"Missional" Church

"Missional" is still a relatively new word to help label or describe what the church is to be and do in the world.

Mission:
Definition: The act of sending, or the state of being sent; a being sent or delegated by authority, with certain powers for transacting business; commission.

To be a missional church is to be sent into the world, delegated with authority.
The missional church becomes a part of the work of God in the world.
The missional church does not exist for itself, but for the sake of fulfilling God's purposes in the world.

There is more to be said, but what does being missional look like?
Of course, it varies greatly.
But here's what it's been looking like for Connections:

• Being missional means that we don't have to look for meaning or purpose- it's already been given to us (The Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20)
• Being missional means that we know what our posture looks like in this commission (The Great Commandment, Matthew 22:37-40)
• Being missional means that renting a theatre is strategic.
• Being missional means that not having a "ministry center" is not a weakness, but at this stage, a strength.
• Being missional means being in homes and out in the public square.
• Being missional means not having staff (at this stage) but depending on the people of Connections to volunteer.
• Being missional means that just because we have a group that gathers, our work is not done.
• Being missional means asking what work is there still to do?
• Being missional means that we don't just wait to respond to what is asked, but we look ahead to where God is leading.

Being missional meant that before anyone asked, before anything was organized, before we even had a name, a few people said as growing city needs a growing church. They didn't wait for anyone to ask. No one was asking. No one said, "I wish someone would start a church in a movie theatre and then invite me to their homes."

No, being missional meant that we already had been sent, some 2000 years ago.
That was enough to get this mission started.
It's enough to guide us for as long as we exist.