God’s
Mission Is Your Mission
“As
the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
–Jesus (John
20:21)
Vision
We desire to see all 600+
people-groups in the Penn State/State College area reached by the Gospel in 5
years.
Mission
To take the Gospel,
Community, and Mission of God to the unchurched and dechurched of Penn State
& State College.
Strategy
We plan to reach these
people-groups through a movement which equips, empowers, and sends people out to start groups among
targeted people-groups (networks of friends, neighbors, clubs, organizations,
etc.). These groups are able to spontaneously multiply and thus rapidly make
inroads on campus and in the community.
Goals
Ø 6 groups targeting particular people groups by end
of Fall 08. These groups multiply, so we prayerfully expect…
Ø 12-18 groups targeting particular people groups by
end of Spring 09.
Ø Fall 2009 and beyond: only God knows!
Core
Values:
1. Gospel-Centered Lives
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is central to all we are and all
we do. It is the Message to be
proclaimed and the Power for living.
It is the hope we are hungry for, and the change & transformation we
need.
Our greatest need is to be rescued from sin, and restored
to right relationship with God. Neither religion nor irreligion can save us.
The only thing that can do this is the Gospel. Religious people need to repent
of their religion, and irreligious people need to repent of their sin. The
Gospel is not merely the means by which we are saved, but the power for living every
day of the Christian life. It is not the first step in the Christian life; it
IS the Christian life.
2. Gospel-Shaped Community
Christian Community is a direct result of Gospel
transformation. Every community revolves around something: a common identity
and purpose. Christian community revolves around the Gospel, and is made up of
people who have been transformed by the Gospel. We realize the Gospel must be
lived out in community. We seek to form communities that reflect our
Gospel-shaped identities as children of God, a new people, a new family. If we
gather for any other reason, we have lost sight of the uniquely Christian
character of our community. Jesus unites us to himself and other Christians for the sake of the Mission. No
one is a free agent.
3. Gospel-Fueled Mission
The Gospel does not end in a cul-de-sac at our heart. The
Gospel, properly understood, compels us to go. Every Christian worthy of the
name is called by Jesus Christ to join him in his Mission to redeem and renew
our world. Missio Dei means “Mission of God.” Built in to our very DNA is the belief that:
1. We are Sent (John 20:21)
2. To all kinds of people (Matthew 28:18-20)
3. With a Message (Luke 24:44-49)
4. Empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)
Our Mission focuses on our immediate context: our campus,
our neighborhood, our workplace. We view our community as a mission field, and
ourselves as missionaries. We seek to reach out, serve, and humbly engage the
people, culture, and institutions around us. Everything we do reflects this orientation
to life—this is what it means to be missional.
FAQ:
1. What
is Missio Dei?
Missio Dei
is a movement of people committed to the Gospel, Community, and Mission of God,
and to taking them into every network of relationships at Penn State & in
the State College area.
2. Why
do we need another Christian group?
The
existence of lost people justifies starting new groups.
We believe
that the University is the most important mission field in the world today.
We have a
particular burden to reach unchurched and dechurched people.
The
harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Students make the best campus
missionaries.
3. How
is it not like other Christian groups?
We seek to
be Missional: Instead of making people come to us (attractional), we go to
them. We reach people where they already are—their context, their
relationships, their people-groups.
We are a
Movement, not an Institution. The tremendous need on our campus compels us to
reevaluate—and if necessary, leave behind—traditional ministry approaches or
practices that aren’t working.
We seek to
grow exponentially (not just arithmetically). Spontaneously reproducing
movements are more effective at reaching entire campuses & communities than
traditional, institutional campus ministries & churches. We emphasize
reproduction, simplicity, and empowerment to lead.
The DNA
for reproduction is always present at conception. From the beginning, we equip
& empower students to grow and lead this movement!
We are
intentionally decentralized. We will not have any centralized gatherings—for
worship or otherwise—unless God makes it abundantly clear.
3.
Where and when does Missio Dei meet?
Anywhere
and anytime!
Because it
is student led and student-driven, it meets where the students are, and at a
time that works for them. It can meet at 11pm in the dorm. At 10am in a coffee
shop. Before or after a club or
organization meeting. Anywhere and anytime!
4. Why
this strategy?
Because
PSU is a vastly under-reached mission field, and current strategies have only
limited effectiveness. Our
conviction is that Missio Dei is Incarnational and Missional, and therefore a true
campus-reaching strategy. It’s the
kind of thing Jesus would do.
5. What
do you do?
Meet with
a handful of people on a weekly basis. Read 20-25 chapters of Scripture/week
together. Pray. Go through Bible-based studies on the Gospel, Community, and
Mission. Most groups start with a 9-week study called The Gospel-Centered
Life.
6. Are
there any campus ministers or pastors involved?
Yes. Steve
Lutz is a pastor and campus minister with the CCO (Coalition for Christian
Outreach). He has experience in planting churches and leading campus groups in
Philadelphia. You can contact him
with questions at stevelutzcco@gmail.com.
7. How
are students equipped to lead?
We believe
the DNA for reproduction should be present at conception. In other words,
people are receiving the tools to lead from the very beginning. We use easily
reproducible materials in an easily reproducible format. We also build in
leadership development from the beginning.
Stages
of Leadership Development/Empowerment
Stage 1: I do/You watch
Stage 2: We do together
Stage 3: You do/I watch
Stage 4: You do/someone else watches
8. How
do I get involved?
Easy. Get
involved in a new Missio Dei group, or better yet, start one! Prayerfully
identify a group you’re already burdened for or connected to, or several
friends. Pray for them. Ask God to
raise up a partner to do it with you. Seek out someone who can help you lead.
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