Mission Church

• Ryan Frazier
• Jul 8, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church 

I grew up as a ranch hand, then became a bartender in college, which led to business and marriage to my college sweetheart upon college graduation. I was and ungospeled religious guy-- religious when it was convenient. And in the beginning of a failing marriage Jesus called me, I repented and believed, and I entered into Life with Him. Four years later He called me to pastor and be trained in seminary, and it was there He transformed my heart into that of a missionary to the U.S. Jesus called me to plant over a two-year period, beginning in my final year of seminary. I left the church staff I served for 6 years to move 300 miles away and parachute drop into San Antonio to plant Mission Church. Why? Jesus told my wife and me to do it in a time of prayer together. His voice came, we heard, and we began pursuing what we believed He said. 18 months later we launched Mission Church. We began with nothing but a call from Jesus, gathered people from coffee shops, malls, restaurants, grocery stores, and neighborhoods. And today we serve Mission Church. My family and I have never looked back, and the ride has been amazing.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in planting your church (and/or currently facing)? 

Overwork has been the greatest challenge of all--practical trust in His goodness and sovereignty.

What advice do you have for men who are wrestling with the decision to plant? 

Don't do it unless you can do nothing else and you are assessed and approved by those who are living it... then if you still believe God has called you, you must do it, because if you don't, who will?

How did you become involved with Acts 29? What have been the biggest benefits of being in the network? 

I contacted Acts 29 after I heard Mark Driscoll's preaching, and he was saying everything I was thinking. End of story.

The benefits have been the good coaching, superior modeling, and the sense of brotherhood and common cause. Also, Christians looking for an Acts 29 church have come and contributed greatly.

How do you pastor your family? 

I focus on 5 things:

1. Model. I model a relationship with Jesus through making visible my personal prayer, study, singing, and evangelism. I also take one child with me on home visits.
2. Teach. I teach my kids at night before bedtime, using verse memory, the Lord's Prayer, the Nicene Creed, and the Westminster Shorter Catechism, then making the theology practical through discussions of real people and events in our life, ministry, and the news. Sometimes I read the illustrated Bible to them.
3. Pray. I pray with me wife and kids every night that I am home.
4. Share. I share stories of life-change and ministry capers to help the kids see the benefit associated with the personal cost.
5. Play. I play the role of king of fun, taking them to do fun things separately with me.

Outside of the Bible, what is the most helpful book you have read for church planting?

For pre-launch, Radical Reformission, The Art of the Start & Launch; For 1st 3 months launch, The Pursuit of Holiness & Made to Stick; For 1st year, Church Unique & Vintage Church

Church Profile: Mission Church
Launch Date: Oct, 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

Missional Vision for 2010/2011: Growing men, women, and children who "Live Sent like Jesus." -John 20:21

Missional Mandate: "Inviting People into Life with Jesus"

Missional Measures: We grow and send Loving Hearts, Wise Minds, Humble Hands, & Bold Feet into the world.

What is your biblical perspective on authentic community, and evangelism? How is this practically seen in your church? 

PERSPECTIVE
The community of the church is the ordained tool for conversion, there is no "community" and "evangelism" as separate functions, but making disciples (evangelism) is the thrilling redemptive-historical mandate of a church community of lives "living sent like Jesus" (John 20:21). The renewed lives of people in community are the visible representation of the Kingdom of Jesus, the holy reign we call "Life with Jesus." A "Life with Jesus" expresses attractively Christ's joyful, peaceful, and benevolent kingship over all aspects of a life: by being the utmost in all of one's heart (in worship), by transforming all of one's mind (in group Bible Study), by stewarding all of one's strength (through giving and serving), and by ruling all of one's relationships (by living missionally). People living far from God are invited into the changing lives of those growing in community, and then, through those life-giving relationships and gospel proclamation, invited into Life with Jesus. So a person's progression from the kingdom of this world into the Kingdom of Jesus happens in the context of community.

PRACTICAL OUTWORKING
Practically, the Kingdom of Jesus comes upon a person living far from God when one in our community gives all his relationships for Christ's purposes and expresses BOLD FEET--living missionally by praying, caring, and sharing with those at work and in the world. They leverage the church's social parties to introduce a person to others. Next, the new person is invited to a worship service, where partners and volunteers express LOVING HEARTS, through exuberant worship and warm and friendly service and welcome. The community knows that the best witness for the worth of Jesus is the sold-out worship of Him. Then, the new person can interact with WISE MINDS, as he experiences preaching and a weekday group meeting. The wisdom of the Word is attractive to believers and unbelievers alike, and is proof positive as the preacher and group participants discuss transparently their own life-change. Also, the new person is blessed by HUMBLE HANDS of volunteers, who serve him, and then invite him to serve alongside of him, expressing his value through inclusion and demonstrating attractive humility through service. In each ministry--Worship, Groups, and Volunteer service--people are equipped to communicate the gospel and invite response. This gospel and its response is expressed most clearly and simply in our Worship service and Gospel Class.

What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church? 

God has been merciful and benevolent to me, my family, and our church in the following ways:

1. He's given us a new voice in gospel-centered preaching.
2. He's made us good financial stewards.
3. He's provided us with a kids ministry that kids love.
4. He's given us a unified leadership team.
5. He's given us favor with musical artists.
6. He's given us favor with young single adults and couples.
7. He's provided fantastic coaching and relationships through Acts 29.
8. He's met our every need.
9. He's provided more conversions and baptisms that we could hope for in 3-5 years.
10. He has humbled us, and made us more trusting of Him.