a church for His mission

I agree with what Christopher Wright says and I especially love "Mission was not made for the church; the church was made for mission." His statement is a good reminder that God's mission should be the focus, not church life. The church should not simply have a missions department that organizes its one mission project and puts together the yearly missions Sunday service. Everything the church does should consider its role in God's mission of reconciling the world. God has a soveriegn plan for His creation and He wants to use His people in it. The local church has a great opportunity and responsibility to take part. Every decision made in the church should be focused on what will point someone who isn't a Christian to a relationship with Jesus and bring glory to God, instead of on the preferences of church members. Although there is a huge opportunity here, it is important to be aware that God's mission does also exist outside of church functions. He wants to use the church, but He is not dependent on the church. His will is going to come about and we are given the choice to join in the story.