Missional living means much more than traveling to foreign countries on mission trips. Sometimes we can travel to the margins and encounter God in the “other” in our own backyard. As an example, consider Allelon, an intentional Christian community in Abilene.
In 2009, four ACU students decided to move into the Stevenson neighborhood in north Abilene. As they describe on their website, the neighborhood is “known for crime, drugs, violence and lingering, latent racial segregation.” Their goal is both simple and profound: “As a community, we share a common love for God and our neighborhood, and we are devoted to seeking God’s kingdom together as he breaks down the walls in our hearts and in our hood.”
You can learn more about Allelon (including the origin of their name!) at their blog.
Discussion Questions:
- After reading through the description of Allelon on their blog, compare their practices to Dr. Johnson’s description of the missional impulse. In what specific ways are they living the “missional life”?
- Which part of their “rule of life” is most compelling to you?
- Are their any practices that you might be able to incorporate into your own life without joining the Allelon community? In other words, can you imagine some practical ways that you might embrace the missional life in your present context?
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