Mission Lab

Camille picks up the baton and shares her story. 

Camille picks up the baton and shares her story. 

You've heard other people's stories on the podcast, now spend the next two weeks hearing ours. Shawn kicks off this two-part detour sharing his story - admitting that his story is quite ordinary and boring - but also recognizing that that's where its power resides.

You've heard other people's stories on the podcast, now spend the next two weeks hearing ours. Shawn kicks off this two-part detour sharing his story - admitting that his story is quite ordinary and boring - but also recognizing that that's where its power resides.

You've heard us mention his name a few times, now meet him yourself! Shawn sits down with our friend Pudge to talk about his zig-zagging life - from growing up as a military brat, to having the fear of God scared into him by his childhood pastor, to bouncing in and out of marriage - and church. Discover why he's felt a pull back into the missional life.

One of the most powerful things we can do while being on mission and making disciples is to listen to one another's story. We explain how this has been so important in our missional community life and how it gives dignity to those we are blessing and serving.

Approximately half the population of the world considers themselves to be "introverts." What does mission and community mean for them? Do they get a free pass from making disciples and being on mission? Acknowledging that we are both extroverts, we discuss how introverts may actually have an advantage when it comes to making disciples and being in missional communities.

Shawn sits down with his good friend - NFL veteran and stay-at-home Dad, Mike DeVito. We talk about Mike's story of coming to Christ in college, how that naturally translated into sharing his faith with his family, but how his missional fervor has admittedly waned since then. We also dabble in a brief conversation on the relation of culture and Christ - how to walk the fine line of trying to redeem the culture for Christ while not being changed by it.

We talk a lot about creating inclusive and safe communities where love is the foundation. Does this mean that all you need is love? Are we just trying to get people to love other people - to be nice, kind, and friendly? If so, is there any place for doctrine, theology, the Bible, Christianity? In this episode, we wrestle with this important question as it relates to mission, discipleship, and community.

How do we respond to people when they say that "my family is my mission"? Simple: it's not family or mission or family and mission. It's about being a family on mission. Noting how all the time, money, and resources that has gone into "youth ministry" has still resulted in many young people leaving the church, we propose that our youth and young people should not be the object of our mission but the subject. What they're looking for is not to be entertained - but to see an authentic faith that express itself in true community and making a tangible difference in the world.