I appreciated Dr. Bolger’s explanation about why the class is formatted the way it is. Personally I learn better from lectures than I do group work. I would have liked to hear more of what Dr. Bolger had to say about missional churches and their place in America. But now knowing why Dr. Bolger has been stressing the case studies so much and our open discussion with peers about our studies, I understand what his intentions are. It would have been nice to know that from the start. After this we discussed Bill McGavern’s missional ideas derived from his time as a lifelong missionary, and developed upon his return to the Western world. McGavern realized that the “mission station” approach (where the church community is the hub of spiritual services, and non-believers are invited into this station in hopes of their conversion) is not the best way. True it has worked on some level in many cultures, but it is not optimal in maintaining culture of origin for new Christians post-conversion. McGavern proposed a new idea; the “people movement.” Recognizing that ideas, ways of life, and beliefs are best passed on from people to people amidst their close relational ties. This is how church should approach evangelizing in America today. We need to shift the focus on inviting others to our place, rather we need to focus on living compelling lives as followers of Jesus, that our friends and families, and then their friends and families, and then their friends and families all can’t help but join in. I think this is kind of what Jesus was getting at with the whole yeast in the bread parable.

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