Missional Church: Intentionally Missional - Trying, Despite the Fear of Failure

by Amy Hamlin

“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” Sven Goran Eriksson

Well, I must confess, when I was first asked to write for the Reliant blog, everything in me said RUN! I wanted to pull a Jonah and head in the opposite direction. Oh, and the excuses! They ran through my head faster than a speeding bullet, and more powerful than a locomotive. I am not able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and my feeling was that I was definitely not a writer. I tried reasoning with myself, but the excuses would not stop materializing. I don’t have time to write four (count them four) blog articles. I am not a good speller. I haven’t a clue what to say. If only I had been asked to do something else - create a poster, bring dessert, or even run a 5K for YoungLife (go Maggie!) - I would have felt up to the challenge. Anything would have been better than writing a blog! My fear of failure was overwhelming. However, God has a plan and His plan was to put this idea about being intentionally missional into my head. And once that idea was in my head, it stuck. I could not shake the need to write about being intentionally missional.

Over the past several weeks, we have talked about:

· Getting ready to be uncomfortable

· Focusing on the basics and loving people

· Praying, trusting and then freefalling

Now the question is: How do we put all these ideas into purposeful actions of being intentionally missional? Scot McKnight, professor in religious studies at North Park University in Chicago and an award-winning author, states “being missional comes down to answering a simple question: How can I help you? Missional behavior becomes the active response to that question.” Hmmm…active response, huh? I guess that means we, as a community of believers, actually have to do something. McKnight goes on to say that, “in missional churches, people’s ears are open, their eyes are open, and they are asking, what does our community need? How can we help our community? However, it is not missional to say, we know the answer, and are going to give it to you. Being a missional church means showing responsiveness to the central issues of community. “ Nicely articulated, McKnight.

It’s one thing to say that we are an intentionally missional community, but actions speak louder than words. Jamaine used to say, “I can show you better than I can tell you.” Also, you have heard me say before that the world will only see Jesus through us, individually (that means you) and communally (that means Reliant/YoungLife). That is a great reason why “way of life,” behavior, and practice (not just words) are important. It is easy to tell someone about Jesus – facts, figures, spouting Bible passages, etc. However, demonstrating Jesus’ love through caring actions is oftentimes a stronger witness for the unchurched people we meet.

In the book Right Here, Right Now, co-authors Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford, assert that through moving out (into missional engagement): learning the art of the small---one person can make an impact. The idea is to concentrate your efforts on smaller and smaller areas, trying to find an area that will cause a tipping point by focusing on small changes that will spread. What great practical advice for each of us - to understand that one person (it only takes one) can change the life of another by allowing the Holy Spirit to use us in even the smallest of ways to give a witness of our faith in Jesus Christ.

Don’t worry about failing. As individuals within the larger context of the Reliant faith family we can connect with neighbors, friends, co-workers or family members in ways that allow them to clearly see the love of God. This includes taking time to be available to those in need, having meaningful conversations, being fully engaged with those around us, making time for our hurting neighbors, listening to what’s going on in people’s lives, and demonstrating hospitality. Being intentionally missional means demonstrating a different way of life – one guided by the Holy Spirit, and so unlike the “norm” - that people take note and wonder why we choose to live that way. Even though they don’t understand, what they are seeing is God love working in us and through us. Jesus told the disciples, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Missional living is a direct result of our ability rely on the Lord to help us put into practice this kind of love – His kind of love - for those He brings into our lives.

I give you permission to get uncomfortable, to love people, to pray, and to trust God to bless your efforts. Fail or succeed, just try. That is your mission for this week, if you choose to accept it . . . and the journey continues.