[featured_image]As it has been said, “If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we’ve always gotten.” Building movements that transform America requires a different kind of activity than before.
Dr. Steve Ogne suggests thirteen differences that need to be considered: (my descriptions included)
1 – A different kind of Spiritual Empowerment. The intensity of prayer required for missional activity cannot compare with what has been done before. Missional movements must be saturated with prayer.
2 – A different kind of Vision. The focus of vision must be outward; it must be more on “them” and less on “us.” Communicating the vision must include more stories of missional activity. Believers need to be encouraged to join what is happening. It is not about starting something new. Missional movements require a different kind of vision.
3 – A different kind of Leader. Missional leaders are more about empowering than controlling. They demonstrate a stronger dependence on God, rather than mimicking methods. They are risk-takers. They are relationally driven, not task driven. They are focused on exegeting the culture to incarnate the gospel. They are “brokers” of missional activity—channeling believers into opportunities to “be Jesus” in the community. Missional movements require a different kind of leader.
4 – A different kind of Training. Training is not for the classroom. It does not happen in the barn but out in the harvest field. It includes just-in-time and hands-on learning. The pattern is not what would Jesus do?—but what did Jesus do and what is Jesus doing? Training includes theological reflection, not simply best practices. Missional training must be different to build movements.
5 – A different kind of Credentials. If a seminary degree is required, the rules need to be changed. Licensing and ordination need to be based on Calling, Character, Competency, and Compassion. Changes to many credentialing procedures are necessary. If possible, use a different role such as “evangelist” or “church planter.” Building movements will require a different kind of credentialing process.
6 – A different kind of Evangelism. Evangelism is all about announcing the good news that “Jesus is Lord.” Evangelism needs to happen off the church campus where people live. It needs to start with listening, not telling. Once the gospel is demonstrated in a person’s life, then they can focus on stories. Start with their story, then share your story, then share God’s story. This happens best through existing relationships. “Evangelism is shifting its goals away from scoring a decision to securing a disciple.” A different kind of evangelism is necessary to build movements.
7 – A different kind of Community. Fellowship among believers needs to be more compassionate and less self-righteous. It needs to be more authentic, more frequent, and more spontaneous. Missional movements require a 24/7 experience of community with Christians where they live.
8 – A different kind of Coaching. Coaching needs to focus on teams and not just a single church planter. Coaching needs to include couples. It needs to happen more frequently, spontaneously, and off-campus. Also, coaches need to invest more time in preparation. They need to relate personally, reflect honestly, and resource specifically. They need to be all about listening first, and asking good questions. Missional movements require a different kind of coaching.
9 – A different kind of Funding. The funds to reach the harvest are in the harvest. When new churches start with new believers there is often a delay in teaching stewardship and receiving tithes and offerings. Giving is what God does best. New believers need to be taught that giving is a missional activity. Start-up funds need to be secured more diversely. Church planters should consider missional employment as one way to infiltrate the community and receive necessary financial support. Missional movements require alternative funding sources.
10 – A different kind of Measurement. Instead of focusing on attendance numbers, focus on character growth as a measure of effectiveness. Count people on the journey and spiritual conversations. Measure the size of your net or your web of relationships. Count your missional activities and how many people you served without strings attached. Measure your obedience and your love and your influence. Missional movements require a different kind of measurement that will get beyond the size of the budget or offerings, the size of the building or parking lot, and the number of buns in seats each weekend.
11 – A different kind of Preaching. Preaching and teaching in worship services must not be for conversion or information, but for transformation. All teaching from God’s Word must connect with the mission of God and train others to feed themselves spiritually. This different kind of preaching will fuel missional movements.
12 – A different kind of Planning. The main focus needs to be planning what happens off the campus rather than on the campus. Church events need to be reduced and planned around community events. Let the community calendar determine the church calendar. Church activities cannot consume the members of the church; there has to be room for life. Missional movements require less planning and more space to be in the community.
13 – A different kind of Multiplication. What needs to be multiplied? Disciples, leaders, groups and churches! Missional movements are built on the multiplying of disciples, leaders, and churches all over the place.
