Missional Discernment Day 1

The energy and vibe of the Evangelism and Church Growth 2012 #ecg2012 conference and its attendees is exceptional. Lindsay, Lazara, and I are meeting wonderful people from across the congregation (and a few non-Presbyterians) who are united in the missions of this conference to find new ways to evangelize, strengthen existing churches, develop new worship communities, and effectively minister to youth.

Although Lindsay and I are both taking the New Church Development (NCD) track of the conference, we are following individual topic "threads" within that track. She is following "Churches Planting Churches" and I am taking "Missional Discernment In Your Context." From the conference brochure,

"NCD work involves being able to discern, read, and interpret signs of our culture and the winds of the Spirit in order to faithfully translate the gospel into particular cultural contexts."

Our study leaders for Missional Discernment are Doug McMahon (co-pastor of Missio Dei in St. Petersburg, http://www.themissiodei.com/) and B.J. Woodworth, founding pastor of the Open Door in Pittsburgh, PA (http://www.pghopendoor.org/). Here are some "snippets" of the thoughts we considered in todays sessions (all of which will be explored further upon our return to GPC):

• The Holy Spirit plants churches
• Success stories from previous NCD "plants" are not meant to be duplicated, but examined for their applicability to your own situation
• 3-Self Movement: Self-sustaining, self-governing, self-reproducing
• Missional "sophistication" involves a deep understanding of the people, cultural dynamics, available skills of people, and real community needs
• The book of Acts has many examples of discernment at work in the early church
• St. Ignatius of Loyola is considered the "Father of Discernment"
• Finding God in all things in order that we might love and serve all things
• Prayer walks through the community
• St. Patrick ministered to the Celtic "barbarians" and applied many of these principles

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will spend most of the day in an activity called "Exploring Your Neighborhood: An Exegetical Walk". We will be conducting a "critical analysis" (exegisis) of several neighborhoods in areas of St. Petersburg to determine how one might begin planning for a new church development. We will be analyzing features such as housing types and conditions, whether there is building or renovation going on, how well the residences appear cared for, proximity to major freeways, who might have lived here before "civilization" arrived, community or civic centers, the number and appearance of public spaces such as parks, playgrounds, or walkways.

This promises to be the most exciting day of this topic, and I look forward to reporting on it!

Yours in Christ,

Douglas