November 17, 2009
By: Bill Shepson
Whether you're perusing the pastoral resources aisle in your local Christian bookstore, reading religious blogs on the Internet, or attending a workshop at a leadership conference, you'll quickly notice a recurring word—missional. Authors have debated its meanings in numerous books, theologians have discussed its implications for the church and society, and many pastors—and believers in general—are left trying to figure out if "missional" is just the latest leadership buzzword or something of greater significance.
What exactly does it mean for the church to be missional? And how does a missional perspective play out in the context of local communities? More specifically, what does it mean for The Foursquare Church?
Author Reggie McNeal, in his book Missional Renaissance (Jossey-Bass), puts it quite simply: "The missional church is the people of God partnering with God in His redemptive mission in the world." He strongly asserts that it's a way of living, not just another way of "doing church" or a matter of conducting certain outreach activities. He makes it clear that "to live missionally means seeing all life as a way to be engaged with the mission of God in the world."
Glenn C. Burris Jr., interim president of The Foursquare Church, echoes McNeal's sentiments in his own description of what it means to live missionally.
"Wikipedia describes missional as being ‘sent by Christ, with the cross, to the culture, in community,' " Glenn notes. "The Foursquare Church has always been identified as having been birthed in a revival of missional activity. Who are we? We are every member, every ministry, every church and every nation passionately living out as ‘the sent ones' to love (reach the lost), to train (disciple others) and to send (multiply who we are)."
Glenn's reference to Foursquare history is important, as the movement's roots and ultimate impact worldwide illustrate the fact that phenomenal things can happen when a community of Christ-followers are committed to living missionally in all arenas of life, inside and outside the church. Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of The Foursquare Church and the renowned Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, modeled what it means to have such a holistic approach to ministry.
Yes, Angelus Temple drew 5,000 people—three to four times each Sunday—to its services, during which people accepted Christ and were miraculously healed of physical ailments in great numbers. But ministry wasn't just about what goes on in the sanctuary. It was about being used by God in all aspects of daily life, to fulfill His mission in the world.
And so it's no surprise—though it's quite astounding—that Angelus Temple fed and clothed more than 1.5 million people during the Great Depression regardless of race, creed or color. Or that Sister Aimee spoke out against the threats of Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin. Or that she used radio station KFSG not only to preach, but also to sell war bonds and teach listeners about rationing and other sacrifices U.S. citizens needed to undergo during WWII.
It is unmistakable that in her view, believers were to be used by God in all arenas of life—they were, as we say it now, to live missionally, cognizant of the fact that we are missionaries everywhere God places us, responsible to address the needs in our particular time and context, partnering with Him to fulfill His purposes for His kingdom.
"For a church to be missional, its members must abandon a Western, attractional mindset that proposes to build attendance by offering the best programs or setting just the right ambiance right down to gourmet coffee," explains Rod Koop, missional facilitator for Foursquare's National Church. "Missional people are about being the church on their jobs, in their neighborhoods and inside their own homes, where it matters the most. The missional church takes Christ to the lost, and its members are personally engaged in reaching their communities with the message of the gospel."
Foursquare is taking very seriously the call to be missional in today's cultural context. The denomination now has district missional directors in each district across the U.S. to oversee and coordinate missional objectives. These leaders, Rod notes, are "dedicated to the health and expansion of leaders in ministry," and "capable of unifying district leaders and churches around a compelling vision of what could happen if they worked together."
Why is this so important? Because, as Rod asserts, although the gospel hasn't changed, the way the church goes about presenting it must.
"I object to the assumption that my unsaved friends and neighbors are just waiting for an invitation to go to church, and would love to go, if I'd only ask," he says. "The hope I have to reach them cannot begin and end with my attempts to get them into our church building.
"The church must be constantly adapting in ways that preserve the mission of Jesus," he continues. "We must bless new and refreshed leadership who will take us into uncharted waters. Free from models that are no longer effective, they will help us better understand how to penetrate different cultures with the gospel in ways we've never seen before."
Within The Foursquare Church across the United States, there are myriad examples of congregations who are living missionally and powerfully influencing their communities. Although it is impossible to cover them all, in parts two, three and four of this article we will take a close look at a representative sampling that illustrates the types of things being done by real believers who are living out their faith in real ways.
This is Part 1 in a series of 4. To read more about missional Foursquare churches, click the links below:
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By: Bill Shepson, a Foursquare credentialed minister and freelance writer in Los Angeles.
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