Milfred Minatrea in his book, Shaped by God’s Heart talks about churches who are not just “mission minded,” but are “missional.” These churches are much more than interested or even passionate about missions projects. Every member of the congregation of a missional church conceives of themselves as a missionary who is “determined to bring the transformational influence of Jesus Christ into their world every day.” Some of his descriptions of missional churches are listed below. I share these in the hope that they will compel you as they have me:
Missional Churches…
- are specialists at extending invitation and create multiple entry points through which the spiritual inquirer can begin the journey toward faith
- tirelessly equip their entire membership to live as authentic followers of Christ
- seek to be real, not real religious.
- understand faith as something that is not just held, but is to be lived.
- believe that authentic worship invites participants, not spectators. Worship is not just learning about God, but it is encountering God. It is not just hearing about God, it is hearing God.
- passionately and relentlessly seek to intersect with the lives of people who do not know the love of Christ and serve them.
- fully expect to change the world!
One of our members recently sent me a message describing her vision that our church would help God’s people “find their fire and their passion for God” so that we will “want to explode out into the community, and the world for that matter, with our new found fire.” Now that’s a vision you can sign me up for!
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