Missionary vs. Missional Church

Have you ever wondered what makes a church truly “on mission”?  Not all churches that do missions are the same. Some focus on sending missionaries, while others live missionally every day.

Here are 10 key differences between a missionary church and a missional church:

• Missionary Church: Sends people to other places for missions VS Missional Church: Every believer is sent into their everyday life

• Missionary Church: Mission is a program of the church VS Missional Church: Mission is the purpose of the church

• Missionary Church: Focuses on going somewhere else VS Missional Church: Focuses on being sent where you already are

• Missionary Church: Supports professional missionaries VS Missional Church: Equips all members as missionaries

• Missionary Church: Mission happens in trips or events VS Missional Church: Mission happens in daily life (school, work, neighborhood)

• Missionary Church: Church says, “Come to us.” VS Missional Church: Church says, “We are going to you.”

• Missionary Church: Measures success by attendance VS Missional Church: Measures success by transformation and impact

• Missionary Church: Outreach is done by a ministry team VS Missional Church: Outreach is the lifestyle of the whole church

• Missionary Church: Church is a place you go VS Missional Church: Church is a people who are sent

• Missionary Church: Evangelism is an organized activity VS Missional Church: Evangelism is relational and lived out daily