Treasure in Clay Jars Patterns in Missional Faithfulness

If you saw a missional church, what would it look like? What patterns of behavior and practice would you find there?Building on the ground laid by the book "Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America" (Darrell Guder et al. 1998), "Treasure in Clay Jars" centers on case studies of nine missional congregations from across North America that are diverse in their denominational affiliations, worship styles, political stances, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The book explores eight concrete bpatternsb common to these churches. Although the patterns may be different in each setting, they can be recognized in any congregation seeking to participate in Godbs mission in the world.The team that authored this book believes that bmissionalb says something not so much about the activities of the church as its character: bThe church does not exist for itself, but for participation in Godbs mission of reconciliation. . . . Mission is the character of the church in whatever context it exists.b The congregations studied here are bclay jars, b but each carries in its witness a remarkable treasure that points to Godbs power and purposes.Authors: Lois Y. BarrettDarrell L. GuderWalter C. HobbsGeorge R. HunsbergerLinford L. StutzmanJeff Van KootenDale A. ZiemerBarrett, Lois Y. is the author of 'Treasure in Clay Jars Patterns in Missional Faithfulness', published 2004 under ISBN 9780802826923 and ISBN 080282692X.