Our Mission- Pure and Simple

Years ago after the initial invasion in the Gulf War I was watching a news program in which they were interviewing a former military general. The reporter asked, “As the war reaches this stage after a resounding victory in the invasion, what are some things we need to be concerned about?” The general said, “What’s most important as we go on- and this is true not just for the military, but also for the American people- we need to be mindful of mission drift and avoid it.” The reporter asked, “What is mission drift?” The general replied, “Mission drift is when we forget why we’re fighting this battle in the first place.”

That was a stunning statement and one that I immediately applied to the church. I realized how often churches seem to lose their way. In the beginning stages, vision and mission is prominent. Then, after the initial victory and the excitement of a new start, programmatic and bureaucratic elements set in. As the church grows, needs arise and problems develop. The immediate response by leadership is to put systems in place that will relieve ambiguity and tension. Consequently, a form of maintenance takes over. Rules, management, and organization become the focus, which then by default robs the church of its attention to mission.

Why is mission so important? It is the mission of the church that gives it a sense of destiny and purpose from God. It provides that spiritual heartbeat that connects all that the church is doing in terms of God’s will for them. Since this is true, it is the mission that unifies the church in heartfelt community.

Our mission here at The Brook is clear and it comes from Jesus himself:

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

We’ve stated Jesus’ command to us in this way… “The Brook exists to make authentic disciples of Jesus.” This is our mission pure and simple. 

Now by stating this (and meaning it) we are committing ourselves to a set of beliefs and behaviors. By default, we are also explaining what we will not be about. Here are some key distinctions:

We will be about making disciples, not merely church attenders. We will be more concerned with church health than church growth. We will focus on faithfulness to God and not be primarily concerned with producing fruit (fruit is God’s job). We will be relationship-based not rules-based. We will commit ourselves to God’s purposes and God’s people, not chiefly to implementing programs. We will teach God’s Word with commitment and clarity. We will expect Christians to grow into Christlikeness. We will seek to love God wholeheartedly and love others with grace and sincerity.

This is who we are as well as who we’re not.

God is renewing a sense of calling and mission in my heart- but not in a corporate or programmatic way. To me it just simply means that all of us fall wholeheartedly more in love with Jesus.

For me it involves a deeper appreciation of God’s grace, an awareness of my own frailties and sin, a greater daily dependence upon the Holy Spirit, and an inner love for and desire for God. It's leading me to think differently and recognize more quickly what’s important and what’s not. It’s refreshing and life-giving. It also translates into what I feel for the church and the unique opportunity we share for this kind of genuine life and power that begins from within.

I think God is stirring up similar desires among many others in our church. As I meet with leaders and talk to people at The Brook, I get this prompting that God is working in all our hearts in some common way. It's hard to describe, but there is a common "God-thing" happening.

This has led me to pray for a spiritual awakening in The Brook-- and I want to ask you to pray for it also. What I'm talking about is a unique level of renewal that’s not about new programs or ministries, but rather about radically loving God.

God has been so good to us! He has brought us more people, more resources, more land, more leaders, more commitment and more facilities. We are seeing peoples' lives changed and hearts reunited to Him in authentic Christian faith. But let's be careful not to drift and be so impressed with what God is giving that we forget the One who is giving, moving, and providing.

So for the next few weeks and months let’s pray for something more and something different. Whatever it is and whatever it looks like- something from the Lord and for all us together. I know this “something” will help us remember who we are in our mission and more powerfully allow us to know what God has for The Brook Church.

I can’t explain fully what’s going on, and that’s ok. Let’s just all pray.

I love being with you and thank you for the joy of our church fellowship!

Pastor Mike