A Mission Church

I believe that God is calling WBC to be a mission church. "What? A mission church?" Thats right...a mission church. I dont use the term mission church to mean a church which is a new church plant, or a ministry of another church, or a church which is begun overseas. When I say mission church I mean a church that exists for a specific reason...a specific purpose...one which has a mission and never lets that mission go. The problem with many churches is that they are drifting. They have no purpose for existing because they have no mission and they become stagnant and boring.

So...what is our mission? Why does WBC exist? What are we supposed to be DOING?

Wait I know the answer to this...we exist to gain members. Isnt that right? More members means more people on the rolls and more people in worship and in my SS classes and...most importantly...more money in the budget! This means more staff and more programs for me to enjoy with my family. Yes...that is it...right?.........No?

Ok...let me try again...WBC exists to minister to my family and to generate great programs for me and for my children......................No? That is not it either? shucks!

How about this...WBC exists to teach the Bible! Surely that is it! or how about this...WBC exists to help me to grow as a believer..............no? What! That is not it either? Come on Pastor!

Well if more money and more members and more buildings and more staff and more programs is not the answer...and ministering to my family, teaching the Bible or helping me to grow is not why WBC exists then I am about out of options as to why we are even a church?

I wonder if Matthew 28:19 has the answer.

Some think the primary command in this passage is to "go". Other think the primary command is to "teach" or to "baptize". But there is one command in this passage which stands out above all others...this command forms the foundation of the very existence of the church..."make disciples". All the other stuff listed above is great stuff...and we could add many other spiritual functions to the list. But our purpose for existence is to "make disciples". Everything else is a by-product. If we make disciples all the great things listed above will happen as a result.

The thing that makes us distinct from every other church is our strategy. Our identity will be founded upon our mission "To Make Disciples"...our identity will be shaped by our strategy for carrying out the mission and our vision for our congregation.

You know what WBC needs...identity. We need our own seperate, autonomous identity expressed through a well planned strategy which is specific to us and us alone. More on that later. Identity and strategy are subordinating issues which I will address in subsequent posts. It all begins with our mission which is to "make disciples".

Are you on board with our mission?