the chURCH In A “mIsSIoNAl” aGE THE CHUrch ... - Biola University

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Missional 301:
Missional in Practice
What Makes a Church Missional?
Though it may be correct to say that the missional mindset broadens
our category of missions into nearly “everything,” it would be a disservice
to the term to not point out that, in practice, the missional
movement has some very specific practices and traceable characteristics.
One of the distinguishing features of a missional church, for example,
is a general orientation towards “going out” rather than “bringing in.”
More and more churches are conceiving of themselves not as inert, stationary
objects for people to come to for a “church experience,” but as mobile,
adaptable missionaries committed to going out and meeting the community
and culture where they’re at.
“We want to change the mindset from expecting people in the community
to just come and check us out to the realization that we must go
out and be the church in the community,” said Jay Williams (M.Div.
’86), pastor of care and concern at First Evangelical Free Church of
Fullerton, Calif. “Sometimes before we get the message out, we have to
build relationships and credibility. Good deeds create good will so that
we can spread the good news.”
For Williams’ church, this new emphasis recently parlayed into the
establishment of a church plant in south Fullerton, where partnerships and
service opportunities with the community can be more easily established.
Church-planting in general has seen resurgence in recent years,
Missional churches are perhaps best understood in relation to “attractional” or “seeker-sensitive” type churches. Keep in
mind that these lists of qualities represent the extremes of each position; many churches have attributes from both lists.
MISSIONAL ATTRACTIONAL / SEEKER
“Go out” mentality “Come in” mentality
Typically smaller churches Frequently large or mega-sized
Often in urban settings Often in suburbs
Small budgets, few paid staff Large budgets, many paid staff
Thinking holistically Emphasis on disparate programs
More organic, bottom up More corporate, top down
Priesthood of all believers Clear demarcation between pastors/laity
Emphasis on action/demonstration Emphasis on words/proclamation
Everything is mission-oriented Missions one among many programs
Goal to grow “the” church Goal to grow “my” church
Younger congregations Older, baby-boomer congregations
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