By John Cole
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By John Cole
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C: Eight Aspects of Missionary Engagement This list was first developed at a plenary meeting of Churches Together in All Lincolnshire in 2001. It provides evidence of the many levels at which we need to connect with what God is doing - and the many partnerships we must form in doing so. Ecumenical mission is so much more than ‘inter-churchery' - and missionary engagement takes its shape from its context and is far more than individual congregations can tackle on their own.
1. Inter-facing with Government Facing the challenges involved in walking the corridors of power e.g. East Midlands Churches Forum 2. Contextual Mission/Ministry Getting involved with people and their lives and concerns wherever they are e.g. Industrial and Rural Mission 3. Community Development Building community and allowing people to discover God already at work in their lives e.g. The Lincoln Community Development Project and the Nunsthorpe Drop-in Centre in Grimsby 4. Gathering around issues Responding and campaigning in relation to issues of concern e.g. Christian Aid ~ Justice & Peace Groups ~ the Trade Justice Movement 5. Articulating Gospel Sharing the language, story and pictures that will enable people to see Jesus as Christ e.g. Lincoln Christians in Mission 6. Pastoral care Offering the compassionate and healing hand of God in response to individual need e.g. Pastoral ministry of local churches 7. ‘Tuning in’ to God Our attentiveness to God through prayer, study and through awareness of what is going on in the world around us e.g. Julian Groups ~ Maranatha 8. ‘Building the Body of Christ’ Sharing our very diverse experience of the means of grace e.g. Traditional ecumenical activity |