from February 7, 2010 prayer email

I participated in the Verge missional communities conference here in Austin this week. Many of the big names (including Burke, Carter, Chan, Cole, Ferguson, Garrison, Gibbons, Halter, Hirsch, Patterson, Stetzer, Vanderstelt, Watson) associated with the missional church movement were involved. Some fantastic vision casting, motivational speaking, worship, and networking. Austin Stone Community Church planned and promoted the conference and my home church hosted the event. It was packed out with over 2000 involved for three days on location and more than that participating from a distance online.

I was initially concerned that the “cool” factor was going to dominate the conference. A high value with the many 20 somethings that attended the event (but something that I no longer value and tend to view with skepticism). I was grateful that there was a lot of substance mixed in with the cool.

I came away with much to process and think through regarding my personal engagement with the lost, who I should partner with in that engagement, how these things could play out in my own home church, and how these things could play out in the churches I serve through ACMC.

All of the large group and breakout sessions are available online. Check a few out.

Several things that impacted me personally:
• going back to the Scriptures (especially the example of Christ) with fresh eyes for my understanding of the mission and forms for the church (instead of relying on books, tradition, or the example of “model” churches)
• emphasizing obedience in my teaching and discipleship -- doing (not simply knowing)
• obeying what the Scriptures teach, even when it takes me way out of my comfort zone and into territory where I have never gone
• coming to terms with how few of the people in our U.S. churches are living Biblically and how infrequently good models are provided for them of how to live Biblically
• coming to terms with how unbiblical much of what is called evangelism and church is in the U.S.
• working at keeping things simple and focused
• the priority of hospitality, constant relational engagement, and clear proclamation of the gospel with the lost
• the importance of focusing on the receptive and their personal spheres of influence
• the importance of seeking to reach those different than me, especially the poor
• the overuse of staff in most churches, the unbiblical distinctions made between clergy and laity, and how unchallenged and unempowered most laymen are
• the importance of reproduction (rapidly if possible) in most of what I do

Little of this is new, but it is a lot to get reminded of and challenged with in a small window of time. Where to start?