Imagine traditional congregations in the United States and Canada sending missionaries across the street from their church buildings to express the kingdom of God within a postmodern culture and among disenfranchised Christians. The possibilities and potential are endless. This concept is explored and actual examples are presented in Street Crossers. Partnerships between traditional churches and nontraditional ‘simple church’ planters are rare. More need to be encouraged because a significant number of people across North America are skeptical of organized religion or want nothing to do with church-as-usual. While some might conclude that the traditional church has little to offer a postmodern world and that no amount of tweaking traditional church structures will make a significant difference, they have forgotten to consider a vital reality existing in most congregations across the land: a commitment to send and support missionaries to ‘foreign’ cultures. It’s time to harness this existing commitment and focus it across the street.
A propos de l’auteur
Rick Shrout is a contributing author of Nexus: The World House Church Movement Reader (2007). He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Leadership in the Emerging Culture from George Fox University, and is ordained by the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana).