Resonating with this "Lifestyle Missionary Manifesto"

When we lived in Denver (when we were first married), we were part of a house church network. It was a really rich time of growth and living the gospel as a community. A couple from that house church network moved to New Zealand as missionaries and recently, they posted this "Lifestyle Missionary Manifesto".

I've been trying to verbalize why we do what we do, and this is a very eloquent and inspiring description that includes what we do here, but also includes brothers and sisters in Atlanta, Harrisonburg, Roswell, Boulder, New Castle, Seattle, Brussels, Mbarara, Bangalore, Bukavu and many other places in between and beyond!

Here's what it says:

We are determined to live out the goodness of God on Earth.

Who are we? We are game-changers, play-makers, box-breakers, and risk-takers. We are a global family of visionary practitioners, poets, preachers and pioneers. We are sons and daughters. We are blessed to be a blessing, loved to be lovers, freed to be liberators, and called to rise above the status quo.

And this is what we believe: Every follower of Jesus, by default, is part of God’s trajectory of restoration. This mission requires active participation as we become the incarnation of love in a broken world. Being fully equipped by the Holy Spirit, we are united with one purpose expressed in infinitely diverse vocations. We are convinced God’s mission is simple, collaborative, and within arm's reach.

So this is how we choose to live: We embrace inconvenience, listen deeply, honor all, and live generously. We focus our energy locally yet still engage globally. We open our hearts, homes, and lives to all people in courageous acts of hospitality. When we gather we eat well, we pray expectantly, and we learn scripture. We will leave our communities better than we found them. We will promote peace, pursue unity and protect the vulnerable. Last but not least we seek God’s kingdom before our own.

We hereby declare a new era in which these are our defining characteristics. An era in which we will shape culture together as an unstoppable surge of ordinary people. Through faithful presence and collaborative obedience we will see God’s kingdom come here and now.

We are global family of lifestyle missionaries.

Yes! And Amen! 

So Mark and I are taking different risks here in eastern Congo than people in other locations, but that doesn't matter. We're all together on the same mission to live out the goodness of God on earth. And being part of this global family is such a rich experience. (Here's a photo of our church family here in Bukavu taken at the retreat last week.)

 It's the Holy Spirit who equips all of us to do the work God has called us to. And Mark and I feel strongly that He has called us to Congo for this time to promote peace, pursue unity and protect the vulnerable. 

So please don't put us on a pedestal but do be a lifestyle missionary wherever you are!