the running reverend

In all fairness this picture is of a “Life Group,” not a missional church or community. Yet, the picture stuck out to me. Here’s why: I had the opportunity to attend a gathering of a newly established missional community a week or so ago. The community gathered in a coffee shop, which was set up much like the space in the photo. The gathering time consisted of people arriving; purchasing food; assuming a place at a table; socializing; agreeing in prayer as an invocation was given; listening to a homily; participating in discussion regarding the homily/text and its application for one’s life; table communion; and dismissal by benediction.

I enjoyed the gathering. As someone who doesn’t particularly enjoying a great deal of modern worship music and who would rather thoughtfully ruminate on the words, it was perfectly fine with me that we didn’t sing. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship, the opportunity to get to know and enter into fairly deep conversation with people that I just met. I felt very welcome and included.

However, there wasn’t anything inherently missional about the gathering (or this group). They meet in a coffee shop on a weekly basis and in one another’s homes throughout the week. They do church and/or life together outside of the four walls of the American church building (which I think is great). But the mission that drives this community and their meetings isn’t really that different from most of the churches that gather together inside the four walls of the American church building week after week.

They assumed that because they were a small group that met in a coffee shop and whose leader didn’t use the term pastor to describe himself that they were on mission, living into the mission field that God had placed before them. In reality, they were a group of friends who really enjoy one another’s company and share an affinity for a particular style of worship service.

Mission-mindedness for this group entailed showing up at a coffee shop, putting out a sign with their church name on it, and caring for the needs of those who already attend. In that respect, this “small, intentional, missional community” is no different that many of the churches that dot the religious landscape of North America.

They are resolute that they are missional because they are small. Thus, they are the opposite of the mega-church that had been criticized for employing business models of leadership and parlor tricks to attract people. (I know because a little less than five years ago I felt the same way.)

But smallness does not necessarily equate to mission-mindedness. Nor does largeness mean that a church has sold its sole to consumerism and the latest marketing fad. I reality, there are plenty of small churches who have no clue as to what their mission is and/or whether they are fulfilling said mission. Likewise, there are plenty of mega-churches who have a clear sense of mission and are ruthlessly pursuing it to the glory of God and the benefit of His kingdom.