The Missional “Elevator Pitch” #2
Thanks for all your input on the The Missional “Elevator Pitch” post. Some great comments, insights and suggestions.
If you will recall, there were five guidelines for a good “elevator pitch.”
- It must be succinct. Remember, you have only 30 seconds.
- It must be easy to understand. No “church talk†or incomprehensible theology.
- It can be remembered.
- It should lay out the problem.
- It should solve the problem.
Based on your input, my own understanding and these guidelines, here is my first shot at a missional elevator pitch.
We all know that Jesus told us to go into all the world and be his ambassadors, but the church today has distorted the “go and be” command with a “come and see” appeal. We have grown attached to buildings, programs, staff and a wide variety of goods and services designed to attract and entertain people.
Missional is a bit of Christian jargon used to describe what happens when you and I replace the “come to us” invitations with a “go to them” life. A life where “the way of Jesus” informs and radically transforms our existence to one wholly focused on sacrificially living for him and others.
Okay, the comment section is open for input and critique.
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February 8th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
[...] Beggar was looking for aMissional Elevator Pitch, and after a few comments and such, he’s proposed one version of an elevator pitch for [...]
February 9th, 2007 at 10:00 am
The “we all know” lost me immediately. Also, the emphasis on “go and be” can mislead people into thinking that the church as community of God is less important to us. Both the community as body and the people as members of the body are important.
February 9th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Adam: Just the kind of comment I’m looking for. Thanks. I’ll continue to give it thought and see how I can rework it.
One thing to keep in mind is that a 30 second pitch can’t be comprehensive. It will only highlight a main concept. I do believe the main concept in missional is going and being Jesus in the culture we find ourselves.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Hi,
I have been thinking the same thing. I want to share Jesus and not just invite.
If I will follow Jesus He will teach me to be a fisher of men. Matt 4:19
A 30 second witness for me would be to give glory to Jesus about something .
February 9th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
SOME INITIAL FEEDBACK:
0) Are you explaining this to a Christian? That will make a huge difference in what you say. I am assuming that the person you are talking to in the elevator is a follower of Jesus…
1) It has to be a lifestyle - keep emphasizing that it’s getting all of our passions, desires, behaviors, attitudes, actions, thoughts to focus on fulfilling the Great Commission.
2) Be careful when you say “the church today” - it could be understood to mean “all” churches today. Try using - “most churches in America today”…
3) Instead of saying the “go and be” command, I would probably just say “the Great Commission” - since I am talking to a Christ-follower
4) I don’t like referring to missional as “Christian jargon” - it sounds like you are trivializing the meaning. I’d probably just say its a “helpful term” to describe…
5) I know “missionary” can be misunderstood - but I think that “being a missionary everywhere” is still at the root of what missional means. If I wasn’t going to say “missionary,” I’d probably want to say - “someone who shows and then tells the message of Jesus to others.”
If I had 30 seconds - I’d include the idea of “being Jesus” to everyone everywhere.
I’ll think about it some more…
February 9th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Perfect Dave. Some good insights.
February 10th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
The “no church talk” requirement makes me think you’re talking to a non-Christian, right? (Re: Dave’s comment.)
Rick, in comment #3 you said, “I do believe the main concept in missional is going and being Jesus in the culture we find ourselves.” So, why not lead with that? In a 30-second pitch, I don’t think you need to spend as much time defining missional over against the “come and see” approach. (You spent about half your time on what you’re not, in your first stab at it.) Or if you do, you could do it quickly…
“Instead of expecting people to come to us, we go to them.”
Maybe you were trying to “lay out the problem” and then “solve the problem.” But is the problem the “come and see” approach, or is the problem the brokenness of people maimed by sin and unaware of God’s healing grace?
Those were my first impressions. It’s a little late for me to try to compose my own 30-second pitch in response… but maybe it would go something like this…
“Missional means we’re on a mission. Jesus said he was sent here on a rescue mission, to serve the least and rescue the lost. That’s what he gave his life to, and then he said he would continue his work through ordinary people who trust him. So that’s what we’re doing. We’re doing our best to ‘be Jesus’ right here in our culture. And since Jesus gave his whole life to it, we’re doing the same. And as we do, we find that he is alive in us. What more could we ask for?”
Something like that…
February 10th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
…except that I forgot the line somewhere in the middle that says, “We don’t sit in our church buildings waiting for people to come to us. We go to them.”
I told you it was late. :)
February 11th, 2007 at 7:41 am
This type of statement is really meant for a Jesus follower. No “church talk†or incomprehensible theology really mean, keep the language at an understandable level.
In my mind, the problem really is the approach most faith communities take.
I like your missional statement Rich, but I’m not sure it gets to the heart of what missional is — a life where “the way of Jesus†informs and radically transforms our existence to one wholly focused on sacrificially living for him and others. This radical transformation then causes us to go.
When we say “missional means we’re on a mission,” it put the focus on doing instead of being. But missional if first about “being” which then translates to the “doing.”
February 11th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Ah, I see. I can go with you on the being-leads-to-doing part (at least, I think I can, though I think that ultimately boils down to a non-argument)… but I’m personally not interested in any definition that sees the primary problem to be solved as “those churches over there and what they’re doing wrong.” I’m more interested in a definition that speaks to those not yet in the community. But that might have to do with my context as a church planter. My job isn’t to convince Christians that they should be with us, doing things our way, instead of with that church over there. My job is to connect with folks outside all of our churches and help them grasp the invitation to live in God’s kingdom.
February 11th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
And may God richly bless you in our concern for the folks outside all of our churches Rich!!!
February 11th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Great insights Rich! I love your emphasis on the need to “be Jesus” right here in our culture.
Being misisonal is so much adopting the mission of Jesus as our own and engaging those in the culture right where we live.
February 11th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
I have to say I really appreciate this dialogue.
Maybe I am being a little simplistic, but since I began my walk with Jesus, mission to me has been to be “Jesus in Skin” for those that God allows/directs to enter “my life”. I fail often, but its His grace and mercy by His spirit that enables to move forward along with a confidence that God works through me despite my stumbles.
February 12th, 2007 at 3:33 am
Hi rick, it struck me as to anti church - i’d personalise it so instead of mentioning church i’d mention yourself… make it a personal pitch based on where you are coming from will make it more impactful/effective rather than just a moan about what church does or does not do in some cases/places…
February 12th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Thanks Paul. I am critical of the institutional/traditional church in this area, but I don’t want to come across as anti church. I’ll see how I might change the tone.
February 12th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Dave:
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It has been a good discussion. “Jesus in Skin” is not bad.
February 13th, 2007 at 8:37 am
All:
I have made a few subtle but good changes based on all of your super comments. It may not completely resonate with you, but it feels good to me.
Feel free to take this an modify it or create something new that you can use when you only have a minute or so and someone asks, “Hey, what is this missional thing anyhow?”
Here is it:
“Jesus told us to go into all the world and be his ambassadors, but many churches today have inadvertently changed the “go and be” command with a “come and see” appeal. We have grown attached to buildings, programs, staff and a wide variety of goods and services designed to attract and entertain people.
“Missional is a helpful term used to describe what happens when you and I replace the “come to us” invitations with a “go to them” life. A life where “the way of Jesus” informs and radically transforms our existence to one wholly focused on sacrificially living for him and others.”