North Fresno Church Blog

Pastor James' NFConnection Article: Missional church - what it isn't (June 2008)

Part Three (see below for previous articles).

In last month’s issue, I picked up the missional church conversation attempting to help us move forward in our common understanding and communication. Vocabulary is important, and we as leadership have been attempting to create common language here at NFC. This “missional” conversation is part of this common language we are hoping to create. In the most recent MB Herald (the Canadian MB publication), James Toews writes about finding a common language as the foundation of establishing a common identity. He says, “real discussions require more than just common words. They require a common language. And this is what we have lost. We have the same words but we no longer have the same implicit meanings…” (p. 36, MB Herald, April, 2008). Toews is writing about the Mennonite Brethren and recapturing our identity. The same could be said about the local church, and NFC specifically. How will we maintain a sense of identity, unity, and moving forward together? A common language and vocabulary will be key.

Having a history of where this term ‘missional’ came from (see last months issue or visit northfresnochurch.org to read it), let’s continue to build a common understanding of this concept of “missional church.”

Over the last 10 years this term ‘missional” has gone mainstream, used virtually everywhere within churches and denominations in North America. One of the confusing spin-offs, however, is that the word has become so popular in recent years that it seems everyone is using it and in many different ways. So, in the coming months I will use this space to explore what missional really is, and also what it isn’t.

A foundational article by Alan Roxburgh entitled, “What is Missional Church?” (allelon.org, April, 2008)  includes a section on Missional Church – What it Doesn’t Mean! Let’s start there, what missional doesn’t mean. The follow is an excerpt from Roxburgh’s article and includes thoughts from his experience in church ministry – from his perspective as well as those who ‘sit in the pew’ on Sunday mornings.

For the last ten years, pastors, denominational leaders and seminaries have invited me to help them process the meaning of the missional church. In conferences, teaching sessions or simply dialogue with other leaders, I’ve learned that what took place for me has to also happen in every leader – (big shift of pronouns) one must first deconstruct one’s preconceived definitions before helping others construct a missional way of life in a church. Some of the common misunderstandings I and others have had about the missional church follow. Missional church is not:

• An evangelism program
• A new way of doing foreign missions
• A method for church growth
• The "Next" way to do church
• A Post-modern way of doing church
• The Anti-traditional pattern of church

What I find most disturbing about these misunderstandings is how the missional language is now used for almost everything we are already doing. Holding an evangelistic outreach is labeled missional. Taking a missions trip, witnessing on the street and feeding the homeless are labeled missional. While these activities are all good things, the church has had a long history of mission and service before the missional language entered the scene. This is why I find people suspicious of missional language and assuming that it’s just a trendy new adjective or word. When we paste missional onto everything we already do, we continue doing church without ever challenging our basic assumptions about who we are as communities of God’s kingdom.

Missional church is not a new label for old ideas. Putting new paint over the cracked frames of an established way of thinking won’t change anything. The illustrations of these misunderstandings are only old forms of church dressed up in new language. What I’ve learned in workshops and ongoing work with many church systems is that we need new frameworks or glasses, in order to see what missional church is about…I have to confess that the missional church dialogue has challenged some of my most basic assumptions about the church, my leadership and my understanding of what God is up to in the world.

Lay people are the most suspect of the missional language. They see it as another unnecessary piece of esoteric language invented by the ordained and seminary professors to further convince the rest of the church that they’re needed. They are suspicious that it is little more than a fancy word for evangelism or missions. There is a need for clarity and explanation rather than assuming everyone already understands what it means. Many people want a simple two or three sentence definition that satisfies their need for an explanation. However, the issues of meaning are not that simple. If the language of missional church is to help form communities of God’s people in a radically changing culture, we have to spend time and energy understanding what’s at stake. Simple sentence definitions won’t cut it.

Next month, we will start to pick up some themes and values of missional church to help give us a new picture of what this all means, and what it might look like.

In addition, when we began this journey about a year ago we pulled together some resources and linked them to our website, www.northfresnochurch.org. Click on ‘The Missional Conversation’.

On a personal note, we are heading into summer which means a change of pace for most of us including our schedule and connectedness at NFC. I encourage you to try and stay connected with other NFC folk these months, even if it is in your home. Invite someone over. Schedule a day out with the families or a group of friends.

Blessings,

James

Pastor James' NFConnection Article: Missional church - what it is (May 2008)

Part Two (see below for previous article).

Just the other day I overhead CJ, my son, talking to my wife.

“Racoons hug ladybugs which turn into butterflies,” he said.

What?!

Then he continued, “That’s what Dad told me.”

That’s what Dad told me?! Wait a minute. What I said was, “Caterpillars go into cocoons and then they come out as butterflies.”

Long pause……………”oh, yeah, that’s what he said.”

Ever had trouble communicating? You are not alone. Communication is important. It is vitally important in all aspects of life, including church life. This missional journey we are on involves a significant amount of communication. Part of the process involves establishing a common vocabulary so we are talking the “same language” and understanding the same concepts. This new word ‘missional’ is being introduced and intentionally used for that purpose. I suppose the jury is still out about how effective it is for us. I hope it is, or at least will be, as we gain more understanding about what it means for us. Beginning in last month’s NFConnection, I have wanted to address some FAQ about this whole missional conversation. “Neighborhood” was the word I tried to help define and describe in March.

Starting this month I want to explore the term “missional.” Another FAQ continues to be, “What is missional anyway?!” A good question, and an opportunity to try and come to a common understanding. I don’t know if we can fully come to this understanding in a few NFConnection articles, but I want to take the next few months to address the concept and definition of “missional” in some bite size pieces. I am hoping that we can continue to grow toward healthy and effective communication. Be aware though, that this endeavor is like answering the question “What is the Gospel?” or “What is love?” or  “Why do people live in Fresno during the summer anyway?!” A big concept with many dynamics.

Let’s start with the history of the word. Where did the term missional come from?

In the mid 1970’s, Lesslie Newbigin, missionary to India, returned to England to encounter the fact that the Christian culture he had left some thirty years earlier had all but disappeared. Newbigin recognized that the greatest challenge to Christian mission was now within the very nations that had once sent missionaries out around the world. The peoples of Europe, shaped by the Western tradition, had all but lost their identity as Christian.

A conversation of theologians, missiologists, historians and pastors began in Europe and soon came to North America too. The face of church and spirituality and Christianity had drastically changed over the past few decades. The challenge facing the Western churches was the re-conversion of its own people.

The term “missional” emerged out of these conversations and this context—the context of God’s people trying to be faithful in a drastically changed culture. No longer was missions across the seas but in our own backyard. What would it mean for the church to be missional in its own culture?

In 1998, a small network completed writing the book Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. The network eventually became The Gospel in Our Culture Network (gocn.org). This word and the surrounding vocabulary went viral, so to speak, since that time. Christians, churches, institutions, and denominations have entered the conversation and found life and meaning in dealing with present realities and trying to lead God’s people faithfully into the future.

Over the next few months I will use this space to explore what missional really is, and also what it isn’t.

You don’t have to wait though. The source of the history information in this article is from Alan Roxburgh’s article “What is Missional Church?” published on April 1, 2008 at www.allelon.org. It contains much more additional information. Also, when we began this journey about a year ago we pulled together some resources and linked them to our website at www.northfresnochurch.org. Click on ‘The Missional Conversation’ and you will find many helpful resources. Take a look and give me call or email. I would love to get together and listen to your thoughts and questions. Or talk to any of our pastors or leaders. We would love the opportunity to hear your thoughts and talk about church and culture and God’s calling on our lives together.

Sincerely In Christ,

Pastor James

 

Pastor James' NFConnection Article: Joining God where you live (April 2008)

Part One (see above for successive articles).

Caffeine. That has been my focus, especially during the six weeks of Lent. Actually, Christ and my relationship with him has been the focus. The giving up of caffeine was just a means to help me with that focus. Overall I think it “worked,” whatever that means. I was more aware and cognitive of God in my life. I was more aware of my need for him. And it helped me interact with and prepare for remembrance and celebration of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus. If you personally participated in Lent in some way I hope it was meaningful for you.

All I can say is I am glad for Easter! Not that I am back on caffeine. I don’t know if I will go back (the withdrawal headaches were a little too much for me). But I am glad for the reality of Easter and the freedom that I have in Christ. It is not about what I do, but what he has done and continues to do. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Over these next few weeks and months we will again be creating more conversation and action on our “missional church” journey. We have taken a snapshot of our ministry at NFC. Through the fall, 120 people in 12 Listening Groups interacted with various issues of congregational life and ministry. Early now in 2008 our staff and leadership boards have interacted with the responses of these Listening Groups to try and identify the top adaptive challenges we are facing and the primary issues/opportunities for NFC at this time. The whole congregation will be invited to hear about these primary issues now in spring, and Missional Action Teams formed to lead us in addressing the challenges and opportunities. Please join us in this process. We will notify you of the times and locations of these gatherings.

I would like to address some things that have been coming up as we have intentionally embarked on this missional journey over the last year. I have been having numerous conversations with people who are energized about what God is up to and where he is leading us, as well as some who are asking “What is ‘missional’ anyway?” Some may even be having some misconceptions about what it is and where it may be leading us. Consider this as addressing some FAQ that have surfaced from various individuals and groups over the last few months, as well as being able to communicate some of the key concepts of our missional calling: how it is grounded biblically, and how it might impact us practically.

For this month, let me start with a common issue that has come up in a few conversations. It has to do with our understanding of our neighborhood. It comes up in a few different ways in conversations, but it basically deals with why do we hear so much about ministry within the few blocks directly around the church? Is this whole missional thing just about doing community ministry? Will this be viable? Is this where we should be going?

At its core, being missional means that we are going to take God’s mission in the world seriously and actively join him in being a witness. I suppose the most practical application of that would be being a witness to our neighbor. This missional conversation is not equal with doing community ministry. It does not mean that we should be doing more of it or that it should be the only thing we do. It might involve this, but it is more than this.

Understanding “neighbor” and “neighborhood” is important to this conversation. I have seen different understandings and emphases leading to miscommunication. There are three primary aspects of neighbor as it relates to our lives at NFC.

First, where you live. Your neighborhood is the place where you live. It could even include where you work or study. In that respect we are a very diverse group representing numerous parts of Fresno, Clovis, and communities beyond. A very key and significant focus and responsibility of our ministry at NFC is where you live, work, study, and play. During missions month, Elmer Martens’ challenge for us to be justice-bringers was anchored in the concept of the “household”. It ties back to God’s covenant relationship with Abraham. God blessed Abraham and his family (descendents) that they might be a blessing to others. Our missional calling means joining God’s mission where you live and where I live. Your household and surrounding neighborhood is and will continue to be a central part of our missional mandate at NFC.

A second aspect of “neighbor” relates to the immediate neighborhood around the church at 5724 N. Fresno Street. We have a responsibility and a calling to invest in this geographic area and be a witness within the neighborhood, joining God in his mission right here in our “backyard”. We often get updates about various relationships and ministries in this sphere of neighborhood ministry during Sunday services. Because we do a lot of ministry within this part of the community it is emphasized a lot. And I think it should be. To be a part of NFC means owning our relationship and being involved at some level—living in the neighborhood, or building relationships, or serving in various programs and ministries, or supporting in prayer. This aspect of NFC ministry does take up a lot of energy and focus. It is one of our callings to which we need to be faithful. But what we are hearing about ministry in the community is not a result of our missional conversation. We are hearing about ministry in the community and seeing much relational and spiritual fruit these days at NFC because of the original vision of this church when it began in 1969, because of a very specific and intentional 12 to 15 year old history of building relationships and serving this community, and also a decision made by the congregation to stay in this location and serve this community. It seems that God continues to be opening more and more doors for us to faithfully serve and be a vital part of this neighborhood. It needs to continue to be a central part of our missional mandate at NFC. It is not more important and should not be our sole focus. But it is a vital part of our missional calling and one to which we need to be faithful. It seems this whole “missional” thing has been a part of NFC for a long time!

Third, another aspect of neighbor that needs to round out our understanding is the global aspect. We have a responsibility to our global neighbors. We are involved in world mission. We have a calling as God’s people to be involved with our neighbors from other cultures and countries from helping with basic needs to proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. I suppose this would also include how we treat the earth, our mandate to care for God’s creation. Our missions commission helps us fill this role of witness to our global neighbor. We partner with 5 international missionaries through MBMS/I, as well as other local, national, and international agencies.

These three aspects of neighbor and our calling to serve each of them is part of our missional mandate at NFC. It is not one of them at the expense of the other. It is a both/and mission. Yes, we will continue to serve our immediate neighborhood around NFC and look for new and creative ways to serve the needs of this community. Yes, we will continue to support you and call you to faithfully serve where you live and work and study, looking for new and creative ways we can serve you and disciple you so you are effective and faithful in serving in your sphere of influence. And yes, we will continue to try and serve our global neighbors looking to grow in our faithful witness in this arena.

I believe this is all part of our missional conversation and direction at NFC. In Acts chapter 1, Jesus lays out a mandate for his followers to be his witnesses from close by to the ends of the earth. That is our same calling today.

I invite you to “lean in” to how God’s calling for us to join him in his mission in the world will work its way out practically at NFC. Be part of shaping this conversation and then how it will form our day to day ministry. But I have one specific invitation for you. My whole vision for ministry at NFC rests on this one thing: you. Will you join God where you live and work and study and be a witness in that place. We will never be successful in doing it as a church if we are not doing it in our personal lives.

So that just brings me to one last thing. I know I keep asking this question but it is a pretty important one. Have you spent time with your neighbor recently?

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor James