05.12.25 | Vitality
Missional Action Planning Resources
Every congregation and collaborative hub is on a journey to vitality. Some are discerning what God is calling them to do. Others are clear on their calling but seek help to bring their ministries to life. No matter where you are, missional action planning (MAP) meets you there.
There are many starting points, many destinations, and ways to show God’s love in the world. As we focus on being the hands and feet of Christ in our communities and creating transformational, outward-facing, community-driven ministries that embody our shared values, missional action planning provides us with a process or roadmap to guide our collaboration.
Need Guidance? Complete Interest Form
There are people standing by to accompany you on the MAP journey. Complete the interest form to get connected.
Not sure where to start? Schedule a 30-min Consultation
If you aren’t sure where you are on the journey or have other questions, schedule a 30-minute virtual consultation to determine your next faithful step.
What is Vitality?
Vitality is: 1) Seeing All the People, 2) Deepening Discipleship, 3) Living and Loving Like Jesus, and 4) Multiplying Impact.
For more information about vitality, click here: https://www.bwcumc.org/100-at-100/church-vitality-pillars/
Watch this video to understand more about vitality.
Your journey to vitality
It is not a to do list, but an iterative process. As you dream and discern, God may call you to re-imagine the use of your space (e.g., repurpose or reconfigure space for strategic, missional partnership).
DISCOVERY
- “What might we discover if we listen more closely to the people, stories, strengths, and struggles both inside the church and out in its community?"
- What might we discover when we engage more closely….
- What are the needs of our community? Where is there injustice, inequity, or exclusion?
- What do we know about our congregation(s) and community? What do we need to learn about our congregation(s) and community, especially potential partners?
CONTEXTUAL DISCERNMENT
- What have we learned that touches our hearts about the needs and opportunities in our community?
- What have we learned about the needs and opportunities in our community that stirs us to put our faith into action?
- If there are multiple needs, ask God which need/opportunity to focus on now?)
- Given what we’ve discovered about our community, potential partners, and ourselves, what is our understanding of the needs and opportunities in our community?
GOD-FUELED IMAGINATION
- Given the needs and opportunities around us, what might God invite us to re-imagine for the good of our community?"
- Given our understanding of the needs and opportunities in our community, how might we address these needs?
- Given God’s grace, what are the possibilities?
MINISTRY DEFINITION & CREATION
- What are we being called to do and how are we going to do it?
- Considering all the possibilities and what we have learned so far, what are we being called to do?
- How will we do it? Organizing next steps, roles, partners, timing, resources, pilot to assess impact and test operations?
MINISTRY IMPLEMENTATION & EVALUATION
- How will we fully implement and sustain the ministry(ies) we have been called by God to do?
- Organizing, actions, roles, partners, resources, timing, feedback loops, monitoring, reporting, communications, continuous improvement, proposed experiments?
[Pre-DEVELOPMENT / DEVELOPMENT]
If the vision includes major church property redevelopment to deepen and multiply ministry impact there are additional steps. You'll want to complete the MAP Interest Form and then follow the Property with Purpose Road Map.