A Pioneering SpiritA Pioneering Spirit

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A missional A missional re-engagementre-engagement

with societywith society

2007 Tear Fund survey of 7000 adults in contact or not with church

“ “ this majority (66%) presents a major this majority (66%) presents a major challenge to churches. Most of them are challenge to churches. Most of them are

unreceptive and closed unreceptive and closed to attending church; churchgoing isto attending church; churchgoing is

simply not on their agenda.”simply not on their agenda.”

Churchgoing in the UK.Churchgoing in the UK.A research report from Tearfund. April 2007A research report from Tearfund. April 2007

Playing Away

‘ ‘ the church is missionary the church is missionary by it’s very nature…….by it’s very nature…….

the church does not havethe church does not have a mission a mission

but the mission has but the mission has a church.’a church.’

Prophetic Dialogue. Prophetic Dialogue. Bevans and ScroederBevans and Scroeder

‘‘Mission is often described as if it wereMission is often described as if it werea planned extension of an old building.a planned extension of an old building.But it fact it has usually been more likeBut it fact it has usually been more like

an unexpected explosion.’an unexpected explosion.’

John V Taylor John V Taylor

A re-imaginationA re-imaginationof what church isof what church is

(and could become) (and could become)

““ And so from the start, where Jesus is,And so from the start, where Jesus is,there is the church, the church is the there is the church, the church is the

assembly of those who are finding their assembly of those who are finding their relationships, their lives transformedrelationships, their lives transformed

by the presence of Jesus.”by the presence of Jesus.”

A re-orientation A re-orientation towards whole lifetowards whole life

discipleship.discipleship.

The glory of God is the human person fully alive

Irenaeus of Lyon

‘‘a discipleship movement a discipleship movement shaped for mission’shaped for mission’

What kind of people are we called to be?

What kind of community is capable of raising people like that?

Dreamers Dreamers whowhododo

“We cannot solve problems by

using the same kind of thinking

we used when we created them.”

Albert Einstein

“The real voyage of discovery consistsnot in seeking new landscapes

but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

Three pieces of adviceabout imagination

1.Forget everything you know

2.Remember everything you know

3.Re-arrange everything you know

•Who is the mission for?

•Who is the mission by?

•Who is the mission with?

Dissenters who are loyal

‘‘There can be no constructive changeThere can be no constructive change at all, even in church, unlessat all, even in church, unless

there is some form of dissent. there is some form of dissent. By dissent I mean simply the proposing ofBy dissent I mean simply the proposing of

alternatives….alternatives….and a system that is not and a system that is not

continuously examining alternativescontinuously examining alternativesis not likely to evolve creatively.’is not likely to evolve creatively.’

Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the ChurchGerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church

Four enduring features?• Dissatisfied

– Not grumbler but wanting change for the better

• Visionary– Looks beyond what is to what could be

• Hopeful– Change is possible and this inspires others

• Risk takers– Acts on convictions and out of comfort zones

Stuart Murray: Ch 7 Planting Churches: who?

‘‘not leaving the traditionnot leaving the traditionbut driving to it’s heart’but driving to it’s heart’

Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the ChurchGerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church

Diversifiers who uniteDiversifiers who unite

‘‘Take leave of the gospel Take leave of the gospel for the sake of the gospel.’for the sake of the gospel.’

Spectrum of pioneeringSpectrum of pioneering

PioneerStarter

PioneerSustainer

SustainerPioneer

SustainerDeveloper

Danger of one model for pioneering

Disturb us Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves,

when our dreams have come truebecause we have dreamed too little,

when we arrived safelybecause we sailed too close to the shore.

Sir Francis Drake

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The Qualities of aThe Qualities of aPioneer ?Pioneer ?

People who arePeople who are

first

People who arePeople who are

on the edge

People who arePeople who are

moving out

People who arePeople who are

loving change

People who knowPeople who know

when to stay or go

People who knowPeople who know

when to bring orderor chaos

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