From Vision to Action
This weekend, I had the privilege of visiting a church in the picturesque hills of Somerset as part of Rural Missions’ Tailor-Made Consultancy. It was a day of reflection, discovery, and bold planning, designed to equip the church to share the love of Jesus in fresh, impactful ways.
The day began with the question at the heart of it all: What is mission?
Together, we explored how the good news of Jesus—the gospel—calls us to live beyond our walls, serving our communities with love, creativity, and faith. These moments weren’t just theoretical; they were deeply practical, grounding our work in a renewed understanding of what it means to be God’s hands and feet in the world.
With this foundation in place, we turned our attention to the church’s current reality. What’s already happening missionally? What’s working well, and where might there be gaps? It was encouraging to see how much the church was already doing—and how much potential there was to do more.
Next, we considered resources. Often, churches are richer than they realise—not just financially, but in people, skills, and passions. Together, we mapped out their resources: a creative congregation, outdoor space around the building, and a heart for hospitality. Then we asked the crucial question: What are the needs in your community? This is where vision began to spark and plans took shape.
By the end of the session, the church had developed three inspiring Mission Action Plans:
Open the Book in Local Schools: The church will launch Open the Book, a creative initiative to bring Bible stories to life for children in the local school. They also plan to incorporate storytelling into their church services, building a bridge between their presence in the school and an invitation to explore faith further within the church community.
Outdoor Community Events: With a desire to connect with the wider community, the church will transform its outdoor space into an event area. Their first milestone is a summer community event—an opportunity to bring people together, build relationships, and share God’s love in an open, welcoming environment.
Community Café on the High Street: The vision for a high-street café is about more than coffee. It’s about creating a space where people feel seen, valued, and loved—a café infused with the gospel, where Jesus’ heart for the community is expressed through hospitality, kindness, and connection.
These plans reflect what happens when a church steps out in faith, seeking to align its resources with the needs around it. They’re not just ideas; they’re the first steps in a journey of deeper engagement with their community.
As I drove away from Somerset, winding through the countryside, I couldn’t help but feel inspired. This is what Rural Missions is all about—assisting churches to move from maintenance to mission, rediscovering their calling to be light and hope in the places God has placed them.
If your church is looking to take its next steps in mission, our Tailor-Made Consultancy days can help. Together, we’ll uncover your potential, explore your resources, and shape a plan that’s uniquely yours. Visit ruralmissions.org.uk/tailor-made to find out more.
Because mission isn’t a task or a program, it’s a way of life. And when we live it together, incredible things can happen.
