I spent yesterday in training with Will Mancini in utilizing The Church Unique process (Church Unique; Jossey-Bass, 2008) of helping churches discover their Kingdom Concept, develop their Vision Frame and create their own vision pathway.
Will's vocabulary includes seeing Mission as Missional Mandate. The etymology of mandate from the Latin means "to give into one's hand" the way a relay runner hands off the baton in a race.
Exactly what are we to hand off as we state the unique Missional Mandate for each church? In John 20:19-22, Jesus tells his disciples "Peace be with you" which sets the stage for the hand-off of His mission. In v. 21 he says "as the Father has sent me, I am sending you." For the disciples, that Missional Mandate had a unique look which first included sharing the Gospel with their Jewish brothers and sisters between the borders of the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. It soon expanded to Greek speaking Jews in places like Antioch and rapidly expanded to the Gentile world of Asia Minor, Africa and Europe.
Each new church start and existing church of Christ followers is also handing off a baton to those who become part of its mission. You and your church are in a unique local setting. Generic photocopied mission statements from other churches won't be adequate for expressing the uniqueness of God's Missional Mandate for your church. What is the unique baton expressing Christ's Great Commission your are handing off? Missional Mandates always express how your church will help people move from A--->B. Think of Jesus' Mission. One expression of it is found in Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Another is found in John 10:10 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." In each of those expressions of His Mission, Jesus tells how he wants to move someone from lostness to being saved; from emptiness to a full and abundant life.
What baton has Jesus handed off to your church to carry out Great Commission ministry using the unique strengths and assets with which He has blessed you? What do you believe God wants to have happen in the lives of your members and attenders because your church exists?
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3 comments:
Paul-
We have been meeting with Will Mancini on a regular basis for some time now. I lend my highest recommendation to Will's Kingdom Concept idea, and to his book "Church Unique." I would recommend Will's company, Auxano, to any Church that wants to grow and change!
Greg Styles
Executive Director
Concordia Lutheran Church
San Antonio
Thanks Greg -- He shared with us how he has been working with Concordia. Will very willingly shared coaching techniques, etc. with us and I will certainly be using the process in my work with congregations
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
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