The Blog of E. Dale Nixon

Good question.

Among all the other possible questions…

Honestly, prayer brought me to this and the Spirit keeps pushing me to share it. Keep in mind it’s just a metaphor for something much bigger and more important.

So, again, why?

It is a change; of something that has been increasingly ineffective to something that has potential efficacy.

First, it is a shift of the ministry engine from a few ordained pastors to the entire membership of the church. Even if a hundred or so people function at a nominal level, they have more ministry potential than the entire ministry staff working at peek efficiency.

Example in time: 3 Ministers x 55hr.week= 165 manhours.

100 Members  x *2hr.week= 200 manhours.

Second, it is a change from complex systems to simple organic systems. Much of the time invested in organization can be eliminated when ministry stops being an add-on to our already busy schedules and becomes a natural part of, or just the way we do, our day to day routines; when ministry stops waiting for permission, approvals or check requests, but immediately responds when the need is apparent.

Third, it is takes advantage of the opportunities at hand, the technology available and the existing structures for networking and communication.

Fourth, when it get’s operational, it goes viral and has the potential to overwhelm an entire community and beyond. We used to call this kind of thing a ‘Revival.’ But then we tried to force it by planning Revivals with no absolute mandate from God.

This is not merely an attempt to patch up the old version and make it work again. It is a radical change from the kind of church and the kind of Christianity most of us are familiar with.

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* Please do not assume that I am suggesting members only need to spend two hours a week in ministry. I’m just pointing out how little it takes to surpass the desperate efforts of an overworked staff.

Notes from the presentation by Jeff  Howard ––developing missional partnerships in our community

internal––structural (church) networking   denominational networks

external––community networking    city/state/governmental

~ Cultural Blindness ~ Paradigm Blindness ~

Christians and Preschoolers may be the only groups left in our culture who sing together without being drunk…

The Emergent/Postmodern Church (EPiC) influence can be described essentially as young evangelical leaders saying ancient things well and with renewed relevancy.

Relevancy is not the same as being “cool.” Too often EPiC expressions confuse these two elements––and being “cool” is so much easier. Unfortunately, the Gospel loses its transformational qualities by becoming “cool.” It’s too confusing to be both a stumbling block and “cool.”

We typically spend more time in cultural relativism for a mission trip on the other side of the planet than we do for a local block party or mission project.

Google “Some Grey Bloke RE: Jesus Loves You” (foul word warning).

Stop promising people “Your Best Life Now” kinds of things and do what Jesus said to do, “Go make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” ––Matthew 28:19-20

“Missional” is not programmable. Keep it organic, non-hierarchical, growing/changing/adapting/etc.

Most people in our communities already ignore The Church as well as our church.

What are we doing about it?

Most often we are ignoring people right back and prefer to blame them for not listening.

One of the outstanding characteristics of the first century Church was that it couldn’t be ignored. What would it look like if we couldn’t be ignored––‘love us’ or ‘hate us,’ ‘appreciate us’ or ‘revile us,’ but ‘ignore us’ should not be an option we give them.

What if we could unify The Church, interdenominationally without competing with one another or getting bent out of shape over doctrine? (We are more likely located closer to another denomination than another Baptist Church, but we are all Christian, right?)

cf. www.MeetTheChurch.com . Make a goal of changing the way the community thinks about The Church will mean changing the way they think about every church. Partnerships bring everyone to the table, and allow unity and good-will to prevail.

Jesus came to serve others…our imitation of Christ should include this important element.

• Avoid proselytizing: Serve people, Love people, Share the Gospel of God’s Kingdom.

Unify this effort under one banner under which all partner churches serve.

Create T-shirts, flyers, website, etc. that everyone can use together.

cf. The “www.Servolution.org” It is not about events; it is about influencing our culture. Infusing this servolutionary culture into the DNA of our church will change our view of the world and our perspective of the needs of those who live around us.

If we wait for business meetings or board meetings––the incorporated, death-by-committee organization, then it becomes just another mission project. Being missional is as much a mindset as it is a way to become The Church. The more we organize, the less missional a ministry becomes––so, Do Something.

THINK seriously about strategy and follow through. Count the cost before starting!

Get this:

• It is taking 6-8 block parties in one location to make any significant impact/change in a particular location—typically a localized ongoing Bible Study.
• On average, only 1 in 3 locations yield the significant impact/change mention in the previous statistic.
• IN OTHER WORDS: It may take 20-30 block parties to establish ONE localized, self-sustainable Bible Study group. And the participants may or may not ever become interested in becoming members of our church. We must be clear that the point of becoming missional is not proselytizing for membership, but love for our neighbors. That they might have kind of abundant Life Jesus offers them through our obedience to His command to love them and teach them how to live it.

CHURCH GROWTH CAN NOT BE THE PURPOSE, REASON, OR MOTIVATION FOR BECOMING MISSIONAL. THE QUESTIONS WE MUST ASK ARE THESE: ARE WE WILLING TO BE FAITHFUL REGARDLESS OF THE RESULTS? OR DO WE WANT TO FULFILL THE PROPHET WARNING THAT THOSE WHO PUT THEIR EFFORTS INTO SAVING THEIR LIVES WILL ULTIMATELY LOSE IT?

• God has called us to be faithful/obedient…just as Christ was obedient, even unto death…
• Ready?                 Go!

To be a Christian means to be on Mission. It looks like this:

On Mission = Christian

No Mission = No Christian

Live the Mission!

Every other option misses The Life…and The Truth, and The Way.