The next five year mission

"Those who say it cannot be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it." ~ Anonymous

* Lunches for the poor.
* Food pantry
* Financial assistance for families in crisis.
* Hosting a Spanish and Korean congregation.
* Sports outreach through coaching and mentoring
* Mission team to Mexico

Last week in San Diego I went to a seminar with some of the top writers on the Missional church. I was excited as Tony Jones, Dan Kimball and Danyelle Schroyer began to define the missional church.

They began by asking "What does the Gospel calls us to do?" It doesn't compel us to be a bookstore or comfort station for a coffee club. The Gospel sends us out into the world to transform the world. We are the body of Christ in the world, sent out as salt and light to save it. We have a mission and it isn't confined to the walls of a sanctuary.

One of the speakers lifted up Abraham as an example of one whom God blessed. In Genesis God says to him "I am going to bless you so you can be a blessing." That's our calling today as the church. We come together to learn and to practice loving and taking care of each other. Then we go out and take that love into the world.

Another speaker described the church as "a worshiping community on a mission." I got excited because we are on that path with what we are doing. Our ministry continues to grow in its outward focus. Our people are beginning to see that they have a calling to share God's love at work, at home and at play. That has been the goal of our sports ministries and many of the other things we have done.

So I was extremely disappointed when someone asked the obvious question of the panel. In describing their experiences each of the speakers had mentioned that they left their home church to start a new ministry. The audience member asked if they felt a traditional church could become a missional church. They looked at each with a tinge of embarrassment and one after another they admitted that they didn't think it could be done.

Hence, my original quote. It is time for a new expert to arise. Someone, some church to prove them wrong. ABCCONN is inviting churches to participate in a study of the missional church. For the next sixteen months we are going to explore what it means and reach out with God's love in at least one new way. If you want to be a part of this, let me know. It is going to be exciting.

Cal