Components of the Soil: Mission
Every Sunday, the congregation repeated the mission statement to close worship. Most folks could not remember when the mission statement was created, but it had been around long enough that by now, the words were committed to memory.
When the new pastor asked if the mission statement actually reflected the mission of the congregation today, it was as if she had insulted Jesus. Of course, the mission statement reflected their mission today. It seemed as if the leadership team was going to pretend like the question was never asked and move on, until a quiet voice at the corner of the table said, “Actually, . . .”
In many congregations, when we talk about mission, we either talk about:
- our mission statement, or
- A mission project designed to help others.
Mission is more than a group of words or a project. Mission, according to Obenauer* is our “What and our How”.
What is God calling us to do as a people of God in this time and place?
and
How are we going to put that calling into action?
Our mission, formal or informal, is one component that makes up the soil of our congregation. Identifying and naming our existing mission helps us understand why some seeds thrive and some seeds struggle in our congregation’s ministry.
If our mission, spoken or unspoken, is to preserve and support the cemetery, then the seeds of a new ministry with children, youth, and their families, might have trouble taking root. If our existing mission is to feed the hungry, then the seeds of a Thanksgiving meal might thrive.
Mission is not a one size fits all statement that every congregation must adopt, it is about discovering how the Holy Spirit is moving in your congregation and community right now.
Reflection by Pastor John Wertz, Jr.
Questions for Reflection:
As think about the soil of your congregation, use the following questions to help you identify your congregation’s current mission (official or unofficial).
- What three words come to mind when you think about who God is calling your congregation to be in the world?
- Who does your ministry primarily serve?
- What makes what you do or how you do it unique?