What is a “Missional” Church?

You may have noticed on our welcome page that LifePointe is described as “a potential new, exciting, missional church in Amory, Mississippi.” You know what new is. You know what exciting is. But what about that word missional? What do we mean when we say LifePointe will be a missional church?

Missional has been defined as “relating to or connected with a religious mission; missionary.” Missional has to do with how the church (the people who make up the church, not the building or location) relates to the community they are in. It is a missionary attitude. A missional church looks at the community through the eyes of a missionary. They ask the questions of a missionary. What is going on in this community? What is the culture like in this community? Who are the people who make up this community? Taking all the answers into account, the church then approaches the community with the gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that is culturally relevant to that community. The gospel message is not changed. Just the methods.

For more information, check out these references:

Acts 16:11-15 – Paul adjusts to the community of Philippi

Acts 17:16-34 – Paul takes in the culture of Athens and uses this information at the Areopagus

Now, as we look at Amory and Monroe County through the eyes of a missionary, what are the answers to the questions? How can we best present Jesus to this community? How can LifePointe be missional in Amory, Mississippi?