about missional communities
Missional communities are mid-sized communities [10-65 people] that will exist to serve our city—each in a unique and missional way.
These communities gather around an idea, campus, people group, or issue to bring the light, hope, and love of Jesus to those specific needs and places in our city. You might think of these communities as people gathering around a common conviction. We hope that in time these groups will stretch around the world—but all things in due time, right?
Missional Communities gather regularly [weekly, bi-weekly, monthly] wherever is best [home, office, missional location] to share a meal, read about Jesus, minister to each other, and pray for those we wish to reach.
To find out more about the why of missional communities, view the resources from our Exploring Missional Communities Conversation. To check out our missional communities, click here.
To start a missional community:
Stage 1: Preparation (averaging 2-4 months)
- Become a covenant partner
- Begin to meet, eat, and pray together around your mission
- Notify (e-mail) GN staff identifying who you are, where you'll begin meeting, and a sentence or two defining your missional purpose
- Begin to learn about and engage those you want to serve
- Consider a name or phrase to identify your missional community
Stage 2: Launch
- Identify point leaders (minimum of 2) who must be active covenant partners
- Participate in "Learning Community" retreats (2x/year: August & January)
- Participate in leaders' training (6-7x/year)
- Make disciples (3 loves, 4 commitments)
- Creatively do "up, in, out" as a community
- Point leaders in a leadership "huddle" for support and accountability
Stage 3: Multiply (ideally ready to multiply within 12 months)
- Identify point leaders for new MC
- Talk with current MC leaders for affirmation and support
- Communicate with GN staff
- Incubate new missisonal focus within current MC as long as possible
- Begin Stage One (see above)