Missional Communities
What is a Missional Community?
Missional communities are the primary way we connect with others and live our lives together on mission at Project Church. These smaller groups of people (6-20) provide an opportunity to know others and be known within our community. Through these relationships, we mutually challenge and encourage one another to live the lives we are meant to live as followers of Christ.
Each missional community identifies their unique mission (that ties to our mission to go and make disciples who love God and people) and meets regularly to eat, learn, pray, share, party, and be together on mission, living out the Gospel in real and tangible expressions.
While our corporate gatherings are important, missional communities are the heartbeat of our church and are the vehicle for most of the church’s ministry. It is our desire that everyone would be a part of a missional community wherever they are on their spiritual journey.
What do Missional Communities do?
Throughout a given month, we encourage each missional community to meet for several weeks to share stories, pray, and explore and have a conversation around Scripture, a good book, etc. One week focused on a service project to meet a tangible community need, and one week where you just have a big party with each other and friends from outside the group.
In addition to weekly times of gathering, we encourage spontaneous connection, practicing hospitality with others, and simply doing life together.
Finally, it’s our intention that each missional community grow and birth new missional communities for the good of our city and to the glory of God.
What About the Children?
We love kids! They are significant members of our missional communities. And while each group has freedom as to how children will be connected in the community, here are some ideas to help figure out how to keep them engaged.
- Rotate an adult (or two) to be in charge of the kids each week.
- Pool a few bucks each & hire a person (or two) to come in & babysit each week.
- Incorporate children into your meeting and be understanding when they don’t act like an adult.
Tips, Hints, and Other Things
- As a group, give your missional community a name.
- Eat together –People open up around food. Plus, it’s what Jesus did.
- Missional Communities don’t have to meet at the leader’s place. You can meet in someone else’s place or at a public venue (coffee shop, pub, etc.)
- Make new people feel welcomed & make proper introductions.
- An easy way to kick-off your meeting is to do highs & lows. Go around the group and share highs from the last week and the low’s.
- Tie your Bible study to that week’s message.
- Celebrate milestones, birthdays, etc. Care for one another during difficulties.
- When the group gets to around 16-20 people, it’s time to start thinking about splitting. Remember, making disciples & multiplying missional communities is the goal.
- Avoid being a clique or a spiritual cul-de-sac. Be externally focused.
- Experiment. Don’t be afraid to try new things.
- Always be inviting people. It’s a relational network.
- Keep it positive, avoid gripe sessions, and don’t be weird.
