So often when we
talk of mission we talk of the faithful gathering together to engage in some
programme or initiative. Now this may have a place in the life of a church, but
most folk spend the vast majority of their time scattered in places of work,
homes and communities. If we have 168 hours in a week and we spend 48 sleeping
and say 10 gathered as church, then we have 110 hours elsewhere. This elsewhere
is our frontline in terms of mission; It is the place where we are called to
live out our faith and to make Jesus known; It is the place where God invites
us to be involved in his mission.
So the challenge
comes to the church to equip people to live out their faith actively on their
frontlines where they are scattered. This will be worked out in different ways
in different contexts. It will involve equipping the church to think through
relevant issues to the contexts in which they live. It will involve praying for
people in their frontlines and not just when they are sick. It will involve
supporting people on their frontlines and not simply expecting them to fill
their time with church-based activity. It will involve emphasising the
scattered and not focusing on the gathered.
It will involve leaders visiting people on their frontlines to
understand, support and encourage.
This week I have
spent a couple of days with mission leaders from across the UK engaging with
Neil Hudson of the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity talking
through these challenges. Neil’s book, ‘Imagine Church’ (link to book) and course ‘Frontline’
(link to course) are helpful in stretching our thinking further.
