Every month we post a Missional Challenge on Facebook. Even though they are for a particular month it's great to look back and get ideas of how you can practically and actively love those around you.
What is MISSIONAL?
Definition: An adjective realating to or connected with a religious mission or missionary.
- Being missional means that the church sees itself as being missionaries, rather than having a missions department, and we see ourselves as missionaries right where we live.
- Being missional means we see ourselves as representatives of Jesus “sent” into our communities, and that the church aligns everything it does with the missin dei (mission of God).
- Being missional means we see the church not as a place we go on Sunday, but as something we are throughout the week. Being missional means that we understand we don’t “bring Jesus” to people but we realize Jesus is active in culture and we join him in what he is doing.
- Being missional means we are very much in the world and engaged in culture but are not conforming to the world.
- Being missional means we serve our communities, and that we build relationships with the people in them, rather than seeing them as evangelistic targets.
- Being missional means being all the more dependent on Jesus and the Spirit through prayer, the Scriptures, and each other in community.
Taken from They Like Jesus But Not the Church by Dan Kimball.
March 14, 2018 - The challenge is a prayer shaped after some words from Jerry Root's book The Sacrament of Evangelism.
"When we share the good news, we do not, to borrow a common expression, 'take Christ' to anyone. Remember, He is already there. The sacrament of evangelism doesn't "do anything" to God - it does something to us. It opens our eyes to His work and grace. Those unaware of this sacrament, however, miss the opportunity to experience participating with this omnipotent, omnipresent God as He woos others to Himself. It is not a question of whether God is at work in His world. It is a question of whether those who claim to follow Him will participate with Him in this sacrament. This book will encourage you to discover afresh the presence of God in your world and participate in the sacrament of evangelism in ways that fit who you are.......
....And since God is with this person, we can trust that we will discover mutual points of connection. We need to connect with people at any given moment and in any setting. So pray for God to open your eyes and give you the insight and words you need to speak with others."
Pray this week, "God, since you are with (INSERT NAME), I trust that we will discover mutual points of connection so I can speak with them about you." Pray the prayer a few times with different names of people on your prayer list. When we declare our trust in God I believe He is honored and responds.
March 3, 2018 - Love this from Ed Stetzer. If you weren’t in a growth group that read it, enjoy reading it.
February 1, 2018 - Enjoy this great reminder about living as a missionary and being intentional - Don't Just Stand There, Say Something: Intention vs. Action in Evangelism.
January 25, 2018 - We have had past posts in Somites about getting to church early and talking to strangers who visit. In general MOST people that visit SOMA say we are very friendly and sometimes imply we are too friendly. 
But sometimes, we live in our sweet church community, enjoying each other and miss a chance to encourage a guest. So I will let a recent guest's e-mali be our challenge.
I actually saw her across the theater and noticed her look around and feel awkward but I was unable to get to her due to kid issues I was dealing with so I prayed someone would walk in and talk to her and then I saw Lynette Baker Dunkel walk up and introduce herself and I praised GOD. And then I was busy.... but I could have predicted the guest felt this way. 
"Thank you for introducing yourself and taking the time to get to know me a little. There were two others who also introduced themselves to me. I am a little sad to say, though, that although a couple others gave a quick "Hi" or nod in passing, the rest of the congregation didn't take the time to reach out or even make eye contact. I'm not picking on your church. It is a common problem and we all struggle with getting outside ourselves. I'm guilty of doing the same.
However, it seems to me that if we really want to reach the lost, if we really do love people, then we will welcome new comers, taking the time to make eye contact, greet them, and when possible engage them in conversation. I often wonder why the body of Christ often has such a hard time doing that. It seems so basic to our faith when you think about it."
I pray her words encourage us all to greet everyone we encounter.
Click here to read - Why an Unfriendly Small Church is Worse then an Unfriendly Big Church.
January 5, 2018 - I do not know this blogger or their site but a friend shared it and as I read it I thought “these are creative ideas for deepening ANY friendship including friendships with our unchurched friends.” As we look for ways to go deeper in connecting with our unchurched friends maybe some of these ideas will help. Click here to read the article.
November 13, 2017 - Missional Challenge November - (It has been a while since we posted so we are past due.) As missionaries living in Sonoma County we want to be active cultivating relationships with our un-churched friends and neighbors. This month pray about deepening your relationship with someone who is unchurched. Then be deliberate in finding ways to strengthen your relationship. For example a time swap would work. --- help them hang their Christmas lights and then do your lights together. Or ask a parent of one of your child’s classmates to come over and make a gift or baked good for the teacher with you. Or recruit a few neighbors to help a neighbor who is struggling with health issues do yard work. Time spent together serving each other stimulates conversation and opens doors in conversations so that you can share the good news.
June 29, 2017 - This is a great article from Ed Stetzer from years ago. It is a good reminder of our need to use words to share the gospel. "A godly life should serve as a witness for the message we proclaim. But without words, what can our actions point to but ourselves? A godly life cannot communicate the incarnation, Jesus’ substitution for sinners, or the hope of redemption by grace alone through faith alone. We can’t be good news, but we can herald it, sing it, speak it, and preach it to all who listen." Click here to read the whole article.
June 16, 2017 - It has been a while since we have posted a challenge. Many of you have read Rosaria Butterfield's books. This podcast is a discussion on hospitality and specifically its role in missional living. Listen and pray about how you can be hospitable to your un-churched neighbors and/or friends. Click here to listen.
April 17, 2017 - Post-Easter Missional Challenge - On Palm Sunday, the 2nd-6th grade class had a missional challenge from their teacher to pray and ask God who they can talk to about the real meaning of Easter. (Parents - check in with your kid about the challenge if you can.) This is a good challenge for ALL of us this week, Easter has passed but we can still have good conversations about the resurrection with our neighbors, friends, co-workers, family, etc. Pray and ask God to give you the words to share with someone.
January 2, 2017 - For our 1st missional challenge of the year please watch or listen to this 17 minute video by Amy Sherman. The talk is about using our vocations to creatively bring a foretaste of God's Kingdom here on earth. I especially enjoyed the house builder's strategic plan to build houses that have "kingdom foretastes" of community.
November 21, 2016 Apparently people actually like to carol but don't have a lot of opportunities! So invite some friends to our caroling event. We won't make any guest hand out Christmas Eve invitations. :-) Everyone is welcome! And the more families with kids the better because kids love to sing the songs with gusto! Click here for event details.
October 24, 2016 This month try to practice hospitality with someone as you purposefully live as a missionary in Sonoma County. Read this article and invite an unchurched friend into your home to share life / community with them. Don't wait for the perfect house or meal.
September 25, 2016 A great reminder about living as missionaries in Sonoma County. Paul taught on Phil 1:12-18 today, click here to listen to the message. Meditate on that passage this week and pray that God will reveal to you how He is using your current circumstances to advance His Gospel message to the people in front of you.
September 6, 2016 Have you noticed anyone missing lately at church? Maybe a busy schedule or family commitments are keeping them away? Send them a note to tell them you miss them. If you haven't noticed anyone's absence then pray and ask God who you can reach out to from our church.
August 22, 1016 I know everyone is busy so the challenge is to take 35 minutes this week and listen to this message by Dr Jerry Root on sharing your faith. Jerry Root was my pastor in Santa Barbara and Paul and I fell in love with his passion for sharing the gospel. This talk is based on Philemon 6 - "I pray that your sharing of your faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ."
My favorite point comes at 14 minutes.
May 6, 2016 Pray about who you can invite to the SOMA Serve at Live Oak Park next month. The more that come the more we can accomplish! Many people who aren't comfortable coming to church are very comfortable volunteering and look for opportunities to serve. Click here for the details.
April 26, 2016 Pray about who you can invite to the SOMA family movie nights this summer. Print out some of these flyers and hand them out to neighbors and friends. (Flyers will be on front table at church also.) Our movie nights are a fun and low-key way for someone to step into where we gather as a church and meet your SOMA friends.
April 24, 2016 Community Challenge: Taken right from the sermon on 2 Tim 3:14-15: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
Paul challenged us to think of the spiritual examples in our life. This week send a thank you note(s) to the people you consider to be spiritual examples.
April 14, 2016 Living as a missionary in your own neighborhood. Spring is here. Be deliberate and spend time outside visiting with your neighbors. If you are like me and have lots of weeds to pull, it will be natural to be outside. Some neighbors are easy to talk to about life. Pray about ways to get to know the neighbors who have isolated themselves.
March 19, 2016 I know we have posted about this before but "liking" or sharing posts or images from SOMA's public facebook page (not Somites) is a great and simple way to let your un-churched friends know about our community. I had someone a few weeks ago comment about SOMA from seeing my likes and shares so it works. Facebook does all the work!
February 26, 2016 Community Challenge - Katie Simmons posted this article in SOMA Women and as I pondered it this morning I realized it is a great "community challenge." So many of these mistakes apply to us at different times. So please read this article and pray that God will encourage and challenge you in how you seek out community at SOMA. I would love to chat with anyone at the hike tomorrow about community and how we can build it at SOMA.
January 27, 2016 Community Challenge - It is simple - support Mary Blakely for her birthday in February. She is raising money for St Jude and she would be encouraged if her church family supported her in this project. She is special to our church community! (Her parents don't know I am posting this.) Click here to support Mary Blakely.
January 25, 2016 An encouraging/discouraging post on being rejected in evangelism. :) Click here to read the article.
December 27, 2015 This week meditate on this quote from the book "Total Church."
"The vast majority of Christians have not been helped to see that who they are and what they do in schools, workplaces or clubs is significant to God, nor that the people they spend time with in those everyday contexts are the people God is calling them to pray for, bless and witness to. So we pray for our Sunday school teachers but not, for example, for schoolteachers working 40 hours a week in schools among children and adults who on the whole don't know Jesus. We pray for overseas missionaries but not for Christian electricians, builders, shop assistants and managers in our towns ... We have simply not been envisioned, resourced and supported to share the Good News of Jesus in our everyday contexts ... The (un-churched) will never be reached until we create open, authentic, learning and praying communities that are focused on making whole-life disciples who live and share the Gospel wherever they relate to people in their daily lives."
WHO is God calling you to pray for, bless and witness to? If you are willing, post below so we can pray together.
November 22, 2015 This Thanksgiving week, when you talk to your unchurched friends and family about things you are thankful for, include something about God's grace or God's sovereignty. Either topic is guaranteed to generate a conversation with someone who is unchurched, especially in this day when God and Christians are so misunderstood.
November 10, 2015 Invite a friend or two to come to the Family Movie Night next week. It is a fun and low key event designed for your friends to hang out with our community and meet your SOMA friends.
October 18, 2015 This might be a tough challenge for some, especially those who avoid community. God made us for community but everyone, at some point, has a "season" in life where they fear it or avoid it. Next weekend we have two events designed to help us grow closer together: the Men's Service Project and the Women's Favorite Things Party. Both events will be fun and people who attend will be encouraged. So don't run from community. If you haven't participated lately in a community event try one again. You are part of the BODY and we miss you.
October 8, 2015 This month pick your own challenge and be deliberate in living as a missionary in Sonona County. Read through some of the past challenges archived here and pick one to practice. There are even old Halloween themed challenges.
September 2, 2015 Take a few minutes and read this article about social media trending and sharing the gospel. It is not about using social media to witness. We all have opportunities with the unchurched (maybe even daily) to discuss trending news topics and that is a good thing.
This article has lessons/reminders about evangelism taken from trending topics. The section on persistence was a good reminder for me to continue to "watch and pray" for my unchurched friends. Feel free to post in comments what sections you enjoyed.
"I have come to believe that there is beauty in what trends. The beauty lives in the opportunity to speak and live as followers of Christ to impact and transform a broken world."
July 24, 2015 Print out these verses on some cards and place them in the car, around the house, or in your office so you can meditate on them for a few weeks.
Romans 10:13-15 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
We are all called to "preach" the gospel to our neighbors and friends. How will some hear unless we share?
June 20, 2015 Enjoy this post about evangelism. Spend some time in prayer about how you can "boost your evangelism" and take action.
May 11, 2015 Katie has created some graphics for our weekly fighter verses. A lot of people share inspirational poems and statements on facebook. What is more inspirational than scripture!?!? Pick a graphic and share on your wall. I personally didn't realize Lamentations was so encouraging. And check back every week for the Fighter verses and share as you are led. Click here to go to the SOMA Facebook page and find a Figher verse to share.
May 6, 2015 What do you love about being part of God’s church? What makes you happy when you think of your church family? Pray for opportunities to talk to your friends about the things that make you want to be a part of a church family. Chances are some un-churched friends might be looking for the same things and will be encouraged to “try” church in their path toward Jesus. Since so many only hear about church-type things on the news, hearing good things about churches will encourage everyone.
April 12, 2015 Be early or on time to church today if you can. We are praying for guests to visit church, so be there to help them feel comfortable. Many people have commented to us about the Homeless Brunch article so people read the paper and are encouraged by acts of lovingkindness. Over 400 people saw the article and "liked"'what they saw. God is working to draw people to Himself and we pray that articles like this are used by God for that purpose! Isn't it great to be a part of God's plan!
March 28, 2015 Now is the season when the un-churched will think "hum, maybe I should go to church." We know God is working and drawing people to Himself. Look for ways to share about Easter with your friends. We all know people who used to go to church and don't now for various reasons. God is still working in their life.
AND a low-risk way to share is to "like" the Palm Sunday photo on SOMA's facebook wall. The more people that "like" the photo, the more facebook will show it to our friends. We will have another Easter photo next week that you can "like" to have it shared.
February 10, 2015 This is an inspiring post about evangelism. (Men, it is written by a woman about a mom-experience but stick with it! It will encourages EVERYONE to pray for opportunities to share the Gospel. Men, woman, people without kids, people with grown kids, everyone.)
"God is at work in your normal life, too. As you go about your day, ask God to give you eyes to see – to really see – the people in your ordinary life as He sees them. So that we may be moved by the heart of God in the midst of our normal days." Click here for the link.
January 5, 2015 This post says it better than I could. Enjoy. Let's pray together for an awakening in our neighborhoods. Click here for the link.
December 6, 2014 Christmas is the season when many people step into a church for the first time since Easter. Some at SOMA have shared their struggle to get to church on time. We all have those seasons in life. The sad part is often when church starts at about 10:00 there are 5 or 6 people in the theater. A guest feels very awkward during this time and I am sure wonders "what is this place?" "why is this amazing worship team singing to an audience of 5?" ;-) To help guests feel less conspicuous in the theater please consider coming to church at 9:50 this month. Worst case you will get to connect with your church family for a little before the service. And best case you help SOMA be more inviting to guests.
November 18, 2014 If you are having trouble with the November Missional / Community Challenge this might give you ideas on how to talk to people to get them to share their story.
Read the article here.
November 12, 2014 Missional/Community challenge: pages like "Humans of New York" and "A Mighty Girl" are popular places to read people's inspiring stories. In reality most are normal people sharing their story. This month take a break from sites like that and instead spend some time every week asking questions of people you interact with. Most have stories just as fascinating as those sites. This can be a missional challenge if you seek out stories from the unchurched or a community challenge if you practice listening to the stories from your fellow Somites.
October 26, 2014 Enjoy this article on living Missionally this Halloween week.
September 27, 2014 I don't know this church, I don't know this blog but I have been thinking about what it means to be hospitable to EVERYONE in my home and in our church and I came across this and it encouraged me. This month's challenge is to read the post and choose a few of the items from the list to practice on Sundays.
August 2, 2014 This months Missional Challenge is from Dave Devries. "Consider how you have been touched by the power of the gospel. Take action today to touch others around you with the gospel." Here is his blog post on the topic.
July 7, 2014 Summer Missional Challenge: There are 5 events on SOMA Church Community's facebook page. Pray about inviting 2-3 people to one or more of the events. A facebook invite is a simple way to reach out. IF that is too uncomfortable for you right now then RSVP as coming and let facebook share your plans with your friends for you.
May 17, 2014 Missional Challenge: Every Saturday this month pray an ask God if there is someone to invite to church the next day. God is already working in your un-churched friends life and your invitation might be what prompts them to take the next step toward God. A re-quote from a previous Missional challenge: "The Sacrament of Evangelism" by Jerry Root and Stan Guthrie. "God’s nearness, His immanence, encourages us to take risks, knowing that He is present to support us. It is not all up to us, thank God. We are to do our best and leave the results to Him. As the great missionary pioneer William Carey said, 'Expect great things; attempt great things.' If you never take a risk for God, you will never see Him intervene in powerful and unmistakable ways. As the Scripture says, 'For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.' Are you putting yourself in the kinds of situations that require God to show Himself? Put God first, and He will not disappoint you."
February 26, 2014 Missional Challenege: Comes from Dr Dave Devries at MissionalChallenge.com --Evaluate how essential fulfilling Jesus' mission is to you today. Adjust accordingly
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November 5, 2013 Missional Challenge: This month try reading a book that focuses on evangelism. If you need ideas, my current favorite is The Sacrament of Evangelism by Jerry Root and Stan Guthrie. Other favorites include The Celtic Way of Evangelism -How Christianity Can Reach the West . . .Again by George G. Hunter III, They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations by Dan Kimball, Conspiracy of Kindness: A Unique Approach to Sharing the Love of Jesus by Steve Sjogren. There are MANY other books out there. I look forward to reading a new one myself if anyone has a recommendation.
Sept 23, 2013 Missional Challenge: Pray for the families at Kid Street Learning Center to send their kids to HayDay. The school sent home this flyer in the kid's homework folders inviting them to come! Amazing. God is already working so now we look for ways to pray and participate.
Sept 4, 2014 Our last Missional Challenge was an excerpt from "The Sacrament of Evangelism" by Jerry Root and Stan Guthrie. According to Jerry Root, "God’s nearness, His immanence, encourages us to take risks, knowing that He is present to support us. It is not all up to us, thank God. We are to do our best and leave the results to Him. As the great missionary pioneer William Carey said, 'Expect great things; attempt great things.' If you never take a risk for God, you will never see Him intervene in powerful and unmistakable ways. As the Scripture says, 'For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.' Are you putting yourself in the kinds of situations that require God to show Himself? Put God first, and He will not disappoint you."
August 19, 2013 Missional Challenge for August is an excerpt from "The Sacrament of Evangelism" by Jerry Root and Stan Guthrie: Baron Friedrich von Hugel, an Austrian nobleman and Christian apologist at the turn of the 20th century, understood well the need to meet people where they are in order to take them where they need to be. "I want to make the most of whatever light people have got, however slight it may be," von Hugel said, "to strengthen and deepen whatever they already posses if I can." We use the word "make" advisedly, since our sacramental understanding of God means that He is already present in the life of the other person, before we ever open our mouths. And since God is with this person, we can trust that we will discover mutual points of connection. We need to connect with people at any given moment and in any setting. So pray for God to open your eyes and give you the insight and words you need as you speak with others. (pg 138)
July 13, 2013 Don't forget: Summer Missional Challenge #2: Every week we come home with the leftover snacks and we wrap them up and pick a neighbor to give them to. Usually we say "we had extra homemade snacks at church today and thought you might like them." So far no one has said NO and the people that have gotten them a few times are so excited to see the snacks coming. AND most importantly it is an easy way to start a conversation about church with someone!
We will have one plate of snacks wrapped up ready for one of you to take to deliver to an unchurched neighbor or friend sitting on the table. As God leads please consider taking the plate to someone you have been praying for to come to church. If the plate is already gone because someone else has claimed it and God has put someone on your heart take some snacks in a cup and transfer to a plate when you get home.
June 29, 2013 Summer Missional Challenge: after church grab some Somites and visit the new farmers market by the Deturk Round Barn. Last weekend they held their first Sunday market and it was a hit. Their goal is to increase community so it is spread along the street by the houses. It would be fun to shop and also get to know our church's neighbors. At some point maybe we can find a way to participate and share Jesus love. They have a baker selling gluten free baked goods as well as lots of produce.
If not this Sunday maybe another Sunday in July or August.
January 5, 2013 Missional Challenge: Even if you don't make New Year's Resolutions ask your un-churched friends if they made any. This might open up conversation about spirituality as many people look inward at this time. If they ask you share any plans you have for your spiritual growth this year: Bible reading plan, church attendance, Bible studies, verse memorization, etc.
December 1, 2012 Missional Challenge- December is a month when un-churched or de-churched are more open to visiting church. Invite FIVE people to one of SOMA's December events. Do they like social activism? Invite them to the Cookie Exchange. Do they like playful fun? Invite them to City Eats - Dessert & Snow. Are they traditional? Invite them to the candlelight SOMA Christmas Celebration. AS I just sent an invite to one of my un-churched friends I said "You will LOVE all my SOMA friends, they are the most generous, most loving people in a church I have ever met!"
October 12, 2012 We did this last year in our neighborhood and had lots of fun as did probably 50+ of our neighbors who got into it! To start it we did 3 plates of goodies for 3 neighbors just in case someone didn't want to keep it going. If you don't celebrate Halloween you could white out the Halloween phrase on the instruction sheet. it is a great way to get the neighborhood visiting.
October 14, 2012 Missional Challenge for October: Living as a missionary in Sonoma County means showing Jesus' love to everyone that comes into your life. Sometimes little gestures are all it takes for someone to feel loved. This month look for a way to encourage your kid's teacher or your boss or a neighbor with a small BUT meaningful gift. If they like fancy drinks bring them one from Starbucks, if they like fruit bring them some apples, if they like sweets bring them a SOMA treat on Sunday afternoon. Take a moment to encourage them in their work and if you are bold tell them you are praying for them. Not sure who to encourage or what to give, pray, God will lead you.
August 31, 2012 Missional Challenge: We are moving our "missional challenges" from the bulletin to this group because we don't want our unchurched friends to see a challenge when they visit church and realize they were lovingly targeted! We all have friends that we want to choose Jesus and many of them are connected to us by social media. For the next few weeks 'check in' on your phone when you get to church. This is an easy way for your friends to know what you do Sunday mornings. For more impact include a photo of something to make the check in more interesting like the logo, the snack, or a cute kid being silly. Maybe your ‘check in’ might actually touch someone who is ‘on the fence’ about church and wondering about Jesus. As missionaries in Sonoma County we need to look for ways to constantly be sharing Jesus with our friends.