Missional Community Conversation
What is a missional community?
There are many people speaking into this conversation these days and one of the people I respect on the subject is Allan Hirsh. The next three paragraphs are an adaption of some of his wrtings.
A proper understanding of missional begins with recovering a missionary understanding of God. By his very nature God is a "sent one" who takes the initiative to redeem his creation. This doctrine, known as missio Dei—the sending of God—is causing many to redefine their understanding of the church. Because we are the "sent" people of God, the church is the instrument of God's mission in the world. As things stand, many people see it the other way around. They believe mission is an instrument of the church; a means by which the church is grown. Although we frequently say "the church has a mission," according to missional theology a more correct statement would be "the mission has a church."
A missional theology is not content with mission being a church-based work. Rather, it applies to the whole life of every believer. Every disciple is to be an agent of the kingdom of God, and every disciple is to carry the mission of God into every sphere of life. We are all missionaries sent into a non-Christian culture.
A missional community sees the mission as both its originating impulse and its organizing principle. In light of this, a missional community is a group of Christ followers committed to communion with God and community with one another other as they carry out the mission of Jesus in their neighborhood, workplace and network of relationships.
Missional Communities are typically neighbourhood based, often led by non-paid people, and from the start will be given the potential and permission to become a church that will build God's kingdom in their neighbourhood, community and around the world.
To get a glimpse of a missional community in action check out the Somma Communities website under resources and watch the video on their home page. You can also check out the emerging missional communities in southern Ontario under the resource section.
For more information on missional communites or how to receive coaching support contact Greg Langman at glangman@gatewaycaledonia.com or check out some of the sites located under resources.
Greg
