What is Our Goal?

As people on mission among the peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa, what is our goal? Ultimately, at the end of the day, what would make us most satisfied and, much more importantly, what would make God most satisfied?

Well, that could open up a lot of discussion!

While it might not be complete, one thought I had this morning after reading an announcement about a series of micro-conferences sponsored by City Leadership around the topic of Missional Communities, is that seeing missional communities established among all the peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa would not be a bad goal at all. Here is the working definition that City Leadership is using of a missional community:

“A Missional Community consists of a committed core of believers (FAMILY) who live out the mission of God together (MISSIONARIES) in a specific area or to a particular people group by demonstrating the gospel in tangible forms (SERVANTS) and declaring the gospel to others— both those who believe it and those who are being exposed to it (LEARNERS). To clarify, a Missional Community is NOT primarily a small group, Bible study, support group, social activist group, or weekly meeting.” (From Soma Communities)

The one thing that comes to mind that is missing from this definition is worship. I would modify the definition, and thus my desire for the peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa so that it reads this way (the underlined portion is my addition):

“A Missional Community consists of a committed core of believers (FAMILY) who joyfully worship God (CELEBRATORS) and then live out the mission of God together (MISSIONARIES) in a specific area or to a particular people group by demonstrating the gospel in tangible forms (SERVANTS) and declaring the gospel to others— both those who believe it and those who are being exposed to it (LEARNERS). To clarify, a Missional Community is NOT primarily a small group, Bible study, support group, social activist group, or weekly meeting.”

John Piper explained his goal of evangelism this way in a sermon in 1981, Worship Is An End In Itself:

Of course the purpose for winning people to Christ is not that they might win others. It's that they might bring honor to God in worship and that they might experience the joy of trusting God's mercy. We do not recruit people to recruit others. We recruit people for God! The content, the substance, the life, the goal, the end is God and the joyful experience of ascribing glory to him. Evangelism is not an end in itself. Worship is an end in itself. 

• How would you state your goal for the people with whom you work?

For the Kingdom,
Bob A