Mission Alive

Frequently, ministry preparation has emphasized one of two resources; knowledge or skills.  Seminaries, Divinity Schools and Graduate Schools of Theology have typically emphasized cognitive preparation for ministry with studies in theology, history, original languages, exegisis, etc. while para-church ministries, local church training and internships/apprenticeships have emphasized the development of practical tools of ministry. 

Mission Alive believe that both a robust theological education and incisive ministry skills are necessary in preparation for church planting.  Mission Alive also believe that proper equipping maintains a focus on the outcomes of ministry.  So, equipping starts with a clear understanding of what the church should look like.  This can be summed up in the two words, faithful and fruitful. 

Understanding the need to be prepared for faithfulness is not new to us.  Christians seem to understand implicitly the difficulties of living faithfully to God's will.

In recent years a mantra has surfaced among those in ministry, God calls us to be faithful, not successful.  Insofar as this is an attempt to release the ministry of the church from the grips of bottom-line thinking, this may be true.  Yet, while God may not call the church to be successful, He would like it to be fruitful.

Agricultural metaphores fill the pages of Scripture and render the outcome of faithful living in the image of fruit.  The psalmist imagines God's people as "a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season."  The prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of the people of Israel as a river flowing from the Temple into the barren lands of other peoples.  "Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.  Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail.  Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them.  Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing" (Eze. 47:12).  Jesus warned His listeners to look for the "fruit" of someone's life as an indicator of his/her faithfulness (Matt. 7:15-20) and affirms that one who remains in Him, "will bear much fruit" (John 15:5). 

Equipping for ministry must plan for the outcomes of faithfulness and fruitfulness.

-TKV

We have scheduled our first Coach Training Lab 1 for October 10-11, 2008 in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  The Coach Training Lab 1, prepares participants to coach church planters and others in ministry. Beyond developing coaching skills, Mission Alive coach training prepares the coach to help those in ministry discern God’s leading and determine the best way to follow His leading. 

Mission Alive is a licensed training organization by CoachNet International Ministries.  Building on the most well established Christian coach training platform, Mission Alive trains coaches using CoachNet's training system customized for coaching church planters.  The Mission Alive's Coach Training Lab 1 is built on a solid coaching philosophy, extensive research and thousands of hours of coaching experience by hundreds of coaches throught the network of CoachNet coaches.

Learn more about this event here

One of the philosophies of ministry that guides Mission Alive is that Christian ministry should move from theology to practice. That is, the impulse for ministry should come from our understandings of who God is and what He is doing on this earth rather than from systems of organizational effectiveness. Church planters who join Mission Alive and come through our Theology Lab and Strategy Lab hear this philosophy repeatedly as they strategize to plant churches.