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The Adventurous Church: Practical, Problem Solving and Change Oriented through “Getting Their Hands Dirty” in Community Action

• Flexible
• Knowledgeable
• Action-Driven
• Persuasive
• Observant
• Casual
• Adaptable
• Energetic
• Rapid Response
• Transformational
• Immediate
• Realistic

STRONG POINTS
• Handle crisis and problem situations expertly.
• Are fearless risk takers, filled with optimism.

CHALLENGES
• So absorbed in action and the moment, they may lose sight of the long-term strategy
• Can be so bored by routine that important day-to-day activities go unattended.

PRIMARY MINISTRIES
• The new, the exciting, the adventurous, the risky.
• Involvement with new opportunities.

MINISTRY TEMPO
• Action-oriented, rapid-paced.

WHAT INSPIRES THEM
• Spontaneity, autonomy, challenge.

WHAT DE-MOTIVATES THEM
• Rules, regulations, structure.

UNDER STRESS
• Become excessively pessimistic about the future
• Become emotional
• Decision-making capabilities erode

DECISION-MAKING
• Use logic, analysis, cause-and-effect reasoning.

DESIRES
• A flexible, spontaneous, ever-changing environment.

PRIORITY
• Changing things for the good of others.

CHURCH ETHOS
• Easygoing and cooperative; minimally structured, unregulated.

OUTWARD APPEARANCE
• Concentration of attention and resources for quick, pow¬erful impact.

GAINS SELF-ASSURANCE THROUGH
• Connection first with the task.

FEARS
• Dealing with ambiguity and theory unconnected to reality.

Summary Statement

For these churches, life is one exciting adventure after another. They are likely to devote considerable energy to solving a problem or completing whatever task is causing stress in the church. However, relational strife can stymie them. Because they are constant observers of what is happening in the community and culture, Adventurous Churches prefer working with things that can be seen and examined with their five senses. They are proficient at tactics; i.e., they focus on immediate or short-term aims, more than they concentrate on the broader concerns of logistics; i.e., strategy and diplomacy. Adventurous Churches feel debilitated when forced to operate within a set structure that requires conformity to a regulated schedule. For them, change is exciting and challenging because they like putting their practical, problem-solving skills to work. Because their preferred approach to the world is immediate, active, and pragmatic, they especially display competence during events that require rapid response.

Mission Statement
Adventurous Churches are called by God to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people in the neighborhoods, schools and workplaces of their communities through warmhearted words and practical deeds that use the spiritual gifts of mercy, service and helps to build personal relationships with the expectation that the Holy Spirit will open hearts to the Good News of Christ who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). These offerings of selfless service “with no strings attached” express the compassion of Jesus and act as a humble demonstration of His love that plants a seed of eternity in the hearts of people with the hope that faith in Christ will blossom unto salvation.

• Theme passage: Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”