Toward a Missional Church

As I study for the priesthood and discern my future ministry, I can't help but wonder: will I be able to effectively harness my calling toward building a missional church in the independent sacramental movement? I feel called to build a church who's mission is first and foremost consistent with the great commission (Matthew 28: 18-20) and seeks to bring the Gospel to all the Nations; a church that puts faith in action, not one that passively waits for the masses to enter her doors. Often the term 'missional church' is described vaguely. I like the way Mark Powell describes it in this video. Can an ISM church truly be a missional church? I think so.

Peace.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pray like a Franciscan: A Four-Fold Pattern of Prayer for an Enhanced Prayer Life

Image
With the onset of fall, there is plenty of excitement here at   the Order of Sts. Francis and Clare as we prepare for the   Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th.   It will undoubtedly include the Transitus , typically held on the eve of his Feast Day.   The Transitus is an annual Franciscan devotion remembering Francis’ passing from this life into the Reign of God.   In addition, on October 6 th , the Sunday following the Feast Day, along with one or more church communities here in Charlotte, NC,   the Order will participate in Pet Blessing of the Animals. While Francis of Assisi is well known for his love of all creatures great and small, his influence on Franciscans around the world is his vow to be humbly Christ-like in all things:   his discipline, his spirituality, and especially his prayer life.      For centuries Franciscans have embraced a four-fold pattern of prayer that enables them to partner with Chr...
Read more

Hunting the Homeless on Long Island

Image
A couple of months ago, I participated in the daunting task of counting the un-sheltered homeless here on Long Island . Every year a coalition of service-providers work together to track people who do not have housing: folks who are living "on the streets," in the woods, under bridges & over-passes, abandoned buildings, or any other location where someone could stay without being accosted. What makes this task especially difficult is that the homeless on Long Island are seemingly invisible. Long Island is an automobile driven suburb that has a lacking public transportation system. In neighboring New York City , most of the residents depend on the subway and buses to get around -- and the homeless are clearly visible as they seek shelter in the bus terminals and subway stations. However the general population on Long Island doesn't see Long Island ’s homeless from the driver's seats of their SUVs. Most of those who do not have a home live in abandoned ...
Read more