What Is a Missional Community?

What Is a Missional Community?
by Jeff Vanderstelt / original article found on the desiringgod.org site

Family
First of all, a missional community is a group of believers who live and experience life together like a family. They see God as their Father because of their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ and the new regeneration brought about by the Holy Spirit. This means they have and know of a divine love that leads them to love one another as brothers and sisters. They treat one another as children of God deeply loved by the Father in everything — sharing their money, time, resources, needs, hurts, successes, etc. They know each other well. This knowledge includes knowing each other’s stories and having familiarity with one another’s strengths and struggles in regards to belief in the gospel and it’s application to all of life (John 1:11-13; Romans 12:10-16; Ephesians 5:1-2).

Missionaries
God’s family is also sent like the Son by the Spirit to proclaim the good news of the kingdom — the gospel — and fulfill the commission of Jesus. A missional community is more than a bible study or a small group that cares for other believers. A missional community is made up of Spirit-led and Spirit-filled people who radically reorient their lives together for the mission of making disciples of a particular people and place where there is a gospel gap (no consistent gospel witness). This means people’s schedule, resources and decisions are now collectively built around reaching people together (Matthew 3:16-4:1;John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 13:2).

Servants
Jesus is Lord and we are his Servants. A missional community serves those around them as though they are serving Jesus. In doing so, they give a foretaste of what life will be like under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ. Living as servants to the King who serve others as he served presents a tangible witness to Jesus’ kingdom and the power of the gospel to change lives. A missional community serves in such a way that it demands a Gospel explanation — lives that cannot be explained in any other way than by the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus (Matthew 20:25-28; John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:16).

Disciples
We are all learners of Jesus our rabbi who has given us his Spirit to teach us all that is true about Jesus and enable us to live out his commands. Jesus commanded us to make disciples who believe the gospel, are established in a new identity and are able to obey all of his commands (Matthew 28:19-20).

The missional community is the best context in which this can happen. Disciples are made and developed:
1. through life on life, where there is visibility and accessibility
2. in community, where they can practice the one anothers, and
3. on mission where they learn how to proclaim the gospel and make disciples.
Jeff Vanderstelt is a pastor at Soma Communities, an Acts 29 church in Tacoma, WA. He coaches and trains church planters, serves on the Board of Acts 29, and leads the Soma movement in vision and teaching.

*The original article can be found here, on the Desiring god site.

Bittersweet Day - Sending Out 50 to plant a new campus

Today is a bittersweet day... today is the last day downtown for around 50 people who will launch New City Church Warner Robins next Sunday night.

It is bitter because we love this group and watching it grow has been amazing. They have worked hard, given much, and served well in a city that isn't their home. They will be greatly missed.

It is sweet because so many in this group GET IT. They love their city and want to see the gospel advance and transform lives, and they know that the best way to see that happen is not by gathering in Macon, but by gathering in their own city. It is sweet because they are leading this charge!

I am thankful to be a part of this work that God is doing. I am excited about the tremendous potential that lies before us as we follow Jesus - who has gone before us and prepared for this day!

New City Church warner robins

Launching August 14, 2011

6:00 pm @ The River Church / 2440 Hwy 127, Kathleen

Baptisms Rock!

Starting Strong... New City Church Warner Robins

On August 14, at 6:00PM one of New City's bands will begin playing the first official nccWR song set. We'll sing together for the first time in WR. We'll pray together for the first time in WR . The Gospel of Jesus Christ will be clearly communicated from the Scripture for us for the first time in WR . We'll follow Jesus by calling people to repent and believe the Gospel for the first time in WR. We'll share the sacrament of communion together for the first time in WR. It will be incredible! For those who have been longing for this day - and praying for this church there will probably be tears of joy and happy laughter.

New City Church downtown started with 20 +/- people and 2 months of prayer and planning. The mission we understood - how we would carry it out was mostly a mystery! We had little idea what Missional Communities would actually look like - most of us had never heard the word missional. We had no idea what it would mean to be With and For our city and engage its people right where they were. Still, in January of 2008 we launched weekly services - filled with church planting ignorance!

Not long after that start, the seeds for New City Church Warner Robins found soil in a few from Warner Robins who dreamed of something different for their city. Little by little the number of people coming to Macon from Warner Robins grew... and they formed a Missional Community. Early on we communicated to those first travelers from Warner Robins that their Missional Community was more than a Missional Community - it was the first of a core group of people who would one day plant a church in their city. And they continued to grow and formed another Missional Community. And they continued to grow and have just recently started their third Missional Community with a fourth in the planning stages!

Here's where I am going - These communities of people in WR know the mission - gospel transformation. They get the vision. They have worked, served, and given to see the mission and vision happen. August 14 is NOT their start date! They have already begun and they are off to a strong, strong start!

I was asked recently by a church planter in the starting days of a plant, "what would you do differently if you could start over with your plant?" My answer: nothing. I really wouldn't. BUT I can say this... our WR Campus Pastor, Patrick McConnell, and the teams and team leaders getting ready for the launch of New City Church Warner Robins have no idea how far ahead of downtown's start that they are! God has graciously put together an incredible group of people and an incredible opportunity in Warner Robins!

I am so excited about August 14... I am more excited about what has already happened in Warner Robins and what is going to happen after August 14! If you are in WR and not in church, or know someone in WR without a church home, let me STRONGLY suggest that you join us August 14, 6:00PM at The River Community Church's building for the continuation of New City Church Warner Robins!

New City Church ALBANY?

Planting the gospel by planting new churches has been our vision even in the dreaming phases of New City Church downtown. Our vision statement includes this:

We dream of a church intent on planting new churches that will engage cultures around the world.

By "intent on planting new churches" we mean aggressively seeking to plant new churches. I recently explained to another church planter that at New City Church we are constantly looking for ways TO plant churches as opposed to reasons why we can't (not large enough, not enough money, not enough leadership support...).

A few months ago I received an email from a pastor an hour away who wanted to talk with me about church planting. That email led to other emails and phone calls and meetings and an Acts 29 Boot Camp and seems now, to us taking another aggressive step in seeing our vision happen. This week the Elders of New City Church welcomed Andy Blankenship on board as the lead planter of New City Church Albany!

Andy, Mary Kathryn, and their 3 little ones will be moving later this month to Albany. Andy has taken a position in a nearby school system where he will work as he learns his city, trains with the New City Elders, and begins the process of planting a new New City Church.

I am constantly amazed and very thankful!

Registration is OPEN

Tyler Jones / Alex Early / Keith Watson

REGISTER HERE.

New City Warner Robins is Multiplying!

Our Newest MC - AGAIN (see previous post) is about to kick off!

When: Wednesday July 13, 6:30pm

Where: the home of DJ and Laura Decker (Byron GA)

Led By: DJ and Laura Decker with Nick and Natalie Herr (*Nick and Natalie PICTURED)

What is a Missional Community?

It is a small group people seeking to learn the Gospel and live out its implications as a community of people doing life together. Our Missional Communities are led by followers of Christ but include those who are not followers of Christ. Our MCs seek to be multi-generational and diverse in every other way. By "doing life together" we mean that the members of an MC do more than attend a meeting - they eat together, learn together, play together, serve together... (its about the relationships!).

Who Should Be Involved in an MC?

Everyone involved at New City Church should be involved in an MC and anyone seeking to learn more about the Christian faith. (This new MC is primarily for those who are currently NOT involved in an MC.)

For More Info:

Email -Nick Herr at nick@newcitywr.org or DJ Decker at dedj87@gmail.com

Living, Learning, and Serving Together... The MC

Our Newest MC (missional community) is about to kick off!

When: Wednesday July 13, 6:30pm

Where: the home of Justin and Amy Weaver (midtown/Ingleside)

Led By: Justin and Amy Weaver & Keith and Amy Watson

What is a Missional Community?

It is a small group people seeking to learn the Gospel and live out its implications as a community of people doing life together. Our Missional Communities are led by followers of Christ but include those who are not followers of Christ. Our MCs seek to be multi-generational and diverse in every other way. By "doing life together" we mean that the members of an MC do more than attend a meeting - they eat together, learn together, play together, serve together... (its about the relationships!).

Who Should Be Involved in an MC?

Everyone involved at New City Church should be involved in an MC and anyone seeking to learn more about the Christian faith. (This new MC is primarily for those who are currently NOT involved in an MC.)

For More Info:

Email -Justin and Amy Weaver (amysweaver@gmail.com) or Keith and Amy Watson (keith@newcitydowntown.org)

You Are Invited

The word “missional” is one of several “buzz words” that is used all the time in the church planting/emergent/emerging evangelical world. But what do we mean by this word?

This is a one day training event in which we will hear from three A29 pastors specifically on leading missionally minded churches, ministries, small groups and so on. There will be time for Q&A and time to speak one on one with these pastors and those who serve with them daily.


Schedule
9:30am – Breakfast for A-29ers and staff at the 567
(casseroles, bagels, fruit, juices, coffee)

Prayer

Break Out - Pastoral, Tyler Jones (Vintage 21)
Executive, Nate Williams (Vintage 21)
Worship, Tyler VerSteeg (New City Church)

11am - Registration Opens for General Public
12pm - Lunch
1pm – Worship - New City Church band
Welcome - Matt Adair (emcee for the afternoon)
1:30pm - Session 1 - Alex Early (Four Corners Church, Newnan GA)
2:30pm - Session 2 - Keith Watson (New City Church downtown, Macon GA)
3:30pm - Session 3 - Tyler Jones (Vintage 21, Raleigh NC)
4:30pm - Q&A - Alex, Tyler, Nate, Keith

For additional information on the Event location visit www.the567.org or www.newcitydowntown.org
or email keith@newcitydowntown.org

This is a FREE Event

The Missionary and The Medicine Man

Frederick Remington captured more than a scene from the 'wild west' in his painting The Missionary and The Medicine Man. It is the collision of cultures and beliefs and in the midst of the collision stands The Missionary.

The Missionary is not one of them, yet he is liked. He is trusted. He is welcomed into their midst - even into their suffering.

Crucifix in hand, in love and with great faith he intercedes.