A MISSIONAL OUTREACH STRATEGY

James Nored has an excellent site called the Missional Outreach Network which I have recently joined. Here is part of a post he wrote a few days ago. You can read the rest of the post and visit the website by following this link MISSIONAL. I would encourage you to do so-Steve

What is our mission? Our "missiology" is determined by our Christology. That is, our mission is based upon the life and ministry of Christ. In his own words, Jesus said that he came to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10), serve others (Mk. 10:45), and proclaim the good news (Mk. 1:38).

This mission also forms an excellent "missional outreach" strategy:

• Seeking the lost
• Serving the Community
• Sharing the Good News.

Seeking the Lost - Our strategy is to proactively seek out lost people by going to them, hanging out in their locales, building relationships with them, befriending them online, etc. I am not at all against inviting people to worship, mailing out flyers, etc. In fact, there are many who will only come to check out a church in a public worship setting that allows for more anonymity. But first and foremost, we should seek them out people and not expect most people to come to us. Church attendance in the US is 18-23% and dropping. A purely direct mail approach will not cut it. Besides, there is a transformation that happens in us when we go out on mission. More on this later.

Serving Our Community - This service should be on two levels. First, we should serve those around us in our daily lives by seeking to bless their lives. This can be by encouraging them, building them up, praying for them, babysitting for them, helping them with a work project, mowing their lawn, etc. Second, as a church, we should be providing ministries that bless our community. We can bless people by meeting a felt need and providing healing to their areas of brokenness. In suburbia, there are three major areas of brokenness: isolation/lack of community, materialism/lack of purpose, and busyness/lack of time. There is also brokenness in human relationships such as marriages. Addiction abounds. And many suburbs still have poverty, with people needing food, clothing, and shelter.

By serving people, both on an individual and church level, we do the right thing. It is good to do this regardless. Jesus fed and healed thousands, and yet only a few responded. However, serving people does indeed open doors of opportunity to share the gospel. It breaks down barriers and helps to overcome negative stereotypes that they may believe about Christians.

Sharing the Good News - As Jesus healed and served people, he preached and taught about himself and the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is God's rule or reign over the world and people's lives. It is the kind of world that would exist if everyone acknowledged and followed God. It is a life filled with love, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.