Nowadays every church wants to be "missional." Some don't really know what that means, only that "missional church" is the way of the future and they need to "do that" to survive -- I do not judge. Others understand the precept that we as a Church have strayed and need to reconnect with our charge as a sent people, sent and sending. Yet they do not know how. How do we move from the idea of being a protective enclave, neither in the world or of the world to a gathered people being sent and finally to a sent people who gather to build up, share stories of the journey, encourage, rejoice and praise?We have been in a period of prophecy and proclamation -- wise and Godly men and women shining a light on the church and challenging us to reclaim what has been lacking. In this time, there have been very few able to really say what that might look like, to discover the threads of commonality between truly missional expressions of the church and the processes to attain and sustain it. Maybe that is beginning to change. We have been experimenting with a processes of deep spiritual development and engagement with the poor -- taking people on the journey inward, the journey outward and the journey together are coming on the scene, and finding at the end, transformed lives for a transformed world.
We live on the precipice of unprecedented times for the Church. A good time. And exciting time. A time where we will see amazing things done for the Kingdom of God. I feel privileged that God chose me to be a part of all of this.
1 comment:
Well I guess I can comment on your blog its the least I can do to show solidarity. Anyway, I find that many are wanting "something" different but are afraid to look too far into the looking glass because every time they even peak at what could be they see what they think has to shatter in order to get there. That vision is too destabilizing for provision -- Again I do not judge. And too "unpastoral." Though I would argue that letting people board the Titanic is unpastoral too. But be that as it may, people Leaders in the church need a pathway that wont trash everything. Doug, Thanks for helping offer that graceful approach. JD
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