“Ministry” literally means “service” and refers to the commission, or “official mission,” conferred upon every Christian, at baptism, to advance Christ’s mission in the world (Encyclopedia of Christianity, Eerdmans, 3.540). In other words, we are Christ’s service men and women carrying out his mission on earth. 

 

"Mission" is a noun from the Latin word meaning “to send." But you won’t find “mission” (or “Trinity” or “Eucharist”) anywhere in your English Bible. In the Latin Bible, Jesus uses the verb form of the word to commission, or “officially send on a mission,” his followers in such places as John 20: “As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” The word most commonly refers to a diplomat or an ambassador dispatched on official government business. “Therefore,” the Apostle Paul proclaims, “we are Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5). 

 

“Missional” is an adjective, a word that describes a noun. As Pastor Jamie Arpin-Ricci explains, “When ‘mission’ or ‘missions’ is a noun, it is a specific thing or field, but as an adjective it is liberated to broaden its scope to define the fullness of life.” In other words, as ambassadors for Christ, our ministry must be missional ministry, our relationships must be missional relationships, our homes must be missional homes, our work must be missional work, and our play must be missional play. Whatever we do, whether in word or in deed, must be done as ambassadors of King Jesus (Colossians 3). 

 

Have you ever thought of yourself as a missionary? That is God’s purpose for your life. “Missional ministry” then is not another program but a way of life. We are the body of Christ on earth, his hands and his feet incarnate in this time and place. And this realization, says missiologist Ed Setzer, will bring either warmth to your soul or a shiver down your spine! 

• MissionalMinistry.org - Missional ministry blog of CTR Director of Missional Ministry, Maurice Hagar
• Missional Prayers - Drawn primarily from the Book of Common Prayer, prayed each day that the church is scattered (Monday through Saturday) during the noon hour

For more information, please contact our Director of Missional Ministry, Maurice Hagar.