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Be Empowered

February 1, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CST

Empowering the Church for Missional Movement

In this new season of (almost) post-Covid ecclesiology, we’re seeing pastors, church leaders, and
planters struggle to find movement. Not only are congregants increasingly tired, mentally
retreating, and instilling new rhythms in their life, but leaders are facing these new paradigms
as well. All of this results in lower attendance and engagement, with tired leaders trying to find
new movement in their community. At Forge America, we see the shifting patterns of church life
and faith as opportunities to engage what the church was always designed to be…a missional
movements of communities joining God in his mission to announce the Kingdom.

So what does “empowering” for missional movement look like?

First, it looks like reminding ourselves of some theological and biblical truths and identities
about ourselves. This identity is found throughout the whole of scripture, but perhaps finds its
crescendo from the lips of Jesus himself in John 20:19-23. In this conversation with his disciples,
he proclaims their identity and their methodology when he states, “…as the Father sent me so I
am sending you.” We are first and foremost “sent” people. At Forge, this means that our
churches, organizations, and faith communities also carry this “sent” identity. How are we sent?
We’re sent in the same way the Father sent Jesus. His life becomes our model.

Secondly, we understand that there are different conversations for different church contexts.
The pastor of an existing church community that wants to “re-mission” itself to be more
outward focused and movemental into the neighborhoods and city that it serves, will have
much different coaching and training needs than the pioneer or church planter starting
something new. An existing church needs to take into account the culture and organizational
shifts that are needed in order to remission smartly. Just launching micro-churches as a program
may actually hurt more than help if not thought through strategically. New pioneers have
specific needs and concerns when launching a new community with missional values.
Collectively, both of these leaders then need tools to help disciple people toward missional
emergence in their lives as a community.

Lastly, becoming a “missional” community will carry with it excitement and momentum as
people experiment and learn to love their neighbors tangibly. Stories will start returning of
exciting kingdom displays and lives being changed. However, this environment also carries
challenges, as missional life is often messy. Leaders need a community of missional practitioners
and entrepreneurs to walk with and belong to. At Forge America, this is perhaps our greatest
strength. While we strive for strong training tools and resources, we are at our best a relational
network of people who are on mission together. From all around the country, various contexts
come together and share best practices, ideas, and struggles as leaders. This is our collective
intelligence that brings a communitas in the midst of our liminal experiences.

We see the future as extremely hopeful for the church, IF we are willing to pivot and join God in
mission in new ways. Join us as we begin the conversation that will soon take place at
Exponential 2022.

Description of the Show:
A conversation around re-missioning the church for movement and the implications of our
current cultural and societal struggles on participating in God’s mission.

Details

Date:
February 1, 2022
Time:
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CST
Event Category: