Missionaries to the City embrace whole-heartedly the “Salt Shaker Principle”.* They focus their ministries and witness primarily outside the walls of the church.
While they often also volunteer or serve in their home congregations, the M2C intentionally commits to ongoing opportunities to be salt and light in the community, either through regular volunteer efforts or consistent practices in their workplace. The M2C shows up on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis at the same place.
Thus M2Cs can be identified by three main characteristics:
- Incarnational – ministry & service is performed off the church facility grounds in the community;
- Intentional – ministry & service is done specifically to provide opportunity for demonstrating God’s love and moving folks closer to a relationship with Christ;
- Consistent – ministry & service is practiced on a regular, consistent basis.
The typical M2C can be hard to spot. Like salt, they tend to blend in to their environment. They quietly improve the quality of someone’s life while being alert to an opportunity to lead that person one step closer to a relationship with God, either through words or actions.
M2C STORIES:
To read a few of the stories we've discovered, click.
SURVEY:
In 2007, a survey to the churches produced 100 responses. Through that survey, we learned something about where missionaries to the city were and what kinds of activities they were engaged in. Click to see that 2007 survey.
RESOURCES:
To find resources for being a missionary to the city, go to global/local missions.
DISCOVERING MORE:
To report M2C sightings in your neighborhood, contact a UBA consultant. click We'd like more stories to share.
*This phrase probably best known through Rebecca Piper’s book on sharing your faith, Out of the Salt Shaker into The World (1999).