• Directories
    • Business Directory
    • Church Directory
    • Organization Directory
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Help
  • Log In
MENUMENU
  • Learning
        • Leader’s Edge
          • Author Interviews
          • Book Summaries
        • Book Reviews
          • Book Look
          • EMQ Book Reviews
        • Publications
          • Anthology
          • Evangelical Missions Quarterly (EMQ)
          • Missiographics
        • Podcasts
          • The Mission MattersNew
          • Missio Nexus
          • People First HR
          • Members Only Feed
        • Blogs
          • Global Issues Updates
          • Member Highlights
          • Mission Advisors
        • Topics
          • COVID-19 ResourcesNew
          • Diaspora Missions
          • Mobilization
          • Muslim Missions
          • Support Raising
        • Media Library
          • Conferences
          • Global Issue Updates
          • On Mission
          • Thought Leader Briefings
          • Webinars
          • Workshop
          • View All
  • Programs
    • Accreditation
    • Alliance for Benefits
    • Bible CertificateNew
    • Church Missions CoachingNew
    • Cohorts
    • Cybersecurity
    • Emerging Leaders
    • Mission Jobs
    • OnBoard
    • RightNow Media
    • The Mission AppNew
    • Women’s Development
  • Events
          • Calendar
          • In-Person Events
          • Virtual Events
          • Event Recordings
          • Awards
        • Upcoming Events

          • Webinar: Through the Wall
            Thu Jan 28 2021, 02:00pm EST
          • Three Easy Ways to Drive Innovation
            Thu Feb 11 2021, 02:00pm EST
          • Three Steps to Kickstart Your Fund Development Program
            Tue Feb 16 2021, 03:00pm EST
        • View All Events
  • Research
          • Missiographics
          • Mission Handbook
          • Research Reports
        • Popular Research
          • Compensation Reports
          • COVID-19 ResourcesNew
          • Field Attrition Report
          • View All Reports
        • Contribute
          • Current Research Projects
          • Submit Data for Mission Handbook
          • Volunteer
  • About Us
        • Who We Are
          • Our Contribution
          • Meet the Team
          • Board Members
          • History (1917–present)
        • Our Beliefs
          • Statement of Faith
          • Community Standards
        • Awards
        • Partner with Us
          • Advertise
          • Donate
          • Sponsorships
          • Volunteer
        • Help
          • Contact Us
          • Advertising Specs
          • Branding Guidelines
  • Join
        • Learn
        • Learn what you cannot learn anywhere else.

        • Meet
        • Meet people you otherwise won’t meet.

        • Engage
        • Engage in a community like none other.

          • Benefits
          • Benefits for Churches
          • Pricing

Sponsored Content

Upcoming Events

  • Webinar: Through the Wall
    Thu Jan 28 2021, 02:00pm EST
  • Three Easy Ways to Drive Innovation
    Thu Feb 11 2021, 02:00pm EST
  • Three Steps to Kickstart Your Fund Development Program
    Tue Feb 16 2021, 03:00pm EST
  • Webinar: Innovating Theological Education: How BibleMesh can Prepare your Staff for Ministry
    Thu Feb 25 2021, 02:00pm EST
  • Association Leaders Gathering
    Tue Mar 2 2021, 08:30am EST

View all events »

Topics

author interview Canada CEO Church Church Missions Church Mission Team Church Planting Coaching Conference Proceedings COVID-19 Cross Cultural Skills Diaspora Evangelism Focus Future Globally Engaged Churches Islam Justin Long Leadership Management Missiology Missionaries Mission Finance and Administration MLC2019 MLC2020 Mobilization muslim Muslim Diaspora Networks Partnership Personal Productivity Podcast Presenter Research Security Short-Term Missions Spirituality support raising Training Trends Unengaged Unreached unreached people groups Weekly Roundup Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

The Mystery and Beauty of Chaotic Missions Mobilization

Posted on October 19, 2016 by October 19, 2016

metro-1662163_1280

By Mark Stebbins, The Navigators

The goal of bringing order to missions mobilizing is probably over-rated, not to mention beyond reach. Chaos can be a wondrously exhilarating state of affairs, even as it mocks attempts at containment! Consider throughout creation the majestic artistry of systems that begin in apparent disarray, but then take on a magnificent and unexpected pattern of beauty. Formations of elegant crystals, powerfully brewing weather systems, intricate cellular networks, and even breathtaking galaxies in space, all swirling into being without a tightly regimented or linear progression. Should not the fulfillment of the Great Commission be a similar work of free flowing art?

We are not saying that such creations are without diligent and disciplined design. Just like the execution of a grand symphony, with each instrument and section contributing in response to the composer’s intention or conductor’s will, there must be an orchestration. But too much control, without freedom and trust, will surely damage or kill the masterpiece. Let it flow and grow naturally, as each piece plays its part. Some structure exists on the music page, but the real passionate flow will come from the unwritten heart and soul of musician, conductor, and composer. There must be room for this freedom of interpretive expression!

Normally, initiatives assembled out of chaos are influenced into being—not dictated into being. Internal ingredients, like chemical elements for example, tend to bond together, as their molecules are attracted to each other. External factors, like heat, may be introduced to precipitate further interactivity. At times, a template for networking either appears naturally or is artificially introduced, leading to arrays of new structures and functions. It must get out of hand and beyond control to reach a final balanced state, driven actually by the chemical reaction itself! In this new form it reaches a fuller potential, achieving a greater prospect for usefulness and fruitfulness!

But what is chaotic missions assembly? This concept first involves a sanctified imagining of missions dreams and visions, born from the ingredients of prayer, God’s word, and inspiring testimony. Hearts must be stirred! Next, there is the prayerful probing stage in search of a practical expression. It is a grasping for how missions dreams and visions might be personally and practically implemented. Third, taking action in the form of negotiations with experienced missions mentors, a survey or missions trip, and actually pursuing a specific contribution begins to pull the assembly together. Finally, incorporation occurs with the crafting of an authentic missions target, task, and term. A brilliant pattern emerges from the once random confusion.

If we could then zoom out from this individual mission launching, we would see thriving clusters and interwoven matrices of individual and group initiative that form a larger artistic handiwork. And looking still broader, we would then see a completely God-assembled Great Commission, leading us to wholeheartedly proclaim that He is the Lord of the harvest, and indeed Author of all salvation! May God give us all hearts that are hopelessly lost in this grandest of all themes, while relentlessly pursuing the privilege of playing our small but vital part.


The Navigators, a Mission Nexus member, provided this article. Member organizations can provide content to the Missio Nexus website. See how by clicking here.

GoToOlder PostNewer PostAll PostsFeaturedMember Highlight

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to Our Mailing List

Keep up to date with our community.

Menu

  • Join
  • Directories
  • Events
  • Donate

About

  • Who We Are
  • Statement of Faith
  • Awards
  • Resources

Help

  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Cookies Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Google+

PO Box 398
Wheaton, IL 60187-0398

Phone: 770.457.6677
678.392.4577

© Missio Nexus.
All Rights Reserved.

Membership website powered by MembershipWorks