Terry Mann is doing some great blogging on missional living in the suburbs. Go read him on this: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7.
From Part 1...
A good pastor friend of mine has a shirt that reads, “Don’t go to church” on the front. The back reads, “Be the church.” That is being missional.
From Part 2...
Most of the reading you do on the missional church has a distinctively urban flavor. But that is not the only place where missional should come into play is it?
From Part 3...
A major “third place” in our setting is youth sport’s leagues. They are absolutely huge....Why should I not offer to coach a team? I have no children of that age, but it would still allow me to give back to the community without asking for anything. Therefore I became the coach of a girl’s under ten soccer team....One of “my girls” was injured at home one day. When her mom informed me of the injury, I told her that I would pray for her. I later found out that that simple statement was HUGE for that girl. They knew I was a pastor, although I never did flaunt it, so she asked her mother if she thought I really would pray for her. Her mom said, “yes,” and well . . . I did. In so doing a relational connection was built. I may or may not ever see the fruit of that, but I am convinced it will bear fruit. After all, I am not the only instrument God has at work in this equation.