"Missional" is a relatively new term in Christian circles and refers to living out one's faith in a missional way, i.e. having an intentional focus on sharing the Gospel with others through one's daily life and actions. The spelling of "missional" follows the normal English rules for syllable stress, with the stress falling on the second syllable. The IPA phonetic transcription for "missional" is /ˈmɪʃ.ən.əl/, with the stress marker (ˈ) indicating the emphasis on the second syllable (/ʃən/).
Missional is an adjective that describes a mindset, approach, or focus within the context of the Christian faith. The term emerged in the late 20th century as a response to the traditional understanding of missions and evangelism. Missional emphasizes the idea that the Christian faith is not simply about going to church, but also about being actively engaged in God's mission to transform the world.
A missional perspective emphasizes the call for believers to live out their faith in everyday life, transforming their communities and the world around them. It goes beyond the idea that mission work is solely the responsibility of specialized individuals or organizations, but rather it is an integral part of every Christian's life.
Being missional involves a holistic understanding of mission, combining proclamation of the Christian message with social justice, compassion, and service to others. It emphasizes the idea that Christians should be the hands and feet of Jesus in their communities, contributing to the well-being and flourishing of all people.
Furthermore, a missional approach recognizes that mission is not limited to a particular geographical location or group of people, but rather it encompasses the global scope of God's mission. It embraces and celebrates the cultural diversity of humanity and seeks to build bridges of understanding and reconciliation among different communities.
In summary, "missional" describes a perspective that emphasizes the active engagement and participation of every Christian in God's mission to transform the world, combining proclamation of the Christian message with social justice, compassion, and service.
The word "missional" derives from the noun "mission", which originated from the Latin word "missio" meaning "sending" or "sending forth". It was adopted into Old French as "mission" and then entered Middle English as "misioun" in the 14th century. The term "missional" emerged as an adjective form of "mission" in the mid-20th century to describe a focus on mission or the action of sending or being sent on a mission. It gained popularity within Christian circles to describe a renewed emphasis on engaging in and embodying the mission of spreading the Christian message and serving others.