Over the past few years I have often used the term “missional” when describing what the church is called to be. Missional is one of my favorite words even though my Microsoft Office 2003 tells me it is not a word or it is, at the very least, a misspelled word. Figuring out what is means to be missional here in our community is a central focus for our ministry in 2008. In conversation with others I have discovered that the term missional is often misinterpreted to be something it is not. Dan Kimball, in his new book They Like Jesus But Not The Church, gives us a few descriptive images of what he sees as missional. I tend to agree with his assessment, but leave it for you to interpret. What do you think? Is he right, and if he is, how is God calling us to react to such thoughts?
-from They Life Jesus But Not The Church
What Is Missional?
-Being missional means that the church sees itself as being missionaries, rather than having a missions department, and that we see ourselves as missionaries right where we live.
-Being missional means that we see ourselves as representatives of Jesus “sent” into our communities, and that the church aligns everything it does with the missio dei (mission of God).
-Being missional means we see the church not as a place we go only on Sunday, but as something we are throughout the week.
-Being missional means that we understand we don’t “bring Jesus” to people but that we realize Jesus is active in culture and we join him in what he is doing.
-Being missional means we are very much in the world and engaged in culture but are not conforming to the world.
-Being missional means we serve our communities, and we build relationships with the people in them, rather than seeing them as evangelistic targets.
-Being missional means being all the more dependent on Jesus and the Holy Spirit through prayer, the Scriptures, and each other in community.
5 comments:
I wonder if this is what it means to be missional???
Radical hospitality brings radical results at Florida church
Jan. 4, 2008 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0780}
An e-Review Feature
By Steven Skelley**
WEST PALM BEACH — Ask people why they attend United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches and you’ll hear three words over and over again: love, family and diversity.
Despite coming from more than 38 different countries and many different languages, church members have adopted a common vision of inclusion and acceptance that’s drawing people to the church.
Jamie Clemens (left), Juan Ramos Jr. and Belci Encinosa gather to plan an upcoming Hispanic language worship service at United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches. Photo by Thomas Routzong. Photo #08-0691.
“Jesus reached out to us and taught us the meaning of love. The whole purpose of Christianity is reaching out,” says Patti Aupperlee, director of the church’s newcomers ministry. “In our church services, you’ll see we’re not all of one color or one age. We’re a variety, from the wealthy of Palm Beach to the homeless, and everyone worships together. This church accepts everyone.”
The church has both traditional and contemporary worship services, as well as Korean and Hispanic services. A Tamil service for members of Indian heritage will be launched soon. Although the church has multiple worship opportunities, with people often attending a variety of services, the congregation is one church.
Juan Ramos Jr. is a lay member who leads the Spanish language service. He says he was led to assume the role when his father, the Rev. Juan Ramos Sr., a Methodist minister who once led the service, was appointed to another church.
“Everybody here has open hearts, and everyone seems to understand that this is our true calling as Christians,” he said.
The Rev. Vic Willis, senior pastor of the church, says the church’s vision “is to be a church where all are welcomed.”
Like family
From Harris You’s perspective the church is achieving that goal. A 17-year-old Korean-American, You attends Sun Coast High School. He says the church is a “unique blend of cultures.”
“We have a lot of events that portray that, and I haven’t found that at a lot of other churches,” he said. “There’s a special warmth here. When I’m here, I feel like I’m in God’s house, and everyone is welcome.”
Vasantha Kulothungan agrees. Born in India and educated in England, he said he became a regular at church “because I felt like a part of the church right away. You don’t feel alone here.”
Others, like Imelda Blanco, who relocated to the area from Mexico, and Tjerk Vanveen, originally from the Netherlands and raised Roman Catholic, say there is an unusual acceptance at the church.
“In this church you can be yourself and people don’t judge you on how you believe,” Vanveen said.
Church members Donald and Lenie Grant moved to Florida from South Africa. Donald, who comes from a Dutch Reformed Church background, and Lenie from the Afrikaan culture, said they knew no one when they arrived, but immediately felt welcome when then visited the church.
“This has become our church family,” Lenie said. “Even when we bought a home in another city, we continued to attend here because this is where our church family is.”
Phillip and Ruth Mageria of Kenya meet between services with India's Nimmy Jeyakumen. Photo by Thomas Routzong. Photo #08-0692.
Phillip and Ruth Mageria, from Kenya, who attend the church with their 5-year-old son, Jonas, say they have also found a home at the church.
“We are a long way from our home and family in Kenya, but these people have become family,” Ruth said. “On holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, people invite you to their homes and make you feel like family.”
Celebrating diversity
Walter and Nimmy Jeyakumen, from India, say they’ve found a church where they can be themselves.
Dressed in traditional, colorful Indian dress, Nimmy says they feel so comfortable at the church they bring their friends.
“We feel comfortable wearing our native dress, and we don’t feel like we’re being looked at,” she said. “People at this church build relationships. They invite you to dinner. They visit at your home. We hope other churches learn to embrace diversity.”
Jeyakumen says she also appreciates the way she and her husband are invited to participate in worship. “We’re invited to read the Bible in our native tongue in front of the congregation, and it makes us feel special,” she said. “We feel at home. We’re given lots of opportunities to belong and to feel that sense of belonging.”
The church’s pastors and leaders make an intentional effort to create that feeling of inclusiveness.
Todd Weber, the church’s discipleship pastor, says the church is located in what he calls a melting pot community. With that in mind, he says they are trying to provide a place where everyone can grow spiritually. Other leaders say they are trying to create a safe haven for people of such different backgrounds to worship.
Brad Walston, a member of the church’s hospitality ministry, remembers a recent phone call that put their emphasis on hospitality to the test.
“A local group home called us and asked if we could transport adults to the church,” he said. “We didn’t even have a transportation ministry, but how can you say no? We saw a need, and we made it happen to get those people here.”
The Rev. Jen Sims, an associate pastor at the church, says the congregation’s diversity is inspiring.
“Having people from almost 40 nations come together and worship together is really touching,” she said. “When we have people from all over the world, we really begin to feel what is happening around the world. When you hear news from another country, you know it could be affecting a brother or sister of one of our brothers or sisters here at the church.”
Phillip Mageria says he has seen God connecting countries through relationships at the church.
“Two teens from the church went on a mission trip to Kenya and actually stayed at my brother’s home,” he said. “You can see God at work in many ways here.”
Open hearts, open minds, open doors
The Rev. Bo Sim, an associate pastor at the church who leads the Korean language worship service, says love and tolerance are the keys to diversity and success.
“Our hearts are open and there is a tolerance that comes from love,” he said. “We are able to embrace all people. Things are not always easy, but you grow and learn from the harder times. Fertilizer eventually leads to fruit.”
Children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds attend Sunday school at United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches. Photo by Steven Skelley. Photo #08-0693.
Aupperlee says the church has found the recipe for outreach and inclusion. Church members coordinate outreach events, such as old-fashioned Christmas parties, Trunk Or Treat at Halloween and their own dinner theater productions. She says they invite everyone in the community and then welcome them with open arms.
“We want to serve the community,” she said.
Lenn Holland and Denise Bleau are life partners who joined the church with their adopted daughter, Danielle, after attending the church’s Trunk Or Treat outreach.
“It’s been so inspiring,” Holland said. “We’ve been very welcomed here. So many people now have a part in helping raise our daughter in the faith.”
Bleau said they have not felt welcome at many churches, a much different experience than what they’ve found at United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches.
“We wanted Danielle to have a Christian faith,” she said. “We came here and we were welcomed with open arms. We are very grateful to be here.”
Maggie Wong, who attends the Korean worship service, says there is a special sense of family that flows from love. “Everyone is family here. We have found the love of God.”
###
*Parham is managing editor of e-Review Florida United Methodist News Service.
**Skelley is a freelance writer based in Beverly Hills, Fla.
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Wow. That is awesome. Those Methodists are doing something. Are you going to try to check it out when you are down there later this month?
Thanks for bringing the story to my attention.
For me, missional means a holistic Christianity. Truly IN the world but not OF the world. It is me living out my Christian faith within the community I live, interacting with all those I come in contact with.
When being missional we have a long term view of evangelism. Take the time to make friends and see them as people, not just evangelistic targets.
Bruce
Bruce:
I think you are right on with your thoughts. It seems as though we often forget that whole notion of building community centers on "being" with each other. And being requires the risk of friendship, love and presence(time). In our gatherings, as we begin with prayer, we always try to thank God for giving us the time just to "be" with each other despite harried lives. Where did we lose the sense and yearning for the joy, comfort and community built through relationship with one another?
Bob
We lost it when we started believing that 'stuff' gives meaning to our lives. It's the Great American Lie.
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