About this Course
The Why
Traditionally, NZCMS has sent Mission Partners overseas and we’ve gotten really good at it. However, more and more Kiwi disciples are realising there is mission work to be done here too. Just as some have recognised the need overseas and a call to go, people are sensing a call to stay.
This excites us because it lands right in the middle of our vision to mobilise the Church of Aotearoa to participate in God’s mission wherever he has placed us.
So we partnered with our friends at Discipleship Pathways to equip you to do just that.
The Who
“Staying is the New Going” is for those who are called to stay. How do you know if this is you? Well, if you aren’t called to mission overseas, you’re called to mission here! Every disciple is called to participate in God’s mission.
This course is run by Nathan Hughes and Guy Benton, two guys part of the NZCMS whānau who have a combined 20+ years of on-the-ground, in-your-face, real-life, cross-cultural, and local missions experience.
The Goal
By doing this course you will be inspired to join a team, learn to become more engaged and confident in your community and gain some tips and tricks on how to love, serve and share the Gospel with your neighbourhood.
Our big picture goal is to facilitate a place where you and your community can learn how to:
- Lean into God’s mission
- Love your neighbours like Jesus
- Respond to the Holy Spirit’s call to stay
Class Content
Staying is the New Going is a ‘Class’ with 9 ‘Modules’. We’ve structured it this way because we want you to go through these videos as a learning community, serving your local neighbourhood together. Mission, whether overseas or in Aotearoa, is done in teams and through deep relationship and mutuality. So, get your mates together and let’s get started!
Introduction
Nathan takes you through the ins and outs of this course so you can get a better idea of who this course is for and how best to use it.
The Practice of Place
Guy Benton shares from Jeremiah 29 about how God cares about the place where we are and calls us to commit to it.
The Practice of Incarnation
John 14 says “Jesus became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood” (The MSG). How can we follow Jesus’ example?
The Practice of Longevity
What does longevity have to do with community mission and ministries? What does longevity even mean?
The Practice of Learning
How can we come to people and places without assuming their stories and their needs? Why is this so important?
The Practice of Community
Nathan teaches from Philippians 2:12 — 13, showing us how Scripture calls us, not only to serve individually, but also as groups of people.
The Practice of Presence
How do we go about meaningfully connecting with our neighbourhoods? How can we build friendships with strangers?
The Practice of Hospitality
Some people take great joy in hosting others and making them feel welcome. But for many it doesn’t come quite as naturally. How can we welcome people well?
The Practice of Prayer
Prayer is essential when it comes to mission. But how can we pray? What does this look like when it comes to pursuing God’s call to stay?
The Practice of Proclamation
Have you been involved in a form of evangelism that has been inappropriate or manipulative? How do we share about Christ in a society that is sometimes pretty negative to Christianity?
Lean into God’s mission
Love your neighbours like Jesus
Respond to the Holy Spirit’s call to stay
Introduction
These questions and more are answered in Module 0: Introduction.
The Practice of Place
Guy Bentons leads us in a discussion all about the Practice of Place in Module 1.
The Practice of Incarnation
Nathan Hughes leads into a discussion on the Practice of Incarnation in Module 2.
The Practice of Longevity
This is the Practice of Longevity, Module 3.
The Practice of Learning
Guy leads us through the Practice of Learning in Module 4.
The Practice of Community
Nathan takes us through the Practice of Community in Module 5.
The Practice of Presence
Guy takes us through the Practice of Presence in Module 6.
The Practice of Hospitality
Nathan talks us through the Practice of Hospitality in Module 7.
The Practice of Prayer
This is Module 8 and the Practice of Prayer.
The Practice of Proclamation
Nathan takes us through this discussion in Module 9, the Practice of Proclamation.