This week I'll be at Hosanna Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Illinois, for a gathering of LCMC district coordinators. Every three-years the districts gather together for vision casting. The goal is to strengthen the faith and the collective mission of the 700+ churches within our nation-wide districts.
I'll have one key word to share with the group: missional. The L and the C of LCMC are important in identifying ourselves--- we are, after all, Lutheran Congregations. The M and the C, however, are even more important. Yes, I said it...even more important! First and foremost, we are Missionaries for Christ that make-up Lutheran Congregations.
The 700-plus congregations that currently make-up the LCMC are not going away anytime soon, but our influence in the world will disappear...very soon...if we don't start living-out the M for C. When our cultural influence is gone, the church will be nothing more than a religious activity, rather than the powerful presence of God that transforms. Lutherans talk church and theology very well, but now it is time to live it...every day in every place of daily life. Missional for Christ!
I believe the best way for our association to birth 1,000 NEW and healthy congregations that reach the entire culture, is for our CURRENT congregations to practice a missional mindset of multiplication in their respective communities. The best way for that to happen, is for congregational leadership to train, equip and encourage every member to be a minister of the mission of Jesus Christ. It's more than just dispensing more knowledge, or gathering for fun fellowship, it's showing people HOW to literally follow Jesus outside the church building. It is "there" where the incarnational Jesus meets people and awakens them to their need for the gospel.
Two quick ideas for districts: to challenge every congregation to explore the following....
1). Train leaders to form "Transformational Communities" from our existing congregations in order to better serve the city (see my blog from March 3, 2014).
2). Put monies aside every month to help launch a conventional church start in the district--- either as a single congregation, or in teaming-up with other district congregations. Create a "family tree" of church plants.
Friends, please join me in prayer for the LCMC District Coordinator's gathering, July 15-16, that it will be more than just a time of sharing good information, but a breakthrough in great transformation.
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