Ultimately, being missional is about embodying
the love, grace, and truth of the gospel in everything we do.
Linda Sitterley, Pastor
River Road, Oregon, US
In an age where faith communities are called to look beyond their walls, the concept of being “missional” has become a defining characteristic of vibrant and outward-focused churches. My congregation has begun to embrace this calling, looking to live out the Great Commission by serving others, sharing the gospel, and embodying the love of Christ in practical ways.
At its core, being missional means living as people sent by God into the world, not just to worship on Sundays, but equally important, to make a difference every day. This identity influences every aspect of our church’s ministry. From leadership to small group discussions, we try to emphasize a lifestyle of mission — one where every member sees themselves as an ambassador of Christ in their workplace, neighborhood, and community.
One of the keyways my church practices its missional identity is through intentional community engagement. We organize events, like an Easter Bunny Hop and Trunk R Treat, that bring the community to us. It demonstrates that we care for our community and want to bless them.
On a smaller scale, we have begun to embed ourselves in the community in different establishments and organizations. This stems from an intentional desire to not only become known in the community, but also for us to get to know and understand our community better. We are part of a trivia team at the local beer hub every Thursday night, with many from the congregation involved. Sometimes we have enough show up for a full team. Other times we have more than enough for two teams. What is encouraging is when our folks join other teams because people are needed to fill out a team. What better way to begin to build relationships?
We have also found ourselves embedded in the local ceramic shop, where customers paint raw ceramic items to later be fired. With many of us looking for ways to be creative, this one-time event turned into a connect group. Now many friends and co- workers have joined and are blessing, not only each other, but the owners of the shop as well. They have, in turn, reached out to us with questions about the church and have asked for guidance on issues they are facing. Even the men’s breakfast that meets once a month in the local pub has become more intentional recently in reaching those men who are on the fringe of interacting with the congregation. Building trust and relationship is now the focus.
We are constantly looking for other areas where we can find ourselves at home. From a local book club that just started, to a “Dungeon and Dragons” group for young adults, both in and out of our congregation, these are all places and events where we are embedding ourselves. The key thing for us is that we do these missional activities together, in community — not solo.
I believe one of my best decisions for both my personal benefit but also the congregation, was joining the local Chamber of Commerce. If you want to know what is going on in your community and how your people can get involved, this is a valuable resource.
A missional church is not about a select few doing the work, it’s about empowering every member to see their daily lives as their mission field. Through discipleship programs, training workshops, and regular sermons on living missionally, my hope is that we continue to equip the congregation to share our faith naturally and confidently.
Ultimately, being missional is about embodying the love, grace, and truth of the gospel in everything we do. My church strives to live this out by focusing not just on preaching the word, but also on practicing it. Whether through acts of kindness, advocacy for justice, or simply loving our neighbors, we aim to reflect Christ’s heart.
The impact of being missional is evident in the transformed lives and strengthened relationships within our church and community. People who encounter us don’t just see a building or a Sunday service; they see a group of people who genuinely care and live with purpose.
In a world searching for hope and authenticity, I pray that my church’s missional approach serves as a beacon, reminding everyone of the power of the gospel to transform not only individuals but entire communities.
“It’s not so much that God has a mission for his church in the world, but that God has a church for his mission in the world” – Christopher Wright