M2C Update                                                                  June 7, 2008 

Opening Words

How quickly a few weeks can go by and it's time again for another issue of this newsletter.
 
First, I want to thank all who completed the "Feedback Survey" for the M2C event.  I've shared some of the comments below.
 
Second, a comment that was made a number of times has to do with "sharing" of mission planting stories or "best practices" or "I tried this but" or "Wow! This worked great."  This newsletter can serve as a "network" of ideas and a way of letting others know what is happening as we march towards the goal of kingdom growth in our circles.  BUT that means we will need ideas, resources, etc.  Just send them to me!  BUT, do send them.  I'll share them in each of the newsletters.  Send to:  ljander@txdistlcms.org
 
Third, within the next week you will want to be watching your mailbox for a notice as to the status of the two calls extended by the Board of Directors for MMFs to serve Area A (Rev. Steve Misch was extended the call) and Area C (Rev. Mike Newman was extended the call).  Both were in attendance at the recent M2C event and both have a strong commitment to the mission of the Texas District.
 
Fourth, some of you have requested a list of those attending the last M2C event.   We're getting that list together and will make it available to you.
 
Have a blessed week in the Lord.  Don't forget to share your resources and stories with me.

Mission-Minded, Missional, Missionary, On Mission, Huh?  Can't We Just Be a Church?

One won't wade very far into church planting waters without being bombarded with the importance of being "missional." Writing for Acts 29, Scott Thomas says:
 

"A church that is not missional is not really a church. A church exists by mission as the sun exists by burning. When the sun loses its burn it ceases to be the sun. When a church loses its mission, it ceases to be a church."

 
The problem is that the word seems to have become sort of a junk drawer. You know, I'm willing to bet that you have a drawer in your house into which you just throw things you don't know where else to put. The term "missional" has come to mean different things to different people. So, it becomes possible to have a conversation in which you come to realize at some point that you're using the same words but in very different ways.
 
Part of the problem in even trying to define a term like this is that you'll likely gravitate toward those with whom you already agree, at least to some extent. That having been said, one of the resources I've found to be quite helpful in thinking through many of these issues is Ed Stetzer's Planting Missional Churches (formerly Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age). Stetzer begins his book by noting that:
"Establishing a missional church means that you plant a church that's part of the culture you're seeking to reach."
 
Stetzer states what should be the obvious but often seems to be lost in such discussions: "The goal of church planting is to reach people." Right away this will be a major paradigm shift to some. One cannot properly make disciples without engaging in every step of this process, beginning with bringing the Gospel to the lost.
 
Missional then, in the sense that Stetzer puts forward, is a powerful reminder that, as he puts it: "It's possible to be a missionary without ever leaving your zip code." I would add that not only is it possible, it is expected. But we need to be careful and make a distinction between "Mission(s)-Minded" churches and "Missional" churches. Stetzer clarifies between the two terms:
 
The first, mission-minded, refers more to an attitude of caring about missions, particularly overseas. The second, missional, means actually doing mission right where you are. Missional means adopting the posture of a missionary, learning and adapting to the culture around you while remaining biblically sound. Think of it this way: missional means being a missionary without ever leaving your zip code. You can see how a particular congregation or denomination can be mission-minded without being missional.
 
Practically, of course, this means that it is possible to have a church that does a lot overseas but nothing at home, as odd as that might initially sound. Stetzer argues that this arises, at least in part, from a false dichotomy between "missions" and "evangelism." Missions is for out there somewhere while evangelism is for here. He argues that, "There is no basis, biblically or theologically, for the territorial distinction of missions and evangelism."
 
This thinking seems to contribute to what I believe to be a faulty question in the life of many churches: "Is our primary duty to feed the sheep or win the lost?" I have become convinced that this is the wrong question because our "primary" duty is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. This includes every step of the process, beginning with missions/evangelism. It is a continual process rather than an either/or question.
 
Furthering the discussion, Stetzer throws one other term into the mix: "on mission," saying "on mission means being intentional and deliberate about reaching others."
 
Seems simple enough, right? And yet, many churches fully support abroad what they run from at home. We equip foreign missionaries to study the cultural context carefully, encouraging them to "contextualize" (without sacrificing content) the Gospel in such a way as it is most effective to that given cultural context. Yet, churches seem scared to death of the idea of "American" culture, either isolating from it or drowning in it. Or, we simply see a church that seems to be succeeding and we decide to import, lock, stock and barrel, what they are doing, regardless of any cultural differences that might exist between where they are from where we find ourselves.
 
We expect our missionaries to analyze and adapt to surrounding cultures, yet we become doubtful of churches doing this, labeling them "liberal" or "non-traditional" or both. Why? Is it because we fear change? Could it simply but profoundly be that we don't think of ourselves as missionaries?
 
If anything, wrestling with terms like these ought to encourage us to rethink and reapply our approach to how the local church lives in the culture it finds itself.

Learning the Language of Babylon

In Learning the Language of Babylon by Terry Crist (Chosen Books, div. of Baker Books), the author uses the experience of Daniel and his friends as a clue as to how we might be better witnesses, better preachers, better neighbors, better worship leaders as we try to plant the Gospel seed in what sometimes feels like our own Babylon, a seemingly foreign land and culture. Daniel and his friends graduated at the top of their class after a three-year crash course in Babylonian culture and "God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom" (Daniel 1:17).
 
Crist gives five practical ways to "learn from misguided missionary efforts of the past and learn to communicate effectively with postmodern Babylonians." Here they are in highly truncated and/or restated form:
 

1. Observe Your Neighbors and Co-Workers. Instead of using your brilliant Christian rhetoric and leadership skills, quietly listen and watch what shapes their lives like sports, politics, entertainment, television, etc. Based on your observations, build relationships that involve these activities and interests.
2. Eat at New Restaurants Outside Your Normal Preferences. Find and visit local hangouts for teens, college students, and special interest groups, but warning: leave your judgmental attitude at home or bury it once and for all! You are there to learn how to connect for the sake of reaching them and others like them.
3. Turn Off PBS and Watch Diverse Television Programming. An immense part of our culture is framed by the entertainment industry. As postmodern reformers, we must reclaim the positive elements in this powerful medium. Generation X is moved by the visual even more than the auditory, so check out what is showing on MTV and VH1. Seek practical ways to incorporate the power of the visual in our worship services! (emphasis mine)
4. Spend the Afternoon at Barnes & Noble Reading Everything in the Magazine Sections. Crist asks the challenging question, "Can your sermon titles begin to compare with this level of creativity?" He also notes that most effective television programs and music videos seem to have three or four themes running simultaneously with the picture and story-line constantly shifting. That's a great clue for organizing our messages.
5. Go on a Journey of the Internet. Ask someone who is a savvy web-surfer to take you on a journey of what men, women, and young people are focusing on today. St. Paul, of course, is our apostolic prototype, examining his culture and beginning his famous sermon with, "I perceive that in all things you are very religious..." (Acts 17:22ff).

I'd like to add to these excellent observations that our own cultural discourse wouldn't begin with how "very religious" people are, of course. They have no idea of the idols they are worshipping and wouldn't think of them in those terms. But as we mention their "interests" and quote their "songs," just as Paul quoted the Greek poets of his day, we grow in our ability to "become all things to all people that by ALL means we might save some" (1 Cor. 9:22).
 
Crist profoundly notes that, "The issue at stake is not what I need to know [about culture] as much as what I need to become." Outsiders to the culture are easily rejected and treated with suspicion. So our game plan, just as God used Daniel and his partners to become expert witnesses in a foreign culture, is to become what I am simply calling "Babylonian Insiders" that we might gain a hearing and remain culturally effective as we speak and live the truth in our own Babylonian generation.

From the M2C Retreat

Here's what was said about the M2C Retreat (by far the sentiment of most of the attendees):

What one, two or three things did you leave the M2C retreat with?

"Too much to name! I got an understanding of several possible ways to do multiplication. I received reassurance that our birthing pains are not unique. I was able to forge a better relationship with our pastors. And I gained a better understanding of the workings behind the church. Thank you for the opportunity!"

"The commitment of the Texas Dist to plant mission churches......the need to reach those who do not know Jesus as Savior.....the time is now, not later."

"The retreat had an overall focus that was refreshing. Not because of the nice retreat, but because it was refreshing to see so many pastors with a mission focus of connecting the lost to Jesus."
 
"Confidence that our church can do it; convicted that we must do it; consoled that others have and are doing it."

 
How do you see your church being involved in church planting?

"I see us leading, starting a new congregation in a growing suburb that does not currently have a LCMS connection. I could easily see us partnering with a sister congregation, as we have successfully done this with other activities, fellowship, and worship."

"We are working toward a congregational decision to plant a new church in another community."

"With God's help, we plan to plant multiple new churches in the south DFW area."

 
What do you see as necessary resources you, personally, need to be involved in with church planting?

"We need to know how to create a change in culture to mission minds. We want a mission minded congregation, but are not sure how to create such a culture of thought in a congregation that struggles with extending self without first thinking "what's in it for me?" I could use resources that would help in a culture change. Whether it is a change in polity that moves in this direction, or a change in the way I preach."

"More conferences and gatherings of like-minded, missional people of God. Opportunities to pray across the city and district so that we do not lose hope on this mission."

 
What type of follow-up to the M2C Retreat would be most helpful?

"The individuals who attended the retreat were informed and inspired. We need to find ways to inform and inspire the congregations in our district of this important mission."

"I'd recommend doing it again. Probably the most important conference the Texas District does now. (Not probably, it is!) One suggestion, with Ken Hennings' connections in Synod, I'd encourage him to give an invitation to the other District mission execs to experience this conference and maybe bring one of their interested congregations along. The conference was very strong and the Texas District has a very good reputation."

 
Other Comments:

"All in all, the M2C was a fantastic opportunity for me, and time very well spent. The facility is first-rate, and I was completely impressed with the quality of the presentations and the participants. This was a tremendous blessing for me, and God's timing for this event was, of course, perfect for meeting my need. Hearty thanks, and job well done, to everyone involved."

"It was GREAT! I left feeling moved by the Holy Spirit to reach out more to the unchurched in our area. It is great to see the LCMS and the Texas District really serious about reaching the unchurched and I was moved by the large number of congregations that attended this year's retreat. I pray that next year even more congregations will be led by the Holy Spirit to participate in the retreat and be moved to begin planting new churches to reach the lost. The retreat serves to motivate as well as educate. If there is another retreat next year, we plan to invite and have more of our leaders attend. Thanks again."

 
I would have listed one or so negative statements, but other than "air-conditioning was too cold" or "my motel room wasn't really that great," there were just not any.  God has indeed opened doors throughout the State of Texas for planting new churches.  We have a good group of people looking and doing just that!  God be praised!

Resources

A Multisite Information
Want to keep up with all types of resources related to planting a multisite church?  Try keeping track of what is added to this site. Click here for details.

Lessons from Church Planters
This might be worth reading!  It's a sharing of the results from an "informal" survey among church planters.  Thus far, two parts have been written.  You might want to continue to monitor this blog site. Click here to read the results.

Five Resolutions
Reading through a number of "blog" notices that I get (I get an email whenever someone posts something to a particular blog), I came across this article regarding a church that had established five key points for their missional ministry. The five are:

1. We resolve to learn and speak the language of our culture.
2. We resolve to sincerely listen to people and their 'stories.'
3. We resolve to be a Christian community that is counter-cultural/intuitive.
4. We resolve to live out our Christianity in our work and recreation.
5. We resolve to demonstrate the unity of the church in the city.

To read more of the details, click here.

Ten Reasons to Embrace Servant Evangelism
Steve Sjogren offers 10 practical reasons for using Servant Evangelism in your church:

1. It opens doors into the heart of your community.
2. It develops a doable ministry in your church.
3. It creates an opportunity for the church to "get involved."
4. It allows a few to touch many.
5. It gives practical tips for public considerations.
6. It is simple, non-aggressive and inexpensive.
7. It doesn't require extensive training.
8. It offers many evangelism and outreach strategies.
9. It nurtures team efforts and team-centeredness.
10. It is a lot of fun!

Have You Gone Blogging?
I have set up a reminder for all items related to church planting that are updated on any "Blog" anywhere in the country.  I have to admit that I don't read all the "posts" on the various Blogs, but do try to read through the summaries to see if there is anything worth reading or considering.

I'm going to use this spot to provide you with links to articles written in blogs that I find might be something you would like to read.  I'll provide the title and the link to the blog being referenced. Just click on the title to get to the web address. Let me know if this is something you find helpful.  I do want you to know that I'm trusting your "theological" review...not everything will always be stated in terms of the theology we believe.  So, just be aware.

Edge Equipping

New Churches

Multi-Site Church Planting Resources

Here are a couple of Blogs that are running around the Texas District Office:

Extreme Makeover: Church Edition
"Things are changing rapidly. Our lives were supposed to get less complex with more leisure time. So where is it?" Simple is in. Complexity is out. People are longing for a less complicated life. The title is provocative! Our lives and our churches might just need some tweaking - some might need a complete redesign. Share something you believe, something you have read, and/or some thoughts that might get some response.

Missional Journey
Welcome to Missional Journey...thoughts on Missional churches, missional people, and how a church planting movement might be fostered in the Texas District, LCMS.

Texas District MMFs

Mr. Paul Krentz
512.926.4272
krentztx@txdistlcms.org
Area A & B and Circuits 21 & 30 of Area C

Dr. Lou Jander
Texas District LCMS
281.970.5308
ljander@txdistlcms.org
Area D and Area C Circuits 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 & 29

M2C Website:  http://www.m2ctexas.org or just click here.