In a recent discussion on the GCM Collective Community site, we’ve been discussing ways to foster effective urban ministry. There have been some great best practices and insights shared. Here are three layers of mission I shared for missional communities (with examples from Austin City Life City Groups):
- Mission in Locale/Zipcode – a Missional Community that works with homeless communities to develop friendship & microfinance in their part of the city.
- Mission in Work/Vocation – an Missional Community that rallies around one of their artists by supporting their music by going to shows, building relationships into the artist community, and using music to fundraise for non-profits and build community.
- Mission as a Community – a Missional Community that has a partnership with a local job Womens Corps, serving once or twice a month to teach skills, serve the kids, and support the Job Corps.
We’re finding that it important to empower people to live out everyday mission in all three ways. If mission is a way of life, and not an event, then it will be important for missional community leaders to continually cast vision and equip for mission in all three areas.