Rediscovering Your Missional Context David Schoen Congregational Vitality and Discipleship United Church of Christ.
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Rediscovering Your Rediscovering Your Missional ContextMissional Context
David SchoenDavid SchoenCongregational Vitality and Congregational Vitality and
DiscipleshipDiscipleshipUnited Church of ChristUnited Church of Christ
Reclaiming the Biblical Reclaiming the Biblical focus on NEIGHBORSfocus on NEIGHBORS
Hebraic Scripture focuses on Hebraic Scripture focuses on neighborsneighbors Ten Commandments and TorahTen Commandments and Torah
How to treat our neighbors, their family and How to treat our neighbors, their family and livestocklivestock
Wisdom and prophetsWisdom and prophets Assist your neighbor to your best ability Assist your neighbor to your best ability Be merciful and just to themBe merciful and just to them
Leviticus 19:18 Leviticus 19:18 You shall love your neighbor as yourselfYou shall love your neighbor as yourself
Jesus’ CommandmentJesus’ Commandment
You shall love your God You shall love your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and your neighbor as yourself. and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27Luke 10:27 Love of God and love of neighbor combinedLove of God and love of neighbor combined ““You are not far from the Realm of God.”You are not far from the Realm of God.” ““Who is my neighbor?”Who is my neighbor?”
The one who showed compassionThe one who showed compassion The SamaritanThe Samaritan
Jesus, Paul and James Jesus, Paul and James extend ‘neighbor’ to all humankind (with some extend ‘neighbor’ to all humankind (with some
surprises)surprises)
Neighbors and the Neighbors and the ChurchChurch
Churches do not know their neighbors Churches do not know their neighbors or neighborhood. or neighborhood. Many congregations are commuter Many congregations are commuter
churches.churches. We call the folks outside of churchWe call the folks outside of church
‘‘unchurched’, ‘unfaithed’ unchurched’, ‘unfaithed’ Sounds a bit like ‘Samaritan’Sounds a bit like ‘Samaritan’
‘‘lost’lost’ We are the lost if we don’t know and reach We are the lost if we don’t know and reach
out to our neighbors.out to our neighbors. We’ve lost our purpose and calling.We’ve lost our purpose and calling.
Change or OpportunityChange or Opportunity Meeting your neighbor will mean Meeting your neighbor will mean
changing your program but just program changing your program but just program change is not answerchange is not answer
Meeting your neighbor will call for Meeting your neighbor will call for change of mindset and understanding of change of mindset and understanding of churchchurch
Making the missional shift Making the missional shift from focusing on church itself from focusing on church itself to asking what God is up to to asking what God is up to in the neighborhood in the neighborhood
Change = OpportunityChange = Opportunity
Vital congregations Vital congregations discern God’s call and discern God’s call and
missionmission The greatest characteristic of a vital The greatest characteristic of a vital
congregation is the ability to articulate congregation is the ability to articulate and live God’s purpose. and live God’s purpose. “The Church “The Church exists to serve God’s Mission”exists to serve God’s Mission”
What is God calling this church to be What is God calling this church to be and do at this time, in this place, with and do at this time, in this place, with the gifts we have on this corner of God’s the gifts we have on this corner of God’s realm that we are placed?realm that we are placed?
Does your church love your neighbor Does your church love your neighbor (as it loves itself) ?(as it loves itself) ?
Rediscovering your Rediscovering your Missional ContextMissional Context
Missional in purposeMissional in purpose Get the church outside of itselfGet the church outside of itself
Relational in outreachRelational in outreach It’s all about relationshipsIt’s all about relationships
Conversational in witnessConversational in witness Talking about faith and lifeTalking about faith and life
Missional in PurposeMissional in PurposeRelational in OutreachRelational in Outreach
Ministry in 21Ministry in 21stst Century is Relational Century is Relational
Build community with those outside the Build community with those outside the churchchurch
Get to know your neighbors Get to know your neighbors and neighborhood and neighborhood
This means This means Get out of the church! Get out of the church!
Relational in OutreachRelational in Outreach
Bridge the gap by building Bridge the gap by building relationshipsrelationships
The days of waiting for people to The days of waiting for people to come to church to welcome them come to church to welcome them are over.are over.
Instead of waiting inside, we go Instead of waiting inside, we go outsideoutside
Meeting your NeighborsMeeting your Neighbors
Walk or Drive your neighborhoodWalk or Drive your neighborhood Watch for where God is at workWatch for where God is at work Take notes, make a map, collect contact Take notes, make a map, collect contact
datadata Who lives whereWho lives where What are community needsWhat are community needs Who are allies and good neighborsWho are allies and good neighbors
Do this again and againDo this again and again Talk to your neighborsTalk to your neighbors
What are the hopes and challenges of neighborsWhat are the hopes and challenges of neighbors How can the church be a good neighbor?How can the church be a good neighbor?
Getting to know your Getting to know your neighbors and neighbors and neighborhoodneighborhood
Invite Neighbors to focus group Invite Neighbors to focus group discussiondiscussion
Invite civic leaders, neighborhood Invite civic leaders, neighborhood plannersplanners What is happening in neighborhood?What is happening in neighborhood? What are future trends and plans?What are future trends and plans? What are physical/spiritual needs?What are physical/spiritual needs? How can church be good neighbor?How can church be good neighbor?
Study DemographicsStudy Demographics MissionInsiteMissionInsite http://missioninsite.com/http://missioninsite.com/
MissionInsite ReportsMissionInsite Reports
MissionInsite ReportsMissionInsite Reports
Socio-Economic-Consumer Socio-Economic-Consumer TypesTypes
Ministry Applications for Mosaic Lifestyle Portraits
Getting MissionInsite Getting MissionInsite InfoInfo
UCC has national contract with UCC has national contract with MissionInsiteMissionInsite Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York,
Penn Southeast, Ohio, Michigan, Penn Southeast, Ohio, Michigan, Southeast, Wisconsin, Southwest and Southeast, Wisconsin, Southwest and Southern California Nevada Conf’sSouthern California Nevada Conf’s
Participants in this Webinar in another Participants in this Webinar in another Conf.Conf. Go to Go to
http://www.ucc.org/newchurch/gallup/MI-Hhttp://www.ucc.org/newchurch/gallup/MI-How-to-Register-UCC-National-8-09.pdfow-to-Register-UCC-National-8-09.pdf
Meeting your NeighborsMeeting your Neighbors
‘‘Hang out’ with your neighborsHang out’ with your neighbors Meet neighbors where they gatherMeet neighbors where they gather
Spend Sunday morning with your neighborsSpend Sunday morning with your neighbors Soccer matches, Lowes, Coffee Shop, ExerciseSoccer matches, Lowes, Coffee Shop, Exercise
Pastors ‘office’ in a coffee shop, fast food, Pastors ‘office’ in a coffee shop, fast food, bookstore.bookstore.
Have meetings outside the church.Have meetings outside the church. Bible/book studies in coffee shop, book storeBible/book studies in coffee shop, book store Council meetings in neighborhood contextCouncil meetings in neighborhood context
Engage in conversation, build relationships, Engage in conversation, build relationships, Collect data of names/addresses/e-mailsCollect data of names/addresses/e-mails
Relational in OutreachRelational in OutreachConversational in WitnessConversational in Witness
Conversational ministry is central to Conversational ministry is central to the future of the church in 21the future of the church in 21stst CenturyCentury
Count conversations, not Count conversations, not conversionsconversions Brian McLaren, Brian McLaren, More Ready than You More Ready than You
ThinkThink
Love Your God and Love Your God and NeighborNeighbor
The Evangelistic Love of God and The Evangelistic Love of God and Neighbor: A Theology of Witness and Neighbor: A Theology of Witness and DiscipleshipDiscipleship, Scott. J. Jones, , Scott. J. Jones, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2003Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2003
If we love our neighbor and our GodIf we love our neighbor and our God We will share our still speaking faith and We will share our still speaking faith and
community with them.community with them. If we love our neighbor and our GodIf we love our neighbor and our God
We will share our faith in appropriate ways We will share our faith in appropriate ways and time.and time.
E. Word = ElbowE. Word = Elbow
““The e.word today is elbow.” The e.word today is elbow.” Jim GriffithJim Griffith
Still today the way most folks find a Still today the way most folks find a community of faith is when they are community of faith is when they are invited to come and brought by a invited to come and brought by a friend or neighbor.friend or neighbor.
Friend–Raising WeekendFriend–Raising Weekend 315 Congregations315 Congregations 4,200 visiting guests4,200 visiting guests 6.2% increase in 6.2% increase in
worshipworship St. Stephen’s UCC St. Stephen’s UCC
35 guests from 79 35 guests from 79 invitations invitations
Journey UCC Journey UCC 33 members - 36 guests33 members - 36 guests
New Vision UCCNew Vision UCC Guest still comingGuest still coming
God is still God is still speaking,speaking,
Through you Through you and me!and me!
Go Forth….Go Forth….Into the Virtual World.Into the Virtual World.
In Asia, Europe and North America—an In Asia, Europe and North America—an entire generation has experienced the entire generation has experienced the Internet as a means for maintaining Internet as a means for maintaining relationships with family and friends.relationships with family and friends.
The Internet is a lifeline for users The Internet is a lifeline for users whose mobility is limited by disability, whose mobility is limited by disability, chronic illness or advanced age.chronic illness or advanced age.
The Internet is where we can find and The Internet is where we can find and engage our neighbors (and the world).engage our neighbors (and the world).
Costs are nominal or FREE!Costs are nominal or FREE!
Meeting your neighborsMeeting your neighborsReclaiming the Biblical Reclaiming the Biblical
focus on neighborsfocus on neighbors
Missional in purposeMissional in purpose Get the church outside of itselfGet the church outside of itself
Relational in outreachRelational in outreach It’s all about relationshipsIt’s all about relationships
Conversational in witnessConversational in witness Talking about faith and lifeTalking about faith and life
Meeting Your NeighborsMeeting Your Neighbors Get startedGet started Pray, Pray for your neighbors and Pray, Pray for your neighbors and
congregationcongregation This takes time, strategy and work.This takes time, strategy and work. Get a team of ‘bright-eyed’ people togetherGet a team of ‘bright-eyed’ people together Study and conversation with congregationStudy and conversation with congregation Takes support of congregational leadersTakes support of congregational leaders Just get started. Just get started. Do one thing. Start with strengthDo one thing. Start with strength
Meeting Your NeighborsMeeting Your Neighbors
Thank you for your vital LeadershipThank you for your vital Leadership Blessings as you meet your Blessings as you meet your
neighbors neighbors and discover what the still speaking and discover what the still speaking
God is up to in your neighborhood!God is up to in your neighborhood!
Thank You!Thank You! Thank you for Your Support of Thank you for Your Support of
Changing Lives: That’s Our Churches’ Wider Changing Lives: That’s Our Churches’ Wider MissionMission
Thank you for Your Support of Thank you for Your Support of Strengthen the Church Special OfferingStrengthen the Church Special Offering
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