Thoughts about Missional Church

“Influencing our neighborhood and our world”

The outline below is from a YouTube video that Pastor Dove at the Mt Albert Baptist Church in New Zealand. His message has continued to haunt me for over a year now. (Jon Powless found it when he was researching "Missional Church". )

Why does it seem so precise and confident? Why does it seem so obvious, but doesn’t appear to be something easily grasped? We are doing the PMC thing, but isn’t it already obvious?

Sometimes I think that what we are doing, (PMC) is not really what we are doing. (I’m not so intuitive.) I have so many questions for Him! What do You want from us, me? What should I be doing and who should I be doing it with or too? How do I love all people without constantly judging them (or me for that matter)?

Intentional! Pastor Dove says that a lot. (Synonyms: designed, planned, deliberate.) Maybe that’s the part we are working on. I don’t really know!

What I do know is that I feel like our congregation is going many different directions, un-united. (And no one can argue with me on this point because I said “feel”. It’s what I feel like…) Ha!

Re-Imagine: A Missional Church

1. People who do not know Christ
   a. Are suspicious of churches and Christians in general
   b. See Christians as weird, doing odd practices

2. We should live the gospel, talk the gospel
   a. Build trust – engaging in the issues that surround our community
   b. Work with community leaders
   c. Engage in practical/loving projects

3. We should be local missionaries
   a. Be intentional about being with people
   b. Be with people in schools, sports fields, malls, on the street
   c. Move out of our safe zones
   d. Take a risk to engage in conversations about God

4. Cut back on church activities and programs
   a. Fulfill responsibilities as civilians in society
   b. Be intentional about building relationships

5. Build genuine relationships
   a. Get to know neighbors, work mates
   b. Have them in our homes
   c. Go out together as friends

6. People matter to God, so people should matter to us!

7. Emphasize process over programs
   a. We have a bunch of good programs
   b. Linkage between programs to big from one to the other
   c. Provide helpful levels where they can:
      i. Connect in relationships
      ii. Hear the relevance of Christianity
      iii. Engage with the gospel and acclaims of Christ

8. Provide a safe place for people to explore Christianity
   a. Safe to ask questions
   b. No question is off limits
   c. A place to read and engage the Gospels

9. Global mission support
   a. Continued support
   b. Prayer
   c. Extended geography

We dream of being a missional church that influences our neighborhood and our world! Imagine what that might look like!