A term that has been fairly hot in the evangelical world is “Missional Church.” Now you may be asking yourself, “what is a missional church?” Now that’s a great question and there a lot of people talking about what it means, or doesn’t mean. We haven’t used the exact term “missional church” a lot here at St. George’s, rather we have simply been trying to be one. The fact that we are truly a mission church from Rwanda to reach the unchurched in Downtown Phoenix helps.
So one way we have been trying to be a missional church is in not using an “attraction model” for our Worship service. We see our Sunday night, corporate worship as primarily a time for the beliveing family to gather and worship God through the Word, the prayers, songs and Communion. The family is then sent out from the Worship service to be Christ in our community.
Of course this doesn’t mean that we don’t invite and welcome all people into our Worship time. We just believe that where the unchurched will most likely meet Jesus is with us in the context of our homes, work, school, pubs, coffee shops, etc.
Here is a video that gives a great description of what of what I’m trying to articulate. Are we there yet? No, but we continue to grow and take steps in this direction.
The Missional Church… Simple from jeff maguire on Vimeo.
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1 Stewart Black // Mar 25, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me in Heaven and on earth. In your going, therefore, into all the world, make disciples of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Since then the church has complicated and often confused those simple instructions, morphing them into a thousand other things. “Simple” is right! Thanks, Shane!
2 Matt // Mar 25, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Are you reading the E-church website? Bp. Smith linked the same video 2 weeks ago. That opens up the possibilities for a “great minds” joke or two. Hope all is well.
3 Shane Copeland // Mar 26, 2010 at 10:32 am
Stew,
thanks as always for your comments. One thing I learned early on at Open Door is “people over program.” While that doesn’t mean program is bad, or that we have to pit one against the other, it does mean that church is the people, not our structures.
Matt,
I actually got the video from another church’s website, so it must be going around right now. Thanks for your encouragement and pray all is well with you.
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