This is "Part 3" in a multi-part post. The other parts can be found here:
Intro | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Another huge chunk of my time and energy as a leader in a missional church community is focused on hands-on ministry engagement with real human needs in the community [neighbourhood]. It is crucial as a missional leader to develop a long-term missional response in an area [neighbourhood, community] that matches passion and calling. This mission involvement serves both as a model and an inspiration for the missional congregation. Authority in this way, is earned rather than ascribed based on position. In other words, people see what you are doing [as opposed to just hearing what you are saying] and realize they can actively participate in missional living themselves... it's really not rocket science.

I am of the opinion that it is esssential to the growth and development of a missional congregation to be led into an authentic encounter with the lives of those who still need to know the Jesus story [the gospel]. I am also of the opinion that in order for that to happen, the missional community must be the incarnational message and life of Jesus in the community/context in which they find themselves.

We [my family] have only begun scratching the surface of missional apostleship in our neighbourhood. We made the decision this year to move into the urban neighbourhood of the area surrounding our coffee house [mission centre] in Hamilton, Ontario. Previously, we lived in the suburbs on "Hamilton Mountain" because we weren't sure where we would plant this missional community known as The Freeway when we moved here, way back when.

Though we have only lived here a few shorts months, already our home is being known as a place where people are welcome. We intentionally practice hospitality, not only with those who are part of The Freeway, but with our neighbours as well. It's like our front door is a revolving door where people enter and exit as they need to. I have a feeling that this is the way it should be. It didn't always come neaturally to us... but the more we invite people to our home, the more we love it and the more we experience the hospitality of Jesus.

Equally as important as showing hospitality, is receiving it. We try and be available to go to others - at home, the pub, the school yard, the coffee house, wherever. It takes a long time to get to know people... especially when they find out I am a pastor [they usually begin appologizing for their language, and then acting differently]... and we have to be committed to the long haul.

We have also tried to actively be involved with various social services in our neighbourhood, and I have found that I have been able to form friendships with some of the folks who lead and work at various agencies, but also with clients of the agencies. Many are crazy. Many have developmental challenges. Many are vulnerable. Many are seemingly "normal". It's really been quite beautiful... time-consuming, and not measured concretely [as hours and projects are], but beautiful, none the less.

Apprenticing learners in the context of missional engagement is another key, I think, in not only forming missional community, but also in being the Kingdom in the here and now. We have tried to do that formally [taking interns and living with them - Nathan is an example] and informally by helping those emerging missional people who are part of The Freeway to have opportunities to "try their hand" at this stuff.

Finally, giving direction to a team of co-labourers based around emerging missional authority is a big responsibility of missional leaders. We try to identify those who are part of the called-out community - who "get it" - and in every way possible walk with them as they live out the story themselves.

I could go on and on... but I won't. I'd like to give personal examples, but I can't.

I will say that I have learned so much these past few years, about what it means to follow Jesus. Not just to talk about it. Not just to inspire others to do it. But to actually learn what it means for me to follow him, and to take seriously what he said.

I hope you have enjoyed this little series on missional leadership. I am sure I will have more to say about this in the future [ I really talk - write? - too much]. But for now, I would like to hear from you. Please add to the conversation in the comments and expand on this notion of poet, prophet, apostle.

Labels: leadership, the freeway, writing