One of the greatest blessings in Adullam (our network of missional communities in Denver) is to pray a prayer of “sending” over handfuls of people who are about to embark on starting new missional communities. It may not seem that unique, but it is in this experience I find the true meaning of a missional community: THEY ARE SENT.
From Genesis 12, the first missional community led by Abraham was called by God to “leave” their comfort zone and go to a foreign culture for the purpose of bringing and being the blessing of God to the whole world.
Whereas our normal church experience unconsciously calls us out of the world and creates an inward or self-oriented form of faith, a missional community is exactly the opposite. Missional communities are intentional webs of relationships bound together for the express purpose of bringing to light the Kingdom of God to those outside the faith.
One focus, however, is not just being “sent” into the culture, but also why we’re sent and what we do in our sent-ness. Going back to Genesis 12, we’re sent to be a “blessing,” and a blessing means the tangible touch of God in real life. Thus a missional community, although they will see evangelistic fruit, is focused first on helping their friends, neighborhood, and network of relationships feel God’s love. They help, support, advocate, serve, encourage, love, and keep doing it without any strings attached.
Maybe the most simplistic way to define a missional community is as a “missionary” community. Just like you might live and focus your time and energy in a foreign culture, learning, listening, and responding to the needs you see around you, so it is with a missional community here in your back yard.
What will it take to get one started? Friends who love the lost as much as you do and who are committed to live in relative proximity so that you can architect your schedules around the needs of the culture.
What do you think about Hugh’s definition of missional community? What other questions does this leave you with? Join the conversation in the comment section below…
Reprinted from vergenetwork.org, used by permission
