If you have ever watched Star Trek, than perhaps, you remember the episode with the Tribbles. These Tribbles multiplied profusely. Why? Because they were born pregnant and here is the similarity I would like to make with Missional Communities.

Missional Communities must be BORN pregnant and ready to reproduce — MULTIPLY. (says Neil Cole).

When you BIRTH a missional community the expectation is multiplication – anything less leads to death.

Here is a little secret — it is easier to multiple groups of two, three, twelve. It is more difficult to multiple your gathering or worship service of 40, 50, 150. The beauty of missional community is this: It is a simple organism!

What you aime for you will hit. Target missional living and you will get communitas (which is better than community). If you just aime for community, you will possibly miss missional living.

The gravitational pull —for most churches in America -– is the holy huddle. HUDDLES (not communitas) of community singing kumbaya and growing old together. Comfort and community can lead to the death of a reproducing community.

Sometimes, missional communities can become too old to reproduce because of this gravitational pull.

Multiply everything you do. Let your missional communities be born pregnant.

What do you think? Where do you agree or disagree with what has been written?

Go therefore and MULTIPLY……

In fact, come to Portland OR and live missionally with us. Come live here and sow the gospel. Come live here “born pregnant” ready to multiply communitas into a gathered, called out people of God in a 20-minute community. sendportland gcr namb sbc

Another reason to live in the Portland Metro, you will be fit.

Portland ranked fourth behind Minneapolis/St. Paul, Washington D.C. and Boston out of the top 50 most populous metro cities.

Like you needed another reason to come to Portland and sow the gospel to see new churches started!

Join us in the harvest sendPortland namb gcr sbc

Why missional and why missional communities? In Portland OR (sendPortland) we have to innovate how the church forms and organizes itself to proclaim the good news found in Jesus Christ to reach the population not currently “attracted” to the church. Innovation says, “How do we as a community of Jesus followers live in this world while expanding Christ’s Kingdom who is Head of the Church?” “How do we take the gospel as a community to those 60-70% who aren’t going to church?”

Leading missional thinkers gave their answers to the following questions regarding missional living and missional communities.

Here are the questions:
Question #1: What is a missional community
Question #2: How is missional community different from bible study?
Question #3: How do you transition your church to be more missional?
Question #4: How do you transition your small group to missional community?
Question #5: How do you train missional community leaders?
Question #6: What do missional communities do?
Question #7: Which churches are doing this? What are some of the success stories? Struggles?

Here are their answers:
http://www.vergenetwork.org/2011/04/29/7-questions-series-recap/

Want to learn more? Follow our blog sendPortland

Whether you are starting up or already established. These simple disciplines from Richard Branson may help you along the journey.

1. Take notes. Observe what is happening in your organization and use these notes as action steps to better your organization. This is your “to do” list. Neglect this list and neglect your organization. Address these issue in line with your core values and you’ll be on your way.

2. Clarify your core values. As you move forward in your efforts as an organization, you must be sure of your core values. How do they reflect your community and the future? These values should drive how you deliver the “goods” your organization has to offer.

3. Problem-solve often. You should always be willing to examine the organization and then solve the problem identified. Neglect the “problems” and staff will figure out quickly what is and isn’t important to you as a leader. Foster a culture of PROBLEM SOLVERS!

4. Communication. This is critical in delivering to your community. As a leader, make yourself accessible. Provide context for people to be creative and offer creative ideas. Otherwise, people will just bring you problems. This can wear you out. Be brave and make yourself as a leader available to your staff both for creative sessions and problem solving. Ownership is about letting others shape the mission, vision and values. This happens through communication.

5. Instilling attention to detail. You shouldn’t do everything but you should be aware of the details. Celebrate those who are doing the “day-to-day” stuff which makes the organization move. Celebrate the accomplishments of people and they will give attention to the details!

6. Keep a cool head. It takes work to succeed. If you are succeeding, some non-profits may not be pleased with your success. Befriend people, play to win, and be a “good sport” as your organization grows.

To read the entire article, you can go here:
http://ping.fm/FJjbw

Like what you read? We’d love to talk with you about joining our team in planting the gospel in 20-minute communities throughout Portland Oregon. Send me a direct message on twitter to: @weshughes or leave a comment in this post. sendportland

Recent post on EdStetzer.com has him answering some question on Church Planting…..

Question: What is the SMARTEST things being done in Church Planting? His answer: “Plant a church that at the very beginning plans on planting other churches.” My answer: Changing the metrics of measuring church planting (success/health) from, “How many are you attracting Sunday morning?” to “How many disciples are you making from those who are not yet followers of Jesus?”

Next Question please…..What are the DUMBEST things people are doing n church planting? His answer: “They are planting churches that are simply gathering groups of religious customers who want to have church in a “fresh” way….” My Answer: I actually like his answer! I would also add….giving A LOT of money to someone to do this-UP FRoNT- is even DUMBER!

Final Question for $2000 please……What is the best way to evangelize a community? His answer: “….church planting is not always the best way to evangelize a community. I think people are the only way to evangelize a community, and I think church plants are an effective means for deploying people. I don’t think we need a “best.” We need a “both.” My Answer: Ed, you are a genius which makes me a genius because I agree with you! We are never asked to plant churches by JESUS. We are asked to go and make disciples. This command to “make disciples” will gather a group together to form a “church” - a group of called out Christ followers. Let’s not get the cart before the horse!

For Ed’s entire post, you can go to his little blog at http://ping.fm/WVKSH

How would you answer the question? What is the smartest, dumbest, and best practices happening in church planting in your context?

We’d love for you to come to Portland and join our movement of seeing other curious God-seekers come to follow Jesus in our wonderful city. Just comment on this blog and we will follow up with you sendportland .

Here is an interesting article in regards to converting onlookers to donors using Social Media.

The author presents the following conclusion:

“You can’t use Facebook and Twitter to covert people into anything. But you can find people who are already passionate and have conversations with them…..And if the conversations have been valuable for them, and they truly believe in what you do, they’ll donate, they’ll sign the petition, they’ll spearhead change alongside you.”

Here is his sequence using social media:
1. Find people
2. Gather information
a. sit back
b. listen
c. learn
3. Start having conversations with people.
4. IF, people find the conversation VALUABLE to them they will…..donate…..they will “sign up”…..they will come alongside you to spearhead the charge!

The key: Valuable conversations!

Interesting? In my conversations with the “person on the street” I discover people are interested in spiritual things, for example. Some are even passionate about their search or their spiritual path.

How do you take the time to stop, listen and learn from these people, in order to offer something of a valuable conversation to them?

Who will God lead you today? Will you stop and listen to them? Will you have a conversation with them (a conversation which is more listening than telling)? Will you commit to doing this for the long-term with this person?

Convert vs. Converse. Here is praying more of our conversations lead to conversions to the WAY of JESUS.

We’d love to invite you to join us in the conversation in Portland! Contact us by responding to this post to learn more on how you can get involved. sendportland