What is Missional Living?

(Short Version)

At The Avenue, we've defined it as "doing mission right where you are as a transformed follower of Christ who selflessly goes into culture to serve as a missionary through relationships."

This is our approach to evanaglism, and our encouragement to every believer. We believe this is our calling, and the way we are going to reach our culture for Christ.

Want to know more? See our long version below.

Here's the Long Version.

Doing mission right where you are: God calls some people to be missionaries in Africa and Asia, but we feel he's called us to be missionaries right here, in the Greater Kansas City suburban area. We're on the same mission as those overseas, yet in a different culture and more familiar surroundings.

As a transformed follower of Christ: The thing that makes something "missional" versus "good person" is Christ. Why are we missional? Why do we reach out to help others and meet needs? It's to show them Christ. It's not about doing a lot of good things because we're great volunteers or want to feel better about ourselves. We serve because we've been served. We love because we've been loved. And we're out there hoping to spread the same love we've been transformed by.

Who selflessly goes: If we're being honest, it's not always easy to be missional. There is often personal sacrifice or expense in order to live this lifestyle. Just in any new relationship, it may take time, patience, money and personal sacrifice as the bonds form. Our consumer-filled culture pushes us to shrug off sacrifice and stay comfortable every day. But as followers of Christ who live as he once lived, this is not optional but a must when it comes to spreading the Gospel and living like Jesus.

Into culture to serve: To reach the culture, we must be relevant to the culture. We must be in the world, and not of the world, in order to reach the world. This means meeting the people right where they're at - the concert, coffee shop, grocery store, gym, salon, classroom, restaurant, team, etc. Our first priority is not to invite them to church, but to get to know their names, why they're hanging out where they are, and what they're all about.  

As a missionary through relationships: When God calls missionaries oversees, they have to have a strategic approach when they arrive. To reach the communities God calls them to, they must first get to know the people, and how to meet their needs. With the same approach in the Kansas City area, we must first approach our job as a missionary with relationship-building. Before we invite someone to church, share our testimony, or introduce them to Christ, we first want to build a relationship with them. We want to spend time with them, help out where we can, and discover where they're at in their beliefs and views about God. Then over time as the relationship and trust is formed, we start praying God will open a door so we can openly share Christ and how He's transformed our lives.