Even atheists and cynics admit that the birth of Jesus changed the world. He came to us as a Child to make us all God’s children. The Church is a sign and agent of the reign of God in the world. Michael Riddell says, “Participating in the mission of God means leaving our place of security to travel to the place where others are. This is the heartbeat of the Incarnation … Mission is always in the direction of the other, and away from ourselves.”

Getting a church over 40 moving “in the direction of the other” is one of the biggest challenges in the process of leading renewal. It is very difficult, but it can be done, by the grace of God. One helpful resource is “Shaped by God’s Heart: The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches” by Milfred Minatrea. Click on Book Review for some great material, including this quote: “Tradition is the living faith of those now departed. Traditionalism is the dead faith of those now living.” Click on Web Review for links to the websites of what Minatrea calls “missional churches” – externally focused churches whose members are having transformational impact in the world by making the Good News incarnate.