leading a missional church

LEADING A MISSIONAL CHURCH

PABLO A. JIMÉNEZ * WWW.DRPABLOJIMENEZ.NET

CONTENT

• In this presentation we address this key question tackling the following topics:

• Definition: What is a Missional Church?• Diagnosis: Why do local churches die?• Strategies: How to revitalize congregations?• Q & A

DEFINITION: WHAT IS A MISSIONAL CHURCH?

MISSION: A DEFINITION

• Carlos F. Cardoza-Orlandi defines mission as the participation of the people of God in the divine missionary activity in the world.

• In other words, all missionary activity is a testimony to what God (not the Church, denomination or missionary institution) does in the world and how that testimony creates a new relationship between God and creation.

PARTICIPATING IN GOD’S MISSION

• “The Church that participates in God’s mission in the world incarnates itself in the world to be a sign of the Gospel of the Kingdom (as an object of mission), to discern God’s missionary activity outside its institutional reality, and to be transformed, together with the world, through participation in God’s mission (as subject of the mission of God).”

• Cardoza-Orlandi, Carlos F., Mission: An Essential Guide (P. 47)

MISSION AND EVANGELISM

• Evangelism is just one of the many dimensions of mission.

• Through evangelism, the Church proclaims the Gospel to those who consider themselves as "non-believers”, inviting them to have an encounter with the truth of God in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A DIVINE ENTERPRISE

• The Church in the United States of America is at a crossroads.

• Swift cultural and demographic changes are forcing the church to redefine itself as attendance dwindles.

• And one of the key questions in this environment is: How can we develop and lead missional churches?

A DIVINE ENTERPRISE

• We must emphasize that the Christian mission is a divine enterprise. God is the subject of mission. It is God who empowers us and drives us to fulfill the mission.

• Therefore, God and humanity are partners in mission (2 Cor 5: 18-20).

A CONTINGENT ENTERPRISE

• The concept, theologies and practices of mission have changed and will continue to change throughout the history of Christianity.

• Therefore, theologies and practices of mission must be contextual and temporal. They should not be rigid or absolute.

A MULTICULTURAL ENTERPRISE

• The missionary enterprise is linked to humanity and creation as a whole.

• Theologies and practices of mission have greater vitality in contexts where missionary efforts are intercultural and interreligious. Where they are integrated to daily life, Christian worship, Bible study and theological reflection.

MISSIONAL CHURCH: DEFINITION

• A missional church is a congregation that, in obedience to the Gospel, seeks to actively participate in God’s activity in the world.

• “A missional church is a…community of faith that primarily directs its ministry focus outward toward the context in which it is located and to the broader world beyond” (Carlson). It engages the community at-large, understanding that “mission” encompasses more than traditional evangelism.

DIAGNOSIS: WHY DO LOCAL CHURCHES DIE?

AS CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY DECLINES…

• Becoming a missional church is more important than ever before, given the changes in the culture and demographics in the United States.

• While racial-ethnic congregations continue growing, “Cultural Christianity” is in decline. We cannot expect for the pews to be filled with people who just happen to be looking for a church!

MORE CONGREGATIONS FIND THEMSELVES OUT OF STEP…• Congregations stablished according to an

“Christendom model” of Christianity—also called “attractional”—sought to reach out to the culture and draw people into the church.

• But this model requires no significant cultural shift when moving from outside to inside the church. And as Western culture has become increasingly post-Christian, the Christendom or attractional model has lost its effectiveness.

SO THEY DECLINE AND CLOSE

• Unable to understand the cultural changes and unwilling to change, congregations developed under the Christendom or attractional model decline and die.

• In order to avoid such fate, local churches must become missional churches, motivated by a strong and clear vision of God’s preferred future for them.

A SLOW EROSION

• Absent revitalization, congregations in crisis experience a slow and almost imperceptible erosion.

• It is rare for a long-term church member to see erosion in his or her church. Decline is everywhere in the church, but many don’t see it.

RESISTING CHANGE

• They resist change, clinging to a past that they see as the “hero” and yearning for the “good old days”.

• They stubbornly hold on to worship styles, fixed orders of worship and times of worship that have no positive response.

• Some even hold on to buildings and rooms, particularly if a given space was a “memorial,” named for one of the members of the past.

• Some would not even recognize the authority of a new pastor, revering the memory of a former one.

FOCUSING ON THEIR OWN NEEDS

• But more than any one item, dying churches focus on their own needs instead of others. They look inwardly instead of outwardly. Their highest priority is to keep running the church the way they have always done it.

• Sadly, they do not realize that they are choosing death over change.

CARING ONLY FOR THEMSELVES

• The inward focus also affects finances. The emerging financial pattern is to use funds more to keep the machinery of the church moving, and to keep the members happy, than to fund the missionary efforts.

• This inward financial focus reveals that the church cares more for its own needs than for the community and even the world.

REPLACING THE PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

• The typical solution to stagnated churches is to replace the pastor.

• Unfortunately, congregations with short pastoral tenures tend to decline even faster because casting a vision and implanting a ministry plan based in such vision takes from 7 to 9 years. A local church that pushes the “reset button” every 3 or 4 years cannot grow!

LEAVING TOO EARLY

• It is evident that pastors and their leadership are vital to churches.

• The problem is that many good leaders are leaving churches before they reach their prime leadership years at a church.

• That certainly is the case with most local churches that close.

A CHURCH NEED…IT IT IS…

• Refocusing if stagnant in size. (It needs to have a clearer focus on evangelism and outreach.)

• Reenergizing if declining in size. (It needs to deal with some internal issues and begin to reach its community again.)

• Restructuring if a church that has experienced substantial decline. (It needs large internal changes and a new outreach strategy).

• Restarting if near death. (A church with a long history of decline that will close if current trends continue. It needs to restart with new leadership or an entirely new church.)”

• Excerpt From: Ed Stetzer & Mike Dodson. “Comeback Churches.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/CW4lA.l

STRATEGIES

PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIES

• It is clear that the Church in North America must devise strategies for renewal and growth.

• In the following section we will explore such strategies.

• First, we will state principles for growth. Second, we will offer concrete strategies for renewal.

PRINCIPLES FOR GROWTH

#1: A MISSIONAL CHURCH NEEDS A COMPELLING VISION• A Missional Church needs a compelling vision.• The Pastor must lead in this process, casting a vision

that captures the imagination of the Church.• However, the leadership of the congregation must

contribute to the development and implementation of the vision.

• An effective vision becomes the “song of the heart” of a congregation. An effective vision cannot be imposed unilaterally.

THE VISION WILL REDEFINE THE CONGREGATION• When leaders in a church are passionately clear

about their vision, two inevitable results transpire.

• First, some will not be attracted to such a vision and will not join the congregation. Some may leave to find a church that is a better fit for their gifts and passions.

• Second, others will be attracted to the church because it reflects at least an aspect of their gifts and passions. The result is a congregation that is unified in its vision.

#2: A MISSIONAL CHURCH HAS A CLEAR PURPOSE

• A Missional Church has a clear purpose. • Its leadership feels called by God to fashion

and lead a congregation that offers specific programs to particular populations.

• Such sense of call motivates the church to stay focused on the Gospel and on the needs of the community at large. It also guards the church against developing an inward-focus.

ABOUT THAT OUTWARDLY FOCUS

• Missional Churches have an outwardly focused vision.

• The key component of their vision is to reach those who are not yet part of the church.

• They are passionate about reaching “seekers” and unchurched people. Their visions they communicated inevitably reflected this priority.”

#3: A MISSIONAL CHURCH HAS A MISSION FUELED BY ITS VISION• The vision and sense of purpose or call of the

congregation form the basis on which to develop a clear and compelling mission statement.

• Such statement must be short and easy to remember. It also must be summarized in a short and memorable slogan.

• The mission will stress the area or areas in which the congregation will seek to be excellent.

AN ENVIRONMENT OF EXCELLENCE

• “An environment exists in the breakout churches that can best be described as an ‘environment of excellence’…Everything the church does and is gets measured against a barometer of excellence. From the cleanliness of the nursery to the quality of the preaching, “good” is never enough. The church demands excellence.”

• Excerpt From: Thom S. Rainer. “Breakout Churches.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/Pi_gx.l”

#4: MISSIONAL CHURCHES APPROACH CHANGE GINGERLY• Although change is needed in order to move a

congregation to be a missional church, change is never to be an end in itself. Innovation is not “the answer” to all church’s woes.

• Missional leaders are balanced in their application of innovations. They typically bring few changes, implementing them slowly and with discernment.

• They see change as a tool that could enhance an already healthy transition.

GROWTH DEMANDS IT

• “The innovations that were eventually implemented came because the healthy growth of the church demanded them.”

• Excerpt From: Thom S. Rainer. “Breakout Churches.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/Pi_gx.l

#5: MISSIONAL CHURCHES NEED TRANSFORMED LEADERS • In order to lead change in a congregation, the

Pastor—as leader of the church—must first be transformed.

• Following what Maxwell calls “The law of the lid”, leaders can only lead effective change if they boost their own leadership capabilities.

• A church inevitably experiences noticeable gains if its leader moves just one level.

LEADERSHIP AND VISION

• “Leadership was rated as the number one factor by the churches that experienced revitalization. Leadership and vision are major keys to any type of turnaround in churches.”

• Excerpt From: Ed Stetzer & Mike Dodson. “Comeback Churches.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/CW4lA.l

#6: MISSIONAL CHURCHES WORK AS TEAMS

• Missional Churches exude teamwork and compatibility among staff and key lay leaders.

• They develop a culture that seeks and finds the right people who are then equipped to accomplish the roles of ministry for which they have been given responsibility.

• Once equipped, they are given authority to carry out their responsibilities.

#7: MISSIONAL CHURCHES FOCUS ON DOING FEW THINGS WELL• Missional churches focus on doing a few

things and doing those few things well. They do not attempt to carry out all of the passions of the leadership nor to respond to all the desires of the congregation. They also cannot to meet all of the needs of the communities where they serve.

• They seek to develop a culture of excellence in their congregational life.

IN SUMMARY…(1)

• Pastors initiate change• Share ministry• Plan intentionally• Have and transmit a clear and compelling

vision• Develop new leaders

IN SUMMARY…(2)

• Establish a clear vision• Transmit the vision with conviction• Communicate the vision regularly• Celebrate the vision systematically • Commit personally to that vision

STRATEGIES FOR GROWTH

VISITORS

• Your local congregation must have an intentional strategy to welcome visitors.

• Ushers and deacons should hand out visitors packets with biblical readings, a informational brochure, contact info, etc. You may even hand out CD’s or DVD’s fashioned for newcomers.

• Remember to collect demographic data and contact information.

DISCIPLESHIP

• Your local church needs an effective discipleship program.

• Supplement the curriculum resources on this area adding a thorough discussion of the vision, mission and purpose of your congregation.

• Offer clear benchmarks for discipleship, such as daily quiet time, participation in Church life, etc.

EFFECTIVE PREACHING

• Preaching is a key element for growth. The average visitor will pay more attention to the quality of the sermon than to the quality of worship.

• The lead Pastor should preach an average of 40 Sundays each year. Visitors tend to be discouraged when someone else is preaching, given that they intended to hear the lead pastor.

• Sermon series can be very effective, particularly if tied with a seasonal theme.

PUBLIC PRAYER

• Visitors tend to appreciate public pastoral prayers in Sunday worship for the sick and for those in need.

• Prayer in small groups can motivate people to attend the weekly prayer meeting.

PASSIVE MEMBERS

• Churches in distress tend to ask the minister to seek former and “passive” members. However, most people who stop attending a local congregation for more than six months rarely return.

• Although you should organize some special events for this population, this is not an area of potencial growth for your local church.

PASSIVE EVANGELISM

• Pay attention to “passive evangelism”, i.e., the location of your church, the way in which your church building looks and the signs that identify your local church.

• Location is also an important factor for growth. A church building located in an isolated place will not attract visitors.

ADVERTISING

• Congregations should have a line item in there budget for advertising. A 5% of the total budget would be a modest amount for this purpose.

• Ads must be professionally designed. They should also be general enough to be durable. Do not waste money in promoting a one-time event.

CALLING

• Families that receive an average of two pastoral calls a year tend to stay in the church more than those who never receive an official visit from the Church.

• People who feel that their Pastor is concerned about them tend to attend worship more often that those who feel neglected.

ADD A SUNDAY SERVICE

• Congregations that add an additional Sunday service tend to grow by up to 20%.

• New services can explore new worship styles, targeting different populations.

• Webcasting one of your Sunday services can also widen the reach of your local congregation.

CONCLUSION

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

• I hope and pray that these insights help you move your local congregation to be a Missional Church.

• Moreover, I hope and pray that these insights help you energize your own relationship with God and your passion for ministry.

Q & A

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Bandy, Thomas G. Coaching Change: Breaking Down Resistance, Building Up Hope. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.

• Bullard, George. Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of your Congregation. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2005

• Cardoza-Orlandi, Carlos F. Mission: En Essential Guide. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002.

• Carlson, Ronald. Definition of a Missional Church, available at: https://www.abhms.org/missional_church/docs/MCT_Definition_Missional_Church.pdf

• Rainer, Thom S. Autopsy of a Deceased Church. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2014.

• _____. Brakeout Churches. grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.

• Stetzer, Ed and Mile Dodson. Comeback Churches. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2007.