hOW TO BE mISSIONAL....... eASILY :)

Here is a great article I read this morning.



8 Ways to Easily Be Missional

Article by: Jonathan Dodson

Missional is not an event we tack onto our already busy lives. It is our life. Mission should be the way we live, not something we add onto life: “As you go, make disciples….”; “Walk wisely towards outsiders”; “Let your speech always be seasoned with salt”; “be prepared to give a defense for your hope”. We can be missional in everyday ways without overloading our schedules. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Eat with Non-Christians. We all eat three meals a day. Why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian or with a family of non-Christians? Go to lunch with a co-worker, not by yourself. Invite the neighbors over for family dinner. If it’s too much work to cook a big dinner, just order pizza and put the focus on conversation. When you go out for a meal invite others. Or take your family to family-style restaurants where you can sit at the table with strangers and strike up conversation. Cookout and invite Christians and non-Christians. Flee the Christian subculture.

2. Walk, Don’t Drive. If you live in a walkable area, make a practice of getting out and walking around your neighborhood, apartment complex, or campus. Instead of driving to the mailbox, convenience store, or apartment office, walk to get mail, groceries, and stuff. Be deliberate in your walk. Say hello to people you don’t know. Strike up conversations. Attract attention by walking the dog, taking a 6-pack (and share), bringing the kids. Make friends. Get out of your house! Take interest in your neighbors. Ask questions. Pray as you go. Save some gas, the planet, and some people.

3. Be a Regular. Instead of hopping all over the city for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places. Get to know the staff. Go to the same places at the same times. Smile. Ask questions. Be a regular. I have friends at coffee shops all over the city. My friends at Starbucks donate a ton of left over pastries to our church 2-3 times a week. We use them for church gatherings and occasionally give to the homeless. Build relationships. Be a Regular.

4. Hobby with Non-Christians. Pick a hobby that you can share. Get out and do something you enjoy with others. Try City League sports. Local rowing and cycling teams. Share your hobby by teaching lessons. Teach sewing lessons, piano lessons, violin, guitar, knitting, tennis lessons. Be prayerful. Be intentional. Be winsome. Have fun. Be yourself.

5. Talk to Your Co-workers. How hard is that? Take your breaks with intentionality. Go out with your team or task force after work. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick four and pray for them. Form mom groups in your neighborhood and don’t make them exclusively Christian. Schedule play dates with the neighbors’ kids. Work on mission.

6. Volunteer with Non-Profits. Find a non-profit in your part of the city and take Saturday a month to serve your city. Bring your neighbors, your friends, or your small group. Spend time with your church serving your city. Once a month. You can do it!

7. Participate in City Events. Instead of playing X-Box, watching TV, or surfing the net, participate in city events. Go to fundraisers, festivals, clean-ups, summer shows, and concerts. Participate missionally. Strike up conversation. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate with the city.

8. Serve your Neighbors. Help a neighbor by weeding, mowing, building a cabinet, fixing a car. Stop by the neighborhood association or apartment office and ask if there is anything you can do to help improve things. Ask your local Police and Fire Stations if there is anything you can do to help them. Get creative. Just serve!

Plan an event.....

Are the people in your area artsy? musical? Plan an event or even a festival that will give them an outlet for their gitings and talents. We recently did this in our small town and it was a success! Check out www.thecreekfest.com for information on our event. Use this as a catalyst for thinking of other events that will work in you area,

Missionary Quotes

Operation Cookie Connection

We are about to do our 1st "Operation Cookie Connection". Its an outreach to a small mobile home subdivision located near the church. We are baking cookies, bagging them and delivering them to the folks in the subdivision.

Remember the Magi...they brought gifts to Jesus. When? It was around the time Jesus was 2 years old. This may sound weird but I think the gifts were not just for Jesus....but also served as an encouragement to Joseph and Mary. You see, they heard from angels that their son was the Son of God. After 2 years however, maybe...possibly... they were doubting themselves...second guessing perhaps...maybe it wasnt an angel....maybe it was just the pizza : )

When the Magi found them and told Joseph and Mary how they found them and why they brought the gifts... they showed them that they (Joseph & Mary) were on track and they were special.

When we give a gift....regardless of how big or small, we are saying to the recipient "You are special and you are significant".... and the gift is just a small reminder.

Give someone a gift! Pay for the person behind you in line - movie theatre, toll booth, coffee shop etc... You will bless people and you get to feel like a winner too...cause you are!!

Recommended Web Resources

Here are couple of resources that I use and believe will be an asset for any person, church or ministry that is willling to make a difference.

Outreach Magazine

Becoming Missional - Blog

Book Recommendation

Servolution - By Dino Rizzo

This book gives the reader a history of Healing Place Church in Louisiana but goes beyond the step by step process. The author states that each church situation is different and this book shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a set of instructions on how to serve your community. Early on Rizzo talks about handing out bottles of water on street corners to hot and tired motorists. This may work in the heat and humidity of Louisiana but isn’t going to make such an impact on a wet weekend in Maine, but the principle is the same. The key: Identify real needs and serve people where you can.

Having come back from the Philippines for church planting, I (Jeff Hoglen) was presented with a question from one of our leaders, "If we partner with other chruches for outreach into the community, how can we be assured the people will attend our church rather than the others"? My answer was / and always has been the same as Dino Rizzo's. He’s clear that serving those needs are not part of a recruitment drive for your specific church. We are called to love our neighbors regardless of which church, if any, they choose to attend. So, the services are provided free and with love. Some may be accompanied by information of the church you are part of and when your meetings are, but in all cases the love comes first. Thats our motiviation - Love!!

Marketplace Ministry

I'm an entrepeneur at heart. I've been that way since I was 10 years old when I started a lawn mowing service in my neighborhood. Today I have a few small businesses. I have one that is my bread and butter and the others are just a way to be a part of the community. Sure making some money would be great...but its not the motivation.

My latest endeavor is a music store (musical instruments not CD's or records) in the big town of St Pauls NC. Why start a music store? Because: 1) There wasnt one, 2) to be a part of the community and 3) to connect with people outside of a church setting. My thinking is - God has called us to be light in the darkness.....not a light amongst light. Most of my friends are christians, so I needed a venue in which I could meet what I call Pre-Christians : )

Speaking of the music biz: I went to NAMM in Nashville which is a trade show for music retailers. At the tradeshow, I met a guy and his mom who own a company called Goldfish Guitars. The body of the guitar is shaped like a fish. Their logo....is the sign of the fish (an ichthus). This sparked my curiousity and so I asked if this was a Christian business or was this just a logo. They told me they were believers and had made something that they thought others could use. Within that motivation had to be some seed sowing as well. I mean...here they were (and me too) at a music trade show with every type of person imagineable in attendance....showing the love of God amongst guitars blazing and drum cymbals crashing. Thats market place ministry!!