that the same
concepts that foreign missionaries have understood and utilized for
centuries actually apply to local evangelism, too. Therefore, the
missional church will find specific ways to proactively demonstrate
the good news of Jesus Christ to the particular community in which
they exist. In other words, the missional church takes the unchanging
gospel message and finds ways to share it which will specifically
impact the people around it.
I just found a tremendous example of this in the blog of one of my
college friends, who is now a pastor in another district of The
Wesleyan Church. I share the link with you as a thought-starter.
http://g3insider.com/2009/05/03/sunday-afterthoughts-18/
As this church recognized, to be effectively missional demands that
you deliberately identify patterns and needs in your community that
you can meet. It implies that you then go - often, out of your way -
to meet them. And it means that you consistently offer the gospel
message all along the way.
So here's the question: Is your church missional? If you answer yes,
please cite specific examples and explanations. If you answer no,
please explain why you feel that way, and share what - if anything -
you're doing to move your church in that direction.
PS: Sorry it's been so long since I posted! It's been a bit crazy
around here the last few weeks. Looking forward to hearing from you on
this!
Rev. Jeremy R. Geerdes, Pastor
Debra Heights Wesleyan Church
4025 Lower Beaver Rd.
Des Moines, IA 50310
p/f: (515) 279-5212
h: (515) 277-7491
jgee...@mchsi.com
jgeerdes.wordpress.com