Mission Action Plans - The Mission Bit

Following on from my discussion of MAPS recently I was asked by someone (who had read the blog) where they started with theirs and, as they had already decided what they wanted their goals to be it was surely just a case of 'filling in the boxes'. Seems to me that many people need to start from scratch but perhaps the name is confusing some of my colleagues because it implies that we do 'Mission' and engage in 'Action' and after we've done that all, we engage in a little 'Planning'. A very 'Church' way of doing things perhaps - do it, think about what we've done and plan to do it different next time?

Mission is surely what we're all about. Mission  is finding out what God is already doing in the community and helping people to recognise God's presence! For years I thought (and was taught) that mission was about taking God to those who didn't know Him. It was some sort of noble spiritual handout for the spiritually bereft around us (or as one of the luvvies in a church I used to be part of called them, 'The Nonnies').

Mission is about open hands, hearts and (the tough bit for some churches) doors. To engage in it we have to perhaps start thinking just a little differently and realise that God is actually doing stuff in the lives of those in the communities which we are called to serve. We need to actually be in the community to see God's hand at work and when we do, we need to point to it and say, "Ooooh, look at what God's doing there!" and then having done that bring people into a place of comfort and ease about God and having a relationship with Him.

Mission is not filling your church building with loads of people for civic or other events. I'm not knocking them, they're excellent things because they do present the opportunity for the 'World' to engage with 'Church' (that is the living stones) but it does not, in itself, yield that great goal - growth. If they come, use the building and go away without having engaged with the 'Church' (the living stones) then  they've merely used a venue. Anyway, mission is not about growth it's about making disciples, leading people into renewal and relationship with God. Mission is the place where, having come into relationship with people and they begin to ask questions, leading you to live out the words of 1 Peter three fifteen kick in:

"Always be prepared to give an answer to those who ask you for the reason for the hope that you have in Jesus BUT always respond with gentleness and respect."

I'm just going to shout for a second (so put your sunglasses on!):

MISSION IS NOT ABOUT ADDING MEMBERS, PAYING PARISH SHARE OR FILLING 'YOUR' CHURCH.

I feel better now, thanks. Mission is about being out there and helping people because they're lost. It's about being (as Charles Haddon Spurgeon put it) "As one beggar showing another where bread might be found."

Mission is costly - it takes time and energy, it requires prayer, it demands love. It makes you cry, it makes you angry, it hurts!

Mission is real - because you will see lives in turmoil, families imploding, children getting drunk, drugged, pregnant or dead and you will realise how great the task is and how pathetic you are in the role before you.

Mission is revealing - because in the same situations that make you feel small you will see the might of God and the power of His hand as he loves those far off and is engaged in their lives (not going to church nor being 'saved' doesn't seem to stop God from being involved.

Mission is intrusive - because if you do it right, people will come and spoil your church. they bring their non-church habits (like asking questions and heckling during the sermon), they bring their non-church language, they bring their non-church problems ("we don't actually 'talk' about that sort of stuff do we?") and God cheers. The 'nice' members will probably just to to a different church - don't worry, that's mission too - just look at it as sending disciples out!

Doing mission does actually build Church. When you do it you need to be honest and send (take) some people to a different fellowship if you know they won't grow in yours. No point finding someone who needs BCP and robed-choirs and trying to keep them in your happy-clappy, chandelier-swinging fellowship. better to take then to a place where their needs are met and they can comfortably be discipled than, by merely being selfish, lose them their chance to become growing followers of Christ.

Mission is more than building our own fellowship and adding numbers - it is also about building our current members to pray intelligently, act from a position of love and to proclaim God's love in their own lives and to recognise it in the lives of others (and rejoice at that).

Blessings abound - let's go be mission shall we?