Owner: Missional Challenge URL:http://missionalchallenge.blogspot.com Join Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:52:37 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Here is the Missional Challenge - Aligning every believer with the mission of Jesus! Most Christians in America don’t understand the mission of the church. It's all about proclaiming the Good News of Jesus!!! Site statistics:Click here
Missional Garbage Collection 2007-03-08 16:43:00 Chennai is a dirty, filthy city. It is the worst I’ve ever seen. The garbage collection problem is obvious and widespread.Pastor Prem Samuel has decided to make a difference in Chennai. He started a ministry to the physical needs of people in the slums by collecting their garbage.Check out this video he gave me…Calvary Community Church and Mizpah Charitable Trust began this garbage cleaning project in Kannagi Nagar – Thoraipakkam Chennai – the biggest slum in south India where more than 12,500 families reside. This community is comprised of people from slums, pavements and from Tsunami affected areas.The vision of Mizpah is to help, uplift and educate the economically weaker section of the people. They began educating the people to properly dispose the trash by collecting door to door and disposing it for them. They operated five vehicles to collect garbage and were able to cover 60% of the community for 1 ½ years.Clear Benefits:• Healthy environment• Reduce in mosquitoes Read more:Garbage
, Missional
India Crosses 2007-03-07 21:48:00 The cross is a sign of hope! Because Christ died on the cross, we have hope!While in Chennai, we were introduced to the Chennai Transformation Network. They gave us a spiritual tour of the city and gave us a historical perspective. Here are a few key points...The population of Chennai is over 8 million peopleMosques are popping up every kmEconomy is growing because of BPO - Business Process OutsourcingThere are 2500 Christian churches in the cityThe goal is a church on every street - a church for every 1,000 people150,000 IT professionals work here1400 companies along the IT corridor2000 slums in the city (only 200 churches in slums)Please pray for the city! May God transform the people through the Good News of the Gospel!________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Read more:Crosses
, India
Being Jesus to Lepers 2007-03-06 02:52:00 Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to visit a leper colony in Chennia, India. Here is a video of the ministry...________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus
to everyone everywhere!
Greetings from Hyderabad, INDIA! 2007-03-01 13:56:00 Hey Everyone!I've had limited online access this week in Hyderabad, but I wanted to just post an update today before I fly back to the states tomorrow. This has been an incredibly eye-opening trip. I have learned so much. It's been like drinking water from a fire hose. Unbelievable!The students that I've been studying with are so great. Calvin is from the UK, Dean is from Canada, Roddy is from Alexandria, Egypt, Bert comes from Amsterdam, Viju, Suresh and Jacob are from Bombay, Samson lives and works here in Hyderabad, and the rest came from the U.S. I hope to blog much and post more videos after I return.Today we visted an HIV/Aids clinic that helps 1,000 patients each month. Everyone who comes is prayed for and prayed with. Over 80% of the patients have started to follow the Lord. This is an amazing ministry. Pictures and video soon... Please pray for Sujai and Lavanya Suneetha as they lead this ministry!Thanks for your prayers for me! I am so grateful,DaveDV______________________ Read more:Greetings
There is No God! 2007-02-27 18:18:00 This video says it all! "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God!'"Psalm 53:1________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere!
Where's Your Samaria? 2007-02-23 08:10:00 Joshy Tewes is an incredible Indian woman. She’s found her Samaria
in the slums of Chennai. In response to the leading of the Holy Spirit, she began reaching out to women in the slums just five minutes from her home.For Joshy, the story of Jesus and the woman at the well in Samaria has inspired her “to share God’s love in this Samaria.” Since that one conversation with Jesus changed a woman’s life, she started introducing women to Jesus so that He would change their lives, too.Isaiah 55:13 has inspired her -Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.This will be for the LORD'S renown,for an everlasting sign,which will not be destroyed.One day a woman came to her because her son had been hanged by the mafia in the slums. The women’s group began to pray for the salvation of this man. Two years later, a Christian man brought this murderer to church and he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. God had answered their prayers!Afte
Crazy Chennai Rickshaw Ride 2007-02-22 19:48:00 After dinner at Sparky's, I jumped into the back of an auto rickshaw (with two other students) to get back to the hotel. It was Mr. Toad's Wild Ride! Check it out!________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Read more:Chennai
, Crazy
, Rickshaw
Engaging Indian Culture 2007-02-22 19:15:00 Dr. Jesudas M. Athyal, from the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College in Chennai, India, taught on various dimensions of the Indian society. It was very insightful as he explained the social-religious aspects of the culture, including politics, economics, religion and the urban-rural context.He explained how the process of urbanization was bringing rapid change to India. Sometime in 2007 or 2008, the majority of the world's population will have shifted from rural to urban. The world (not just India) will be dominantly urban. This has huge ramifications for ministry and mission.Dr. Athyal believes that it is important to sensitize students here in India to the main problems of Indian society, to develop their understanding of the causes and ramifications of these problems, and to foster their capacity to evaluate the relevance of different approaches to tackle these problems. His students are expected to be able to: Be sensitive to the context of the society in which they are called to Read more:Engaging
A Missional Motto 2007-02-21 17:20:00 Go to the peasant peopleLive among themLearn from themPlan for themWork with themStart with what they knowBuild on what they haveTeach by showingLearn by doingNot a showcase but a patternNot odds and ends but a systemNot piecemeal but integrated approachNot to conform but to transformNot relief but release - James YenThis is the motto of World Vision's New Hope Area Development Program in Chennai. I was privileged to visit one of the slums where they are making a significant impact through Self Help Groups that emphasize saving and building financial capacity through micro entrepreneurship programs for women.This project has initiated 420 Self Help Groups covering in the slum areas. These groups provide loans on a repayment basis where money is recycled back into the community. Many of the women now contribute to their family's income by participating in saving as well as running small businesses of their own.Just to give some perspective, there are 8.4 million people livin Read more:Missional
, Motto
Ray Bakke on Western Christianity 2007-02-21 17:12:00 The "Missional Challenge" is to understand and engage the culture with the gospel.Dr. Ray Bakke has a great perspective on the spread of Christianity
in the first century to western culture, and some interesting thoughts for the church today. Let me know what you think!!!________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Read more:Western
The Syncretism of Hinduism 2007-02-21 02:29:00 This is one of the interesting places we visited on Tuesday. The Theosophical Society was founded by Madame Blavatsky (an occultist) and Colonel Olcott. On this compound are a Hindu temple, Buddhist vihara, mosque, church, Zorastrian temple, Gurdwara, and a Masonic temple. In the Great Hall are sculptures, symbols and manuals of Zarathustra, Gautama, Jesus, Krishna, a verse from the Koran, symbols of Moses, Lao-Tse, Confucius, Nanak, Mahvir, Mithra, Orpheus, Osiris, Molech.This place demonstrates the Syncretism of Hinduism.In Acts 17, when Paul was in Athens on Mars Hill, he looked at all the statues to their gods and found one to an unknown god. He then proceeded to tell them the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and who this unknown god is.“For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and eve
Day One in India 2007-02-20 11:33:00 Here's my trip from the airport to the hotel yesterday! You won't believe how crazy they drive here in India
. My taxi driver was on the horn constantly. What a great way to start two weeks here.Already I am learning so much. Thanks for your prayers and support!BTW, my video was ranked #1 for views in the YouTube Travel section today! Unbelievable!________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Read more:Day One
Greetings from Thailand! 2007-02-19 02:23:00 Hi! I'm in the airport in Bangkok waiting for my flight to Chennai, India. I had a good flight, got some sleep, and the food was okay. I'm eager to get to India and can't wait to learn so much from Dr. Ray Bakke. Here's what Ray said about this trip...Over 20% of the world lives in India, which will soon overtake China, and be the world’s largest country and the world’s largest democracy. Historically, India has been the mother of world religions as you know. It remains a kind of cultural, religious and social museum in size and scope unlike any other place on earth. I have been visiting and ministering in India often since 1980. By now, I will say without fear of contradiction that you will learn more in these two weeks than in any comparable two week period in your lifetime before now. Together India and China contain 40% plus of the worlds more than six million people. By contrast, about 4.5% lives in the USA. Our God has a great love for and concern for these massive popu Read more:Greetings
, Thailand
Sent by Jesus to be Jesus everywhere! 2007-02-17 07:15:00 As I've been working on my dissertation, here are some of the truths that have really hit home with me personally!Christianity is about Jesus
!Missional is about being Jesus to everyone everywhere
!Christians are those who have been sent on mission by Jesus to be Jesus! missional church ________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere!
Missional Isn't Complicated 2007-02-16 03:57:00 Sometimes we try to make things so hard. Especially our understanding of missional. It doesn’t need to be any more complicated than this: Isn’t it about seeing how many neighbors we can take to heaven with us? Can’t we boil it down to looking at people who live within a bike ride of our houses, seeing how many of them we can take to heaven with us through the work of Christ?(from Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels, p. 59) Missional
describes being a missionary wherever you are – right in your very own zip code, neighborhood and workplace. Instead of filling up your life with church activities, start relating to lost people around you. Look for needs. Serve. Love. Give. Serve some more. Love more. Give more. Be Jesus to them. Help. Listen to their story. Share your story. Tell God’s story. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It certainly isn’t easy. Imagine making it your habit to approach everyone around you with this attitude: My ultimate goal is
Quote: Don't Bash the Bride! 2007-02-13 21:01:00 It seems like Christians are always wanting to fix the church and make the church better. I'm not convinced that the church is all that God designed her to be yet, however, I'm confident that Jesus is still at work as He said He would - "I will build My church."The next time you are tempted to just rip on the church and its problems, consider this wise counsel from Neil Cole (Organic Church):"Don't bash the bride no matter how ugly she looks to you. If you start attacking the bride, sooner or later you're going to have to take on the Groom, and I don't think you want that!" (p. 139)________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Read more:Bride
, Quote
The Absence of Missional Leaders 2007-02-13 04:04:00 I’ve been thinking about the absence of missional leaders. I believe that there is a direct connection to the training pastors receive in seminary. I am so grateful for my seminary experience – however, it lacked any significant training to fulfill the mission of the church. I love that I was taught how to study God’s Word, to defend God’s Word and to teach God’s Word. I really enjoyed my systematic theology classes. I learned a lot in my church history and homiletics classes, too. However, as I reflect on my training, I had only one class on mission and evangelism. That was the only class that addressed the mission of the church. That’s the only class that attempted to equip me to equip others to fulfill Jesus’ mission for the church. Here’s the reality: Pastors are not trained for mission, neither are they trained to equip others for mission. Therefore, no one should be surprised that the mission isn’t being accomplished in America. I was surprised to learn r Read more:Leaders
, Missional
The Value of Scripture 2007-02-12 01:45:00 My friend Steve has a great post you should read..."It is high time that evangelicals return to their roots. We believe in the authority of Scripture
, in what is called the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures. All of the parts of the Bible are inspired and the actual language form, the words and styles of literature are inspired. That inspiration exists apart from my understanding and application of the Word. It is in the understanding and application of the Word that lives are transformed - but the Bible is not a set of Tarot cards, intended for my personal life direction."read more...________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Read more:Value
MT 4: From “Doing Church” to “Being Church” 2007-02-08 07:42:00 Missional Transformation is a process where believers align themselves (passions, desires, behaviors, habits) with the missionary purpose of Jesus.Missional Transformation requires significant shifts in the way you participate with Christ and His kingdom.Shift 4: From “Doing Church
” to “Being Church” One of the church planters I’ve been coaching recently stated, “I can ‘do church’ – we’re good ‘church doers.’” Yet all that’s been changing as he’s been discovering how to really “be the church.” In his book Revolution, “We are not called to go to church. We are called to be the church.”George Barna notes, “We are not called to go to church. We are called to be the church.” (p 39) America is full of Christians that are really good at going to church and doing church. In fact, you don’t have to attend a church for very long to discover what behaviors are expected when you attend. You can quickly learn how to “do church” – what time to ar
Quote: The God of Mission 2007-01-24 22:49:00 God’s church falters from exhaustion because Christians erroneously think that God has given them a mission to perform in the world. Rather, the God of mission has given his church to the world. It is not the church of God that has a mission in the world, but the God of mission who has a church in the world. The church’s involvement in mission is its privileged participation in the actions of the triune God. Beyond Duty: A Passion for Christ, a Heart for Mission
by Tim Dearborn (p. 2) missional church________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Read more:Quote
Quote: The Church in Mission! 2007-01-07 21:10:00 "When the church is in mission, it is the true church. The church itself is not only a product of that mission but is obligated and destined to extend it by whatever means possible. The mission of God flows directly through every believer and every community of faith that adheres to Jesus. To obstruct this is to block God's purposes in and through his people."Alan Hirsch, The Forgotten Ways, (p. 82)missional church________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Read more:Church
, Mission
, Quote
Quote: The Relationship Between Church and Mission 2007-01-02 06:25:00 "The Church
exists by mission,just as fire exists by burning."- Emil BrunnerUpdated Source: The Word and the World by Emil Brunner (p. 108)(Quote
d in Michael Griffiths, God's Forgetful Pilgrims: Recalling the Church to its Reason for Being, p. 135)For more Mission
al Quotes, see Wikiquote: Missionalmissional church________________________________________
Here’s a quick understanding of MISSIONAL – being a missionary everywhere you are!
It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Read more:Relationship
MT3 - From Seating Capacity to Sending Capacity 2006-12-21 19:43:00 Missional Transformation is a process where believers align themselves (passions, desires, behaviors, habits) with the missionary purpose of Jesus.Missional Transformation requires significant shifts in the way you participate with Christ and His kingdom.SHIFT 3: From SeatingCapacity
to Sending
Capacity Most churches that are growing must sooner, rather than later, deal with issues of seating capacity. This is the natural consequence of numeric growth. There are a limited number of seats available. Often this problem is overcome by setting up more chairs, repeating the same service at another time, or building bigger buildings. Typically, churches that are growing will keep on building bigger auditoriums/sanctuaries. They’ll keep on adding service times and they’ll maximize their available space. Recently there has been a growing trend to offer overflow rooms where a video of the worship service can be seen on a monitor or large screen. Some churches have even offered more “ca
MT2 - From Decisions to Disciples 2006-12-17 07:06:00 Missional Transformation is a process where believers align themselves (passions, desires, behaviors, habits) with the missionary purpose of Jesus.Missional Transformation requires significant shifts in the way you participate with Christ and His kingdom.SHIFT 2: From Decisions
to Disciples
Many pastors and churches in America have placed an emphasis on the need for people to make a personal decision to become a Christian. Presentations of the gospel message and evangelistic sermons are geared toward leading a person to the point of making a decision to follow Christ. This decision is presented as a choice to accept Jesus as your Savior and the transaction is often completed by praying a prayer that verbally communicates this decision has been made. “I have decided to follow Jesus” has been sung across this nation by those who have made this most important choice. Once a person decides to become a Christian, many churches offer discipleship programs and classes to help new c
MT1 - From Assignment to Alignment 2006-12-15 17:35:00 Missional Transformation is a process of discovery that begins when believers recognize their responsibility to align themselves (passions, desires, behaviors, habits) with the missionary purpose of Jesus. This transformation is fueled by a passionate, fervent commitment to the knowledge of the glory of God filling the earth as the water covers the sea (Hab. 2:14). As pastors and believers begin to experience Missional Transformation, there are significant shifts that begin to take place in the way we view our participation with Christ and His kingdom.I will be posting a series of these shifts - which reflect a greater awareness of Jesus’ missionary purposes and a commitment to joining other to accomplish the mission.SHIFT 1: From Assignment
to Alignment
Many Christians view the Great Commission as the missionary assignment of those who are called by God to a foreign mission field. Others view Jesus’ commission as the original disciples’ assignment or task, but they do not be
“Why aren’t there church multiplication movements in the United Sates?” 2007-03-17 00:23:00 As I continue to write my dissertation, I’ve been curious why there aren’t any church multiplication
movements in the US. I recently asked this question to Dr. Paul Kaak, Assistant Professor of Organizational Leadership; Assistant Director of the Noel Academy for Strengths Based Leadership and Education (Azusa Pacific University).He suggested two main reasons:1. Churches are more concerned about the church than the kingdom of God. Pastors are by nature “ecclo-centric.” Their primary focus is on their own church and its growth and development. They view the church as the kingdom. This distorted view of the kingdom is seen in churches that focus on their own growth, rather than on extending the kingdom of God.2. Churches don’t understand the Gospel.It’s not the Gospel of getting to heaven – it’s the Gospel of the kingdom. If a person comes to faith in Christ as King (not just as Savior), there is a greater understanding and commitment to announcing the kingdom and extendi Read more:United
MT6 - From Maintenance to Mission 2007-03-16 04:47:00 Missional Transformation is a process where believers align themselves (passions, desires, behaviors, habits) with the redemptive mission of Jesus. This results in adopting the posture of a missionary in order to engage those in the culture with the Gospel message, and recognizing that every believer has been sent by Jesus as a missionary with the Good News of Salvation together in community with other believers to their specific geographic and cultural context.Essentially, it's becoming a missionary everywhere you are! Missional Transformation requires significant shifts in the way you participate with Christ and His kingdom.Shift 6: From Maintenance
to MissionMy friend Jim Ryan lamented to me over a cup of coffee, "Too many churches are trying to prohibit themselves from dying that they cannot live." Why is this? For many churches it is because they have adopted a maintenance mentality.In the early development of church plants, there is a driving commitment to a redemptive mission. Read more:Mission
MT 5: From Institutional Programs to Incarnational Practices 2007-03-16 03:50:00 Missional Transformation is a process where believers align themselves (passions, desires, behaviors, habits) with the redemptive mission of Jesus. It's becoming a missionary everywhere you are! It’s adopting the posture of a missionary in order to engage those in the culture with the Gospel message. It’s recognizing that every believer has been sent by Jesus as Christian missionaries with the Good News of Salvation together in community with other believers to their specific geographic and cultural context.Missional Transformation requires significant shifts in the way you participate with Christ and His kingdom.Shift 5: From InstitutionalPrograms
to Incarnational
PracticesWhy are churches so program driven? I remember when one of my friends became pastor of a church that had an AWANA program. I had never participated in Awana, so I did not fully understand the ramifications of pastoring an “Awana church.” Essentially, the program ran the church. It sucked up all available v
Christian Bloggers Unite! 2007-03-20 19:43:00 These are the Web addresses of bloggers who have joined our new bloggers network - 118 sites. I've been told this is a test of fellowship... (Since I've only visited a few of them, I can't comment on their content.) I encourage you to check them out! http://evenyou.blogspot.comhttp://www.djchuang.com/http://www.flowerdust.nethttp://www.lapalabra.ws/blogshttp://www.mattandnancy.orghttp://theviewfromosprey.blogspot.com/http://2timothy22.blogspot.comhttp://nathandiehl.comhttp://www.thislamp.comhttp://davethepastor.vox.com/http://missionalchallenge.blogspot.comhttp://blog.aspiringindie.comhttp://www.xanga.com/samwisegmgehttp://www.growthstarts.orghttp://www.jonathaneverette.blogspot.comhttp://tonystewardblog.comhttp://www.imageforth.comhttp://discipletim.blogspot.com/http://littlepastor.blogspot.comhttp://www.churchrelevance.comhttp://thegatheringplacehome.blogspot.comhttp://www.anotherstorm.comhttp://www.xanga.com/revshortridgehttp://www.gupdate.blogger.comhttp://www.curtbradford Read more:Christian
Missional Church: "Missionary by Its Very Nature" 2007-03-21 19:05:00 "The church is seen as essentially missionary."“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a HOLY NATION, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9"The church is not the sender but the one sent. Its mission (its "being sent") is not secondary to its being; the church exists in being sent and in building up itself for the sake of its mission.""Ecclesiology therefore does not precede missiology.""Missionary activity is not so much the work of the church as simply the Church
at work.""Since God is a missionary God, God's people are a missionary people.""It has become impossible to talk about the church without at the same time talking about mission. One can no longer talk about church and mission, only about the mission of the church.""A Church without mission or a mission without the church are both contradictions.""The church is both missionary and missionizing Read more:Missional
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