In eras past- ‘others’ were missionaries, and now the church is calling for everyone to be one

Developing a Missionary Mentality is the work of transforming each small group member into believing that they are a missionary developed at their place of work, school, or neighborhood. Reggie McNeal describes this transformation, “God had a mission in mind that everyone could participate in, a far cry from a member culture that gathers on Sunday to watch a few people exercise their gifts” (55).
In order to become a small group that has a Missionary Mentality the group must have four distinctions. Stetzer and Rainer write that these four distinctions begin with understanding the mission, the church and group is on, is God’s mission, and He has already defined it (68-69). Second, “[Transformational Church’s] understand and obey God’s call to serve the poor and the hurting and are not afraid of a stronger engagement in social justice” (Stetzer and Rainer 69). Third, the church cares deeply about God’ redemptive mission to the nations (Stetzer and Rainer 69). Finally, Missionary Mentality churches, “are serious about joining God on his mission and obey his commands to disciple the nations” (Stetzer and Rainer 69).
Basically, the group and church need to think like a missionary, a shift needs to take place. This shift will mark a radical departure for a majority of church members, in eras past- ‘others’ were missionaries, and now the church is calling for everyone to be one.

Sources:

McNeal, Reggie. Missional Renaissance, Changing The Scorecard For The Church.San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2009. Print.

Stetzer, Ed, and Thom S. Rainer. Transformational Church, Creating A New Scorecard For Congregations. Nashville: B&H Books, 2010. Print.