I find www.Shapevine.com helpful, the brainchild of Alan Hirsch, Lance Ford, and others, so CTI now hosts their enewsletter.

WMU has great material for every age - from pre-schoolers, children, youth , college, young adult to mature adults. Also many ways to be involved- through pure water
pure love, world crafts,Christmas in August With NAMB to help missionaries streach Annie Dollars, mission fest and family fest. And that is just a few of many things - check out Wmu- this isn't your mamas WMU. Current and relavant for these days--We help believers be radically involved in missions!!!

I want a "mission idea of the week" for our church. Something practical and measurable like, "Ask a friend, neighbor, or coworker how you can pray for them this week". Any suggestions or sources?

We have found Exilio very useful.

(note: the dvd is formatted for use in Australia, but it works in most computer dvd drives.)

The following is from their "How it Works" page:

HOW DOES IT WORK?

EXILIO is a 24 week course which will require you and your participants to spend, on average, three or four hours a week completing the required tasks. These required tasks fall under three categories: READ, GATHER, EXPLORE. Here’s how they fit together:

1. READ
Each group member will be required to read Michael Frost’s book, Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture. The book is broken into four broad parts. Each group member will have six weeks in which to read each part.

2. GATHER
After reading each section you will gather together in a cluster meeting to discuss what you’ve read, watch a DVD session and discuss your learning together.

3. EXPLORE
We believe that real learning requires much more than reading. You have to act on what you are discovering. Ignition is a 12 week group Bible study of the Acts of the Apostles. It is designed to get your small group investigating opportunities for missional living right where they are. Rather than just being a weekly discussion about the Bible, as most Bible studies are, Ignition sets a number of ‘assignments’ each week, to be completed before the group meets each week. As well as leading Ignition over 12 weeks, each Exilio participant will be required to complete a number of short challenges based around the material in Exiles. These are discussed at each of the clusters.

1. Eric Simmons on the Missional Life: http://www.9marks.org/CC/article/0,,PTID314526|CHID598016|CIID2264226,00.html

2. Eight ways to easily be missional: http://churchplantingnovice.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/8-ways-to-easily-be-missional/

3. Two steps to be missional with community in everyday life: http://michaelfoster.typepad.com/blog/2008/09/missions-and-co.html

4. Nine tweets from Steve Timmis on living ordinary life with gospel intentionality (missional): http://www.goodmanson.com/2009-06/18/what-is-gospel-intentionality-within-a-church-community/

I've found reading blogs or biographies of missionaries helpful. Shane Claiborn's The Irresistible Revolution was also helpful, and Michael Frost's The Shaping of Things to Come (written with Hirsch).

While these books and resources offer great inspiration and direction, the greatest asset for living missionally for me is to continue deepening my relationship with Jesus.

Tom,

Alan Knox posts a weekly story on Wed's from readers who are attempting to live missionally: http://www.alanknox.net/category/stories/.

Weekly love ideas from the Simply Love Project.

http://www.simpleloveproject.com/

Tom I just came across this. Looks like it may be something you are describing.

http://www.simpleloveproject.com/

A classic that came to mind for everyday living for a committed Christian is "Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World" by Richard J. Mouw, published by Intervarsity Press in 1992.

I first became familiar with the book just after becoming campus minister at Indiana University in the 90's and faced, for the first time in years, a daily barrage of uncivil behavior aimed towards professing Christians. I highly recommend it.

Hi Ed. I just love Alan Hirsch and his books, which you reference above. I got to know Alan through my D.Min. work at Fuller.

I like David Fitch's blog, Reclaiming the Mission, at http://reclaimingthemission.com.

Check out the Missional Outreach Network at http://missionaloutreachnetwork.com Especially look at the Technology and Outreach group, which gives tips on how to use technology to reach out.

Also go to the Meetup site, http://meetup.com This site helps those online meet real people who share a common interest, like reading books, sports, mom groups, spiritual interests, etc. A good way to meet non-Christians and not have them be strangers. Great for church planters.

Thanks for the tools! I really enjoyed reading the Summerbia: Connection Tools.

I developed a set of 7 missional practices for our church community. Based on Jesus in Luke and the journey toward Jerusalem. 7 sermons, 7 Bible studies and 7 wallet-sized takehome cards.

We found them a great way of drawing our church around the missional conversation. We used them initially in the lead up to Easter and also for 1-off new member induction retreats.

I have sets available for sale if interested.

rev dr steve taylor
www.emergentkiwi.org.nz