The strategy can be summarised in one word: POINT. But it will be expressed differently in every church. However each church needs to consider
Places: where is the strategy is expressed? We need an understanding of our communities, the mission needs, etc.
Opportunities that God gives: these may be regional or local, they may involve collaboration with other churches or agencies
Inspiration: we can be inspired by listening to the stories of what God is doing elsewhere and that inspires new stories that inspires new stories…
Need for God: we are dependent on God’s inspiration and power. He is the one who brings people to faith and we work in partnership with him – believing He can do it; willing to take faith-led risks
Training: not just training programmes and courses but considering what resources, encouragers, ideas and so on we will need to enable us to fulfil the mission – tailored to local needs, but shared between churches.
To enable us to focus on these thoughts the Mission Strategy Task group have been writing a Mission Parable each month which is circulated around the churches. The complete set of these can be found below.
“The greatest choir I have ever heard!” Sandra felt a tingle of electricity running down her spine and the hairs on her arms stood on end as she read the headline in the local newspaper. Last night the choir she had founded – Concordia – had sung as the headline act in the final concert of the town’s music festival. Sandra had to admit that they had sounded incredible. The singers had been lifted by the atmosphere in the theatre and had sung their hearts out. It had all started eight years ago when Sandra had watched The Choir on…
What’s in the Box? It was a beautiful wooden box: about the size of a modern shoebox. It had been in the family for hundreds of years. Over the centuries the box had been polished so that it now had a lustrous sheen that was almost mirror-like, and the burr walnut veneer glowed like burnished bronze. The brass corner protectors and escutcheon around the keyhole were exquisitely engraved with swirls and curls that blended with the pattern of the wood and they shone, almost like gold. The family cherished the box: it had pride of place in the house on…
Download a PDF copy of this Parable The Fishing Parable The village chiefs were at a loss to know what to do. The island that they had lived on for centuries was no longer capable of providing the food they needed to survive and they needed to find an answer. The three villages which they represented had come from the same ancestors, and at heart they had the same belief system and way of life. In many ways they were the same but at the same time they lived separately because the law said that each village had the freedom…
Engaging with our Mission 23: The Island Retreat? I’m so excited. Ben Harris has actually walked in the room. He’s even more gorgeous in real life. I think I’m going to faint. When Jenny persuaded me into this weekend I have to admit I was sceptical. I mean me doing all that survival stuff, can you imagine and not to mention it is quite expensive. But when she told me who was running it, well that was it, I was in. And I guess the fact we’re in a five star hotel on a tropical island helps too. I’m not…
Do you wish you could know what to do in every situation? Do you ever think that you could make better decisions? Do you ever think ‘I wish I had a little bit of guidance in my life?’ Well now you can. With one pill you can have complete wisdom and guidance throughout your whole life. Through the wonders of nanotechnology, one little red pill can change your life. Sign up for it today! “Sounds great,” said James enthusiastically. “Great advert. Spot on. So why aren’t more people signing up?”Ethan shrugged. “Maybe they don’t understand it,” Brian piped up from…
