I thought you’d never ask.
Volumes have been written attempting to articulate what mission means. It can be easy to be confused with words like mission and missions. A simple “s” can change the focus. This week we’ll focus on missions. Next week we’ll explore mission.
Missions (plural) are the missionary activities of the church (e.g., partnering with schools, serving at senior centers, feeding the hungry, visiting people in prison, serving on a Habitat for Humanity build team, collecting school supplies, supporting missionaries around the world, participating in the free produce market, etc.). Missions involve more than money; missions are moments of engagement with people. While money is needed to continue the work, money follows relationships.
Allow me to offer three approaches to missional engagement. I’m sure there are other ways to characterize these experiences. I offer the following from years of experiences in the local church where one of these approaches is more prevalent than others.
Three Approaches to Missional Engagement
- Financial Engagement – I give money to help a “cause.”
- The ministry of financial giving is needed. Often this is a first step for individuals who desire to make a difference. Giving from our abundance is also different from giving sacrificially. In our abundance, we give from the extra financial resources at our disposal. For some, this is significant. For others, this is a small amount. The amount of financial giving is less important than understanding why you are giving. Motivation is key here.
- I used to write off financial gifts as an opportunity to engage. More and more, I am realizing this is a beginning step for many toward missional engagement. Or, it is a response to a need identified through ongoing, missional engagement. Either way, give people the opportunity to be generous.
- If you’re looking to take a step in missional engagement and are already financially supporting a cause, here is your challenge: do not to remain isolated from the people who are the recipients of the financial giving. Go and serve among the people, get to know them, and listen to their stories. Your life will be changed as a result.
2. One-time Engagement – I go one time to serve at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, food pantry, etc. I go on a week-long missions trip.
- The ministry of one-time missional engagement is needed, too. This is an opportunity to test the waters. You may find yourself helping a cause on an annual or monthly project. You may also be a part of an ongoing, weekly or daily need that the organization is prepared to have one-time guests. Whatever the case, you are there for a one-time event. You may or may not ever return to this organization.
- The challenge here is to follow the lead of the organization you are serving. If you really want to help, ask, “How can we be helpful?” instead of “We’d like to bring six to serve with you next Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.” Many organizations serving people who are hungry, hurting, without a permanent home, etc. depend on the good will of people who give their time. Don’t make their job more difficult by telling them how you will help. Listen first. Respond to their needs, not your ideals (or idea) of what missional engagement looks like
3. On-going, relational ministry – We build relationships, together.
- The ministry of ongoing, relational missional engagement is a commitment to love God and love your neighbor (Matt ) . This is participation in a missional endeavor that, over time will transform individual lives. And, it’s likely, you’ll be the one whose life is changed first, not the person you are serving with. This is the place where you make a commitment to a person: reading at a local school, singing with the seniors at the senior center next to the church, leading financial planning classes for people moving into stable housing, serving at a food pantry the same day, every week, etc.
- The challenge here is prioritizing your time, recognizing factors that are out of your control. Most of all, we must keep the willingness to forgo the desire to “fix” the person(s) you are relating to. The life circumstance, experiences, knowledge, may be very different from what you know or experience. Keep in mind transformation is the creation of something new. God willing, you will be among those who are transformed.
