SHAPING THE MOVEMENT

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT

MissionNextMeetingSummary.pdf (8 Pages)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

MissionNext Consultation Summary
April 3-4, 2006, Dallas, TX

INTRODUCTION

This is a report on a consultation with a focus on increasing the flow of post-college adults in their 20's and 30's entering the American missions enterprise. This session was called by Finishers Project, a missions mobilization effort with a focus on boomers - those roughly in their 40's and 50's who are now beginning to turn 60. The thought is to not simply impose the boomer initiative on the younger generation, but to rethink the template for younger adults.

From this two-day session a clear vision and action plan was formulated. Initiatives are ongoing with stakeholders on five fronts - the web, churches, agencies, marketing and training.

This is a summary of highly interactive thinking of 35 people from 22 organizations, so it is impossible to give individual attribution to the ideas, except to the Lord.

VISION

To see a bold increase in cross-cultural mission workers among those 23-40 years old (GenX) in North America in a customer-centric mobilization initiative that includes components of:

Matching self-discovery with opportunities and options for service (via the web, in conferences or in other relationships established)

Serving Jesus and others, (as opposed to organizations)

Meeting them at their point of perceived need for ...

• Flexibility
• Relationship
• Mentoring
• Sense of community

... at their current level of willingness to make a commitment.

VALUES

The Core Values, then, are to establish a place for the target audience to experience flexibility, relationship, mentoring, sense of community, self-discovery, clear opportunities and options for matching. This can be done within the boundaries of encouraging one another to love and good deeds. The work of sending laborers is ultimately a work in the heart and mind by the Holy Spirit.

Another core value of MissionNext is to accomplish the stated vision and goals for placing laborers for His harvest through strategic, effective partnerships.

MOBILIZATION DEFINED:

In order to begin, it was necessary to define an overarching view of what mobilization is and the scope or boundaries of the "Problem".

Mobilization, in the context of a stand-alone process or ministry, encompasses these key elements:

• Inform
• Motivate
• Equip
• Connect
• Deploy (agency's work)

Different organizations and events focus on one or more of these elements. In order for the vision of a bold increase to be accomplished, each element and the coordination must be done well for the process to work effectively.

For a mobilization initiative to be neutral, it cannot be in the sending or deploying business. The MissionNext initiative will focus on and actively seek partnerships with other organizations that inform, motivate, equip and connect, and that seek to serve individuals, churches, and agencies.

SCOPE OF THE TASK:

What is the scope of the target audience?

# For those born between 1965 and 1985 (21-40), called GenXers
# For North Americans (Canada, USA).
# For evangelicals.
# For English Speakers, including second-generation ethnic minorities
# For techno-centric people, since it is anticipated that there will be a strong electronic component to whatever is done.

This generation is characterized by
# Coming from more broken marriages.
# Less loyalty to jobs.
# Higher risk tolerance.
# Post-Modern (non rational - not linear, image driven, more relational, non-formal, reluctance to grow up.)

What is the scope of the infrastructure MissionNext will serve?

# To serve churches and mission agencies in America in order to provide laborers for His harvest to American mission agencies.

While those outside the immediate scope may be served by the MissionNext initiative, the marketing and delivery focus will be to those that fall within the defined scope.

Action Plan Summary

The following five areas have task groups assigned.

WEB:

Re-design the web site (agencies to provide people in the GenX group in order to bring together a community to design the web site). Peter Armstrong, Mission Data International, will lead the way with Rod McLeish and Jim Harper of Crown Builders participating.

CHURCHES:

Work with churches to help develop missional attitudes in churches. Develop curriculum material for small group study. The Mission Society and, perhaps, ACMC, Caleb Project, DualReach, and Global Focus to undertake this task.

AGENCY:

Consult agencies to find ways to help them deal with GenXers. Some of this may involve helping agencies to assist their mobilizers and candidate committees by providing better training. Chuck Micheals, Wycliffe Bible Translators, will lead the process along with SIM, Finishers Project, and possibly some other agencies.

MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Nick Noll will provide leadership in this area; Peter Armstrong, Mission Data International, will assist along with New Tribes Mission and Crown Builders.

TRAINING

Columbia Bible College (Rick Higgins) will help in developing this portion of the overall initiative and include non-formal mission training as a component.

END NOTE

This MissionNext Consultation was held at the International Wycliffe headquarters, Dallas, Texas on April 3-4, 2006. There were 35 participants from 22 organizations.

The consultation was initiated and facilitated by the Finishers Project. For the last 10 years Finishers has been mobilizing boomers (in their 40's and 50's, early 60's). However, in the last several years they have seen increasing interest from young adults interested in missions. The goal is not simply to replicate what Finishers has done, but to create a custom approach to mobilization for the next generation.

The format was in the form of round-table discussions facilitated by Don Parrott and Nelson Malwitz. Discussion items on the agenda included defining the target audience, clarifying the purpose, best practices in recruiting young adults, subsequent action steps, assignments and commitments.

APPRECIATION

The Finishers Project is grateful to those who assembled from far and wide to wrestle with these vital issues. Profound appreciation is due to Wycliffe for virtually donating their facilities for this consultation. Of course, appreciation is due to the Lord, for whom we earnestly seek to serve in this initiative. The climate was decidedly kingdom-minded.