Missionary Resource Teams

200454410-001.jpgSo what might leadership in an organic, Christ-centered network look like? When the “preacher”, “elder” and “deacon” as we have traditionally come to understand those terms have been uprooted, what might emerge from the soil? That is the question that we have been wrestling with lately, and there have been some interesting responses surrounding this that I thought I’d toss around.

Over the last few years, we have truly seen a wave of Christians leaving church-as-we-know-it and moving into a smaller, more intimate community of friends. They meet as the Church in their living rooms, parks, coffeehouses, and anywhere life happens. We’re also seeing the un-churched or the new believers skip right over institutional churches in favor of simply living life with God and friends.

But it usually stops there - from my limited research, at this point, no one has anything very developed on missional, organic leadership (save this guy) that extends beyond the local house church.

My instinct says that if this is to be anything more than a flash in the pan; if there is to be any type of meaningful spiritual nurturing happening, eventually, Christians in these churches realize that they must connect to believers outside of their own little group in order to thrive. That is where leadership comes in.

Followers of Christ realize that Christ is the ONLY head of the Church, and no one can be a mediator (priest) between Christ’s disciples and himself. If that is the case, if preachers and bishops and pastors and all that aren’t here to predigest God’s Word for us, or to function as judge for God, then what good are they?

They listen to Jesus, and do what he says.

It’s that simple, and its a project that will last for the rest of time.

Some leaders (like missionaries/apostles) will work as catalysts; spreading the vision for God’s New Life anywhere and everywhere they hear Jesus calling them. Paul lived and worked like this. He never pretended to be a church’s Father, (only God could fill that role). He made it clear that God broke through the barriers that separated man and God, and nothing could separate them again. Apostles will start new communities by looking for a “person of peace” (Lk.10, Mt.9) and plant inside them the seeds and the DNA of the Kingdom. Before long, they are moving on.

Apostles usually gather around them other leaders: prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. They work together as a team of missionaries to resource an emerging network that is spawned out of others who are listening to Jesus and doing what he says. Working around missional prayer, incarnational friendship, and pastoral discipling, a missionary resource team can participate in seeing a relational network of churches grow. Without preservatives, without burning out, without false structures…this is God’s family at work. (Eph 4:11-16)

As long as these leaders serve the people they are in connection with by providing resources and opportunities for deeper involvement in God’s family, they will be “organic leaders”. They are the nitrogen in the soil, whereas the seeds are the new communities that are birthed deep down within God’s good earth.

Spiritual moms and dads will naturally emerge from each of these churches, working with those God has entrusted to them. Usually, they will be the people who have been Christians the longest, though this might not always be the case. Working with a single faith community, these guides into Christ’s life will grow close with those in their spiritual family and transformation will happen!

–People still like Google because it offers services (like Gmail and collaborative online documents) for free. Even more importantly, they don’t take up your screen with pesky ads like some of the other websites that offer free content or services. They clearly are keeping their patrons first in mind, not their advertisers. In this way, Google is like the missionary leaders of the future. As long as missionary resource teams can function for the network, and not the other way around, you will see healthy growth.

–Leaders in traditional churches are like an exoskeleton, which allows for structure in an organism (good), but restricts how an organism can grow (bad). Endoskeletons function like leaders in organic church networks, serving “behind the scenes” and allowing the organism to grow and take its own shape.

The only way for Jesus to truly be the head of his Church, and yet to have leaders who guide networks to become the Bride of Christ that they were called to be is to allow leaders to simple be the PEOPLE they were called to be…deep listeners of Jesus Christ.

———

SO! This is written as a draft - what do you think about it? Can leadership function in this way? Is it possible to have grassroots networks that don’t do the whole corporate heirarchy mess? Do people need human leaders at all? Fill me in and help me think this through!

Last 5 posts by Mark

4 Responses to “Missionary Resource Teams”

  1. miller Says:

    As long as these leaders serve the people

    they clearly are keeping their patrons first in mind, not their advertisers. In this way, Google is like the missionary leaders of the future

    i have major problems with these statements and the ideas they represent.

    i would say as long as these leaders serve Jesus

    and

    they clearly are keeping Jesus Christ first in mind, not their advertisers.

    but then i think the google analogy would fall apart…

    its not about the people!

    its about Adonai! he serves the people, the people serve him…

    perichoresis!

    humble service to him, attention to him, lets us be used by him to care for his children…

    Jesus said he only does what the Father is doing…

    if we are to be like Jesus it seems we must learn to see and hear and do what the Father is doing.

    IMO

    good post

    peace

  2. Benny Nowell Says:

    “Lack of Hierarchy - Instead of having a hierarchy, SEVENS will be led by a fellowship…a community of leaders sharing their gifts, wisdom, and the weight of their lives to bring a unified voice of direction.”

    This is from our tenets for SEVENS.

    I agree there has to be a new version of leadership for our churches…whatever form they take. I think that the leader that you are describing has to have a few key qualities:

    1. A deep, personal, active, alive relationship with God. They have to serve from a heart that is healed, feed, and shored up by God.

    2. They have to REALLY be able to listen for God’s direction for whatever ministry they have started or are involved in.

    3. They have to completely remove their ego from it all. Because when you are “allowing the organism to grow and take its own shape.”, It’s easy to get your feelings hurt. So maybe more than removing the ego; it should be said that this kind of leader has to really believe that God is in control and nows what He’s is doing. TRUST in God.

    4. This kind of leader has to be completely rid of the old way of thinking of leadership. And view themselves as servants.

    5. This kind of leader has to be the one that can inspire and equip his friends in the organization. Also be the cheerleader, and keep people excited about this family.

    Those are my thoughts. I’ve really been mulling this over as well since I am the leader of a ministry. I want the folks that are involved with SEVENS to be a part of a family/tribe and have a place to use the gifts they’ve been given. I know the kind of leadership we are after is going to create an organization that grows people who love and serve on their own. And won’t wait for the organization to come up with the plan.

    -Benny-

  3. Mark Says:

    Benny -
    GREAT thoughts on leadership! We’re moving forward in very similar directions, and it is encouraging to hear some of the similar things God is whispering to both of us. I think there is a new reforming of God’s Bride in this country that you and I are both a part of. It’s exciting. (And sorry for the late response! I’ve been out of town!)

    Miller -
    You’re absolutely right - As missional leaders we are to be servants of Christ, not of the people. Of course, that means that the people have to be in tune with Christ, because if the people see that they are no longer being served, and are not connected to Christ, they will revolt! (Look at the Israelites and Moses, who at several occasions almost gave up on each other.)

  4. miller Says:

    the people have to be in tune with Christ

    agreed…

    but i don’t really know what to do about that except be in tune myself…

    peace

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