GodTxt

Lately I have been following through a series at Westside Family Church in Kansas City called "GodTxt." A series pertaining to the necessity of becoming more involved with God's word. This series has been built around the idea that God has sent us a "text message," the Bible. So with this idea in mind WFC is sending out a text message of their own every morning (at the ungodly hour of 8:29am) that gives scripture for the church to go through together with the intention of creating more consistent time in the Word for those who choose to participate in the text blast. Last week it was John 15, and in particular last Wednesday was John 15:8-17:

8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command.15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.17 This is my command: Love each other.

For some reason this passage of eight or nine very short verses struck a pretty weighty cord in my heart. It really opened my eyes to what being "Missional" should be.
Now I know this is a stretch but bear with me.

Mission to me as a personal interpretation of John 15:

1. We are being called into "Friendship" with the targeted Mission Field not into some awkward teacher/pupil relationship (John 15:15).

2. We SERVE the Mission Field we desire to reach until we are entrusted with FRIENDSHIP. We then share life and expose Christ's identity through our trusted love to them (the Mission Field) meanwhile never neglecting our responsibility to SERVE them (John 15:12,13).

3. Being "missional" is a slow, painful, uncomfortable, non-gratifying process -- which is exactly why we must find rest in Christ. Jesus is the one who makes it worth it (John 15:11)

Here is a time-line, for lack of a better term, that I have put together to illustrate my above thoughts:

Establish MISSION Field------Establish appropriate SERVANT-HOOD------Establish FRIENDSHIP-------Establish EXPECTATIONS-------REVEAL CHRIST through Each of these Establishments

Side note;
To me "missional" is a fun, trendy way of saying "discipleship." Which I am totally cool with, I am a firm believer in the FACT that there must be change and growth to maintain/create momentum. So with that said I would like to change an old title myself, from now on instead of being referred to as a "missionary," I would like to be referred to as a "disciplinary"...wait...now that I said that out-loud I don't feel like that will fly... how about you just keep calling me, "Guy who is doing something weird in KCK."

Mission House Newsletter - Aug 2010

One of my favorite parts of God’s word is Isaiah 44, especially the first five verses:

“This is what the Lord says – he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. One will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and will take the name of Israel.”

I used to walk through campus at my university and pray this passage specifically over each of the fraternities, especially mine. I prayed that ministry would take place in each one of those communities and that God would honor His promise of blessing the spiritual future of those houses by raising up indigenous leaders in the present. Campus was a place that could easily overwhelm one with regulations, demonic stronghold, and resistance… much like urban areas.

I have found myself relying on God in KCK the exact way I did on campus, by relentless prayer. Similar to campus I walk the streets of my neighborhood and pray this same cry of Israel over the ministry of Mission House and the potential impact for the Kingdom that is attainable. I pray that God will use us to equip, motivate, and empower the people of our community to live in light of the Gospel and to be a people that is not motivated by self-gain but a people motivated by a heart that gives itself away. In turn this example will build a foundation of Jesus Christ that will be lived and taught for generations to come.


Join me in prayer…
1. I will pour out my spirit on your offspring. (Isaiah 44:3)
One of the greatest joys of ministry is the fact that we get to build relationships with new people because God built a relationship with us through Jesus. The best part about building new relationships is that God shows up through us in the lives of others.
Pray for lasting relationships.
2. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:37)
The key component of Mission House each year is a good group of interns committed to surrendering to the direction of Jesus Christ and allowing their hearts to be broken for the people and circumstances of our community.
Pray for our core interns.

3. Do not be anxious about anything. (Philippians 4:6)
It has become easy to get overwhelmed with the details and pressures of starting a new ministry. Jesus directs us to trust the plan and lay our burdens on Him. Pray for the ability to trust.

4. Give and it will be given to you. (Luke 6:38)
As we establish Mission House and begin to bless and be a part of our new neighborhood, we are dependent on outside individuals, families, churches, and organizations to bless us with financial stability. I am quickly realizing that ministry is a collaboration of resources, which is exciting because we get to be a part of God’s work together.
Pray for financial stability.

5. Let my words be few (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
As we begin to unfold and unpack more of the vision that God has for Mission House let us not over think and overreact to His calling. Help us stay true to God’s plan and be open to his direction, even if it changes our vision.
Pray for wisdom.


Mission House
PO Box 172365
Kansas City, Kansas 66117

facebook.com/missionhouse