Mission-Shaped Mission-Shaped ChurchChurch

When the When the Church Church

isis the Churchthe Church

When ferocious cannibals captured When ferocious cannibals captured a hapless missionary he had the a hapless missionary he had the privilege of giving them their first privilege of giving them their first

real taste of Christianity.real taste of Christianity.

Sauce unknownSauce unknown

CCommunityommunity ActionAction

WWinninginning People for ChristPeople for Christ

MMakingaking DisciplesDisciples

Worple Road Worple Road Evangelical ChurchEvangelical Church

Fakes Chapel (Bradford, Arizona)Fakes Chapel (Bradford, Arizona)

Penguin Baptist Church (Tasmania)Penguin Baptist Church (Tasmania)

Boring Methodist Church (Maryland)Boring Methodist Church (Maryland)

Cowboy Cathedral (Indiana)Cowboy Cathedral (Indiana)

Frostproof United Methodist Church Frostproof United Methodist Church (Florida)(Florida)

Coolville Methodist (Coolville, Ohio)Coolville Methodist (Coolville, Ohio)

The Decade of The Decade of EvangelismEvangelism

Breaking New GroundBreaking New Ground

Church House Publishing, 1994Church House Publishing, 1994

How do churches grow?How do churches grow?–Dr. Roy Pointer Dr. Roy Pointer (MARC Europe, 1984)(MARC Europe, 1984)

How your corps can grow.How your corps can grow.–John Larsson John Larsson (The Salvation Army, 1988)(The Salvation Army, 1988)

A Purpose Driven Willow A Purpose Driven Willow Creek Cell Church Creek Cell Church

running Alpha, doing NCD running Alpha, doing NCD and engaging in and engaging in

numerous Faithworks numerous Faithworks initiatives.initiatives.

An artist was engaged to paint the An artist was engaged to paint the picture of a ‘dying church’. It was picture of a ‘dying church’. It was

assumed he would portray a assumed he would portray a ramshackle building, with broken ramshackle building, with broken

windows and neglected grounds. But windows and neglected grounds. But when it was unveiled the painting when it was unveiled the painting

was of a fine Gothic church, stately, was of a fine Gothic church, stately, elegant and expensive – glorious elegant and expensive – glorious

stained glass, carved wooden stalls, stained glass, carved wooden stalls, a rood screen, a great organ and a rood screen, a great organ and

comfortable pews.comfortable pews.

Everyone was bewildered, but one day Everyone was bewildered, but one day an old man who had spent much an old man who had spent much

time looking at the painting solved time looking at the painting solved the problem. There in an the problem. There in an

inconspicuous corner the artist had inconspicuous corner the artist had painted-in a box on the wall labelledpainted-in a box on the wall labelled

‘‘FOR MISSION’.FOR MISSION’.

Covering the box were cobwebs.Covering the box were cobwebs.

Source unknown. Published in The Monarch Book of Christian Wisdom by Robert Source unknown. Published in The Monarch Book of Christian Wisdom by Robert PattersonPatterson

Rather than face the challenge of the field, it Rather than face the challenge of the field, it is easier for us to provide an all-round, is easier for us to provide an all-round,

meet-every-need-of-the-barn-members’-meet-every-need-of-the-barn-members’-lives programmatic structure. All you need lives programmatic structure. All you need is a hired leader with good managerial skills is a hired leader with good managerial skills

and a pleasant personality who is not too and a pleasant personality who is not too boring in the pulpit. No history, no future, boring in the pulpit. No history, no future, just endless repetition of the introverted just endless repetition of the introverted

present.present.

An army marking time until it has worn a An army marking time until it has worn a hole so deep that it vanishes from the hole so deep that it vanishes from the

landscape. A macabre theatre performing landscape. A macabre theatre performing the same play for the same pasty-faced the same play for the same pasty-faced

audience, world without end, while the real audience, world without end, while the real world rolls by outside. A hospital where the world rolls by outside. A hospital where the

only patients are the staff trapped in an only patients are the staff trapped in an infection-laden institution of their own infection-laden institution of their own

making. A farm wilfully keeping its fields as making. A farm wilfully keeping its fields as set-aside in a time of famine.set-aside in a time of famine.

John Houghton, Outhere, p.27John Houghton, Outhere, p.27

Stir in a few cultural taboos of our Stir in a few cultural taboos of our own making, add some own making, add some

incomprehensible music to incomprehensible music to accompany bad poetry, wear accompany bad poetry, wear

blinkers to avoid eye contact with blinkers to avoid eye contact with all but your special clique, and you all but your special clique, and you have the perfect, totally irrelevant have the perfect, totally irrelevant

sub-culture.sub-culture.

John Houghton, Outhere, p.29,30John Houghton, Outhere, p.29,30

Who in our culture goes to hear a Who in our culture goes to hear a speech lasting forty-five minutes, speech lasting forty-five minutes, especially when it is preceded by especially when it is preceded by

something as uncool as community something as uncool as community singing?singing?

John Houghton, Outhere, p.31John Houghton, Outhere, p.31

Byddin Yr IachawdwriaethByddin Yr Iachawdwriaeth

Army of Well-BeingArmy of Well-Being

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love;Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy;where there is sadness, joy;

Attributed to St. Francis of AssisiAttributed to St. Francis of Assisi

If mission is at the heart of God’s If mission is at the heart of God’s will for his people, it follows that the will for his people, it follows that the only way to glorify God is to make it only way to glorify God is to make it

the heart of our churches.the heart of our churches.

John Houghton: John Houghton: OuthereOuthere, Nexgen, 2004, p.18, Nexgen, 2004, p.18

There is Church There is Church because there is because there is

mission, not vice versa.mission, not vice versa.

Bosch, p.390Bosch, p.390

It is not the Church of God that It is not the Church of God that has a mission in the world, but has a mission in the world, but the God of mission who has a the God of mission who has a

church in the world.church in the world.

Tim Dearborn, Tim Dearborn, Beyond Duty: a passion for Christ, a Beyond Duty: a passion for Christ, a heart for missionheart for mission, MARC Europe, 1998, MARC Europe, 1998

We are sent to war. We are not sent to We are sent to war. We are not sent to minister to a congregation and be minister to a congregation and be

content if we keep things going. We content if we keep things going. We are sent to make war… and to stop are sent to make war… and to stop

short of nothing but the subjugation of short of nothing but the subjugation of the world to the sway of the Lord the world to the sway of the Lord

Jesus. We must bear that in mind in all Jesus. We must bear that in mind in all our plans… our aim is to put down the our plans… our aim is to put down the kingdom of the devil… This mission is kingdom of the devil… This mission is

going to be what its officers make it.going to be what its officers make it.

William Booth in Christian Mission MagazineWilliam Booth in Christian Mission Magazine

Too many clergy are heard to say, Too many clergy are heard to say, ‘Until my parishioners get out of their ‘Until my parishioners get out of their houses and into the church, God help houses and into the church, God help the church.’ They should realise that the church.’ They should realise that

until the church has got out of the until the church has got out of the pews into the homes and work-pews into the homes and work-

places, God help the world, and the places, God help the world, and the church!church!

Reverend Robert M.E. PatersonReverend Robert M.E. Paterson

If your church is full of members, If your church is full of members, you get an occasional missionary. you get an occasional missionary.

If your church is full of missionaries, If your church is full of missionaries, the rest is just about geography.the rest is just about geography.

Erwin R. McManus, Erwin R. McManus, Seizing Your Divine MomentSeizing Your Divine Moment, Nelson, Nashville, , Nelson, Nashville, 2002, p.1662002, p.166

The church is the catalyst of The church is the catalyst of mission not the goal.mission not the goal.

Brian McLaren, Brian McLaren, A New Kind of ChristianA New Kind of Christian, p.157., p.157.

The church doesn’t exist for The church doesn’t exist for itself; it exists to serve the itself; it exists to serve the world. It is not ultimately world. It is not ultimately

about the church; it’s about all about the church; it’s about all the people God wants to bless the people God wants to bless through the church. When the through the church. When the

church loses sight of this, it church loses sight of this, it loses its heart.loses its heart.

Rob Bell, Rob Bell, Velvet ElvisVelvet Elvis, p. 165, p. 165

The church is the only The church is the only organisation in the world that organisation in the world that

exists solely for the benefit of its exists solely for the benefit of its non-members.non-members.

Attributed to Archbishop William TempleAttributed to Archbishop William Temple

The church doesn’t exist to satisfy The church doesn’t exist to satisfy the consumer demands of the consumer demands of

believers; the church exists to believers; the church exists to equip and mobilize men and equip and mobilize men and

women for God’s mission in the women for God’s mission in the world.world.

Brian McLaren, Brian McLaren, A New Kind of ChristianA New Kind of Christian, p. 157., p. 157.

A church that never looks beyond A church that never looks beyond itself is a church headed toward itself is a church headed toward

a slow but certain erosion.a slow but certain erosion.

Thom Rainer, Thom Rainer, Breakout ChurchesBreakout Churches, p.178., p.178.

If we huddle in our trenches (however If we huddle in our trenches (however well equipped they may be) making well equipped they may be) making

occasional forays farther afield to win occasional forays farther afield to win converts in order to bolster our converts in order to bolster our numbers, we are condemned to numbers, we are condemned to

watch as the church, and the world watch as the church, and the world along with it, perishes.along with it, perishes.

Steve Chalke, Steve Chalke, Intelligent ChurchIntelligent Church, p. 25., p. 25.

Christ can not … really be present in a Christ can not … really be present in a congregation whose energies and congregation whose energies and

interests are focussed on interests are focussed on themselves, and who do not show, as themselves, and who do not show, as a body and as individuals, an interest a body and as individuals, an interest and compassion for the needs of the and compassion for the needs of the

immediate neighbourhood, and a immediate neighbourhood, and a consciousness that the congregation consciousness that the congregation exists, as a Christian group, to serve exists, as a Christian group, to serve

the needs of others.the needs of others.

Gerard Hughes, God of Surprises, p. 132.Gerard Hughes, God of Surprises, p. 132.

Mission shapeMission shape

Not QuadrilateralNot Quadrilateral

Possibly a hexagonPossibly a hexagon

God-shapedGod-shaped– God God mustmust have his place have his place– 1 Cor. 1:231 Cor. 1:23

WePreachChrist

Crucified

WePreachChrist

Crucified

WePreach

We

Prayer-shapedPrayer-shaped– Prayer must be at the heart of what the Prayer must be at the heart of what the

church is aboutchurch is about– Revivals have started through prayerRevivals have started through prayer– ‘‘Onward Faithful Intercessors’Onward Faithful Intercessors’

Outward-shapedOutward-shaped– Focus on the communityFocus on the community– Be relevant to your communityBe relevant to your community– Understand your communityUnderstand your community– Get involvedGet involved

Join local committees (SACRE, School Join local committees (SACRE, School Governors, Communities First, etc.)Governors, Communities First, etc.)Explore ‘Chaplaincy’Explore ‘Chaplaincy’

– Be first to respond to needsBe first to respond to needs– ‘‘Build compassion capacity’Build compassion capacity’

Conflict-shapedConflict-shaped– It will be inevitable It will be inevitable – so be prepared for itso be prepared for it– ‘‘Peacing Together’ by David CormackPeacing Together’ by David Cormack

Leader-shapedLeader-shaped– Be the best leader you can beBe the best leader you can be– Develop your own leadership development planDevelop your own leadership development plan– Read leadership books, Read leadership books,

‘‘the Emerging Church’ by Dan Kimball chapter 20. Check the Emerging Church’ by Dan Kimball chapter 20. Check out his comparison between Captain Kirk and Captain out his comparison between Captain Kirk and Captain Picard on page 229Picard on page 229

– Leadership JournalLeadership Journal– Watch ‘The Apprentice’Watch ‘The Apprentice’– Watch K***y BootsWatch K***y Boots– Bill HybelsBill Hybels

Keep the vision clearKeep the vision clear

Engage your peopleEngage your people

Be in it for the long haulBe in it for the long haul

Make your meetings memorableMake your meetings memorable

I beg all who desire to have an impact I beg all who desire to have an impact in the emerging church to be “shrewd in the emerging church to be “shrewd

as snakes”, thinking strategically, as snakes”, thinking strategically, studying the culture, and functioning studying the culture, and functioning

as missiologists like never before. We as missiologists like never before. We need to be the poets, theologians, need to be the poets, theologians, and philosophers once again. We and philosophers once again. We

need not be afraid to rethink need not be afraid to rethink everything we are doing. We need to everything we are doing. We need to set the pace for social justice in our set the pace for social justice in our

communities and be thinking globally. communities and be thinking globally. We need to be fluid when we lead, We need to be fluid when we lead, instead of being rigid or controlling. instead of being rigid or controlling.

We need to be relational leaders We need to be relational leaders instead of super-goal-driven leaders. instead of super-goal-driven leaders.

But please, please, please, above all, pay But please, please, please, above all, pay ruthless attention to the prayerful care of ruthless attention to the prayerful care of your souls as leaders. Live pure and holy your souls as leaders. Live pure and holy

lives as innocent as doves in a corrupt lives as innocent as doves in a corrupt and polluted culture. Be constantly and polluted culture. Be constantly

connected to the Chief Shepherd of the connected to the Chief Shepherd of the emerging church for his leading and emerging church for his leading and guidance. Nothing is more important guidance. Nothing is more important

than this. Nothing. than this. Nothing.

Dan Kimball, p. 240Dan Kimball, p. 240

Culturally-shapedCulturally-shaped– Don’t throw away your Faith in Context Don’t throw away your Faith in Context

notes!notes!

Which model?Which model?

A Jerusalem type church (Acts 9:26-A Jerusalem type church (Acts 9:26-29)29)– A gathered modelA gathered model– The temple / synagogueThe temple / synagogue– For the JewsFor the Jews– In here/out thereIn here/out there

This centralist paradigm is an in This centralist paradigm is an in here/out there model. It sees here/out there model. It sees mission or evangelism as an mission or evangelism as an

extension of its gathered life, a form extension of its gathered life, a form of recruitment rather than the heart of recruitment rather than the heart

of our existence.of our existence.

John Houghton,John Houghton, Outhere, p.52Outhere, p.52

Antioch type church (Acts 13:42-52)Antioch type church (Acts 13:42-52)– Missionary communitiesMissionary communities– They went outThey went out– Jews & GentilesJews & Gentiles– Out here/in thereOut here/in there– Disciples first called Christians in Disciples first called Christians in

AntiochAntioch

The church is only ever The church is only ever one generation away from one generation away from extinction so it’s up to you extinction so it’s up to you

to take up the baton!to take up the baton!

BibliographyBibliographyMission-shaped church – Church House Mission-shaped church – Church House PublishingPublishing

Outhere – John HoughtonOuthere – John Houghton

Peacing Together – David CormackPeacing Together – David Cormack

Courageous Leadership – Bill HybelsCourageous Leadership – Bill Hybels

Leaders – Bennis & NanusLeaders – Bennis & Nanus

The Leadership Challenge – Kouzes & The Leadership Challenge – Kouzes & PosnerPosner

And loads of others…And loads of others…