Sublime

Missional Renaissance (2009) and Missional Communities

than this. My heart overflows with praise that God chooses to work in me and my family.” Or people like Robert, a successful businessman in our community. After a recent study we went through on making disciples, Robert told me that in all his years in church he had never seen the responsibility—and privilege—he had to impact nations for the glory

First, what are small places like? Second, how can we minister fruitfully in small places? Third, should I minister in a small place?

When we have too many slots to fill, we tend to view people as potential slot-fillers. When people serve not because of God’s call but because they have been drafted, the quality of ministry suffers.

They are doing exactly what I encourage Christian readers to do: embrace our new role as “creative minorities” and work out in collaboration with our communities the best ways to build the Benedict Option where God has planted us.

Of course, Paul did speak to some influential people, but it’s equally clear that he regularly associated with “nobodies.” His strategy (if it can even be called that) seems to have been to engage whoever would listen.

The staff and I had little room to bewith anyone. We barely had time to listen. I could not speak honestly with people or learn together with them. The cultural expectation for me, the pastor, was not about love or about nurturing a gracious life together in transforming community; my job was to lead, recruit, manage, and produce something