Last week I had the chance to attend the Verge Conference in Austin, TX. I wrote a bit about this yesterday as well. One of the take-aways for me from this conference was that there is a tremendous outpouring of frustration with the American church and its consumeristic mindset and business-like models. There is also a growing consensus that missional community rather than programs might be one of the answers to this growing frustration.

If they choose to go this direction, it means that many churches will be asked to reconsider and reconstruct their entire approach to ministry. Instead of a “come-to-us” mentality, churches will strip their schedules and increase their relational discipleship. It is likely that for many churches, less now actually means more. Churches are meant to be salt and light in the midst of their surrounding communities, not the purveyors of religious goods. Churches are called to equip the saints for the work of ministry rather than doing it all for them (Ephesians 4:11-16).

While much of this is refreshing and even exciting, it may in fact be frustrating for a good many pastors. I spoke with several pastors who attended the conference who actually left the conference quite frustrated because the churches to which they were returning were so far away from this model. The obvious, overwhelming and unclear question here for many pastors is how to get from here to there: how do you transition a traditional, American program-driven church to missional (this is not to say that all “programs” are bad. If we’re really pragmatic, missional communities themselves may be seen as a program of many churches)? Here are some things to consider regarding this process:

Go slow. People hate change. Especially in churches. The last thing a pastor would want to do is return from a conference and subsequently make drastic changes in the life of his church. Churches tend to cling to tradition as closely if not closer than many other institutions. Any changes must be communicated clearly, demonstrated biblically and made slowly.

Be theological/scriptural. We are often prone to adopt things merely for pragmatic reasons. It works, therefore it must be right. There might certainly be pragmatic reasons for shifting from a programmatic church structure to missional (it can shift some responsibility from leaders to church members and free up many schedules, etc.), but, missional is, above all, a theological movement. It is rooted in the Missio Dei (the “Mission of God”). God the Father sent the Son, the Father and Son Sent the Spirit and just as the Father sent the Son, so Jesus sends His people into the world (Matthew 28:18-20, John 20:21, etc.). Any transition to missional must be rooted in Scripture rather than pragmatics.

Clearly define your terms. Missional communities are small groups but they are not simply small group bible studies. Missional Communities seek to develop transparent relationships of Gospel accountability but they are not simply accountability groups. Missional communities are focused on re-orienting our entire lives around living on mission, but they are not simply outreach groups. If we are not clear in defining missional communities in our churches, tradition will be more than happy to define them for us.

Lead by example. Sometimes it feels like we can talk until we’re blue in the face but people still don’t seem to understand. Oftentimes actions speak louder than words. A leader’s most powerful tool in a shift towards missional community is example. Jesus led by serving (Mark 10:45, etc.) and so should His people. If you’re a leader who isn’t even sure where to begin, consider Jonathan Dodson’s  “8 Ways To Be Missional.” Take people with you. Lead by example.

Don’t neglect community. It’s possible that we can become so focused on mission that we find ourselves neglecting community. It is by our love for one another that the world will know that we belong to Jesus (John 13:35) and the bonds of community are strengthened most in the trenches of mission (what Alan Hirsch describes as communitas vs. community). We have been created to exist (and to minister) in relationship. Seek to implement ways of living missionally that are community-centered.

Center each community around a tangible mission with the clear end-goal of making disciples. It would be one thing for me to tell our Church of the Cross family that God has called us to reach the Northwest Phoenix Valley. I know that I look at that mission as, probably true, but like a deer in the headlights. Yet, if I tell my Missional Community that God has called Church of the Cross to reach the Northwest Phoenix Valley and part of the way that’s going to happen is that our community is going to reach the families where my children go to school. Now, all of the sudden, we can wrap our minds around that; it seems manageable. Yet, each mission must be targeted at making disciples, they must include relationships with non-believers. My family and I live across the street from a park, but it would not be a missional vision to say that our community’s mission is to keep the park clean. Stay focused on making disciples.

Celebrate successes/share stories. It’s important to continually share stories of success. Just as we need to be led by example in community, we need to be encouraged and challenged by those who have had breakthroughs. Continually have church members share their own stories of living on mission (not just the successes but also the failures, this is a hard calling and we need to not only see success but be reminded that we’re not alone in struggle). This will not only provide a picture of what living on mission might look like for some people, it will reinforce the community piece, reminding each one of us that we’re not in this alone.

Focus on Jesus. We must never forget that this is all about Jesus. We are not on mission to get people to join our church but to know Jesus.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about transitioning a church to a more missional mindset.

• Browse Jonathan Dodson’s “10 Tips For Missional Community Leaders”