12 Days of Missional Christmas

One Christian on a Unique Mission

While the Christmas season is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus—it is so much more. It is also a time to reflect on the significance of the story. God the Father sent His only Son into the world to be born of a virgin. This promised one is “Emmanuel,” God with us. It is Jesus, God in human form, who now dwells among humankind. He moved into the neighborhood and became the tangible presence of the divine in our midst. We call this the “incarnational mission” of Jesus—a unique purpose for which He was sent.

“On the first day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
One Christian on a Unique Mission”

However, just as God the Father sent His son, so too, Jesus sends those who follow Him. In John 20:21, Jesus says: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so, I am sending you.” This sending applies to every Christian believer. Each person has been sent by Jesus to join in the mission of God in their families, neighborhoods, communities, and around the world.

The Christmas story reminds us that all are sent on a similar “incarnational mission.” To live out the message of reconciliation right where we are.

At Missional University we train Christian believers to discover the mission for which they have been sent and to be equipped to fulfill that mission.    

Two Missional Opportunities

The appearance of Jesus in the stable that night long ago begged the question which has been discussed and proclaimed ever since then: So, why did Jesus come? What was the mission for which He was sent? Why was He here? Luke writes about His return to Nazareth where He read from the scroll of Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

To this, He said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Theologians say that His incarnational mission was one of “word revelation” and “deed revelation.” Through His speech and His actions, He revealed God the Father to those who listened and watched.

“On the second day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Two Missional Opportunities,
One Christian on a Unique Mission”

At Missional University we believe that today’s followers of Jesus have opportunities to replicate the incarnational mission of Jesus by what they say and what they do. Our courses and programs are designed to train everyday ordinary believers to serve in faith-based organizations and in community service where they meet people at the point of their human need. 

Three Intercultural Options

The telling of the traditional Christmas story is incomplete without the scene of the three wise kings from the east who visited Jesus after His birth bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Sermons on the Matthew passage often focus on the symbolism of the gifts—missing the missional significance of the story.

Embedded in the Christmas story is an intentional emphasis upon the intercultural diversity of the followers of Jesus. Christ’s coming brings salvation for the entire world and this is punctuated by the mention of the visitors, according to Christian tradition, from Arabia, Persia, and India.

“On the third day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Three Intercultural Options,
Two Missional Opportunities,
and One Christian on a Unique Mission”

At Missional University being “interculturally-focused” is a foundational core value that is woven into the fabric of every course and program. Our 100% online courses enable us to embed cross-cultural encounters into their delivery. While students can study from anywhere, they can also complete internships in different cultures. Our online student center enables students from across the globe to interact in real time. Students have opportunities to experience transnational teams that work with faculty in research and projects through homework assignments, centers, and institutes.

Four Educational Levels

On that eventful Christmas night, the shepherds received the birth announcement. The message did not come to the powerful and prestigious, but to the people on the fringes of society without extensive education and financial resources. God’s offer of “good news of great joy” was to be “for all the people” and this was demonstrated when the homeless, ruggedly individualistic shepherds on the outskirts of society heard the angel’s announcement of the birth of a Savior.

So the Christmas story places the lowly uneducated shepherds in contrast to the powerful, educated kings of the east in order to underscore both the inclusive nature of God’s love and that those who follow Jesus will transcend socio-economic barriers.

“On the fourth day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Four Educational Levels,
Three Intercultural Options,
Two Missional Opportunities,
and One Christian on a Unique Mission”

Here at Missional University, we recognize that globally the people of God have varying educational backgrounds. This is why we are launching a Dual Enrollment Academy for high school students to be able to take beginning college courses; Associate level programs designed for high school graduates; Bachelor Degree Completion programs for those adults who are returning to complete their education; and Master level programs for college graduates. We also recognize the extreme differences economically across the globe. This is why our tuition has four tiers based upon country residence – to make it more affordable for the people of God around the world.

Five Missional Answers

Across the Christmas story are questions and concerns that give voice to the emotions that were stirred and the very human responses of the participants to the events as they unfolded.

We see Mary and her doubt, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”; the shepherds and their fear, “they were filled with great fear”; the search by the kings from the east: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”; Simeon rejoicing at the temple: “now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation”; and Anna the prophetess giving “thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Natural raw emotion was on display as the participants sought answers to the significance of the Christmas story.

“On the fifth day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Five Missional Answers,
Four Educational Levels,
Three Intercultural Options,
Two Missional Opportunities,
and One Christian on a Unique Mission”

This Christmas finds the world such a strange and different place. What should the questions and concerns for the followers of Jesus be? We believe that on this side of the cross, Christian believers should be asking a very different set of questions, such as:

• What is the mission of God in our world, and what is my role in it?
• How do I grow spiritually, help other Christians to grow spiritually, and join other believers in engaging my community?
• How do I share my faith in a conversational, non-confrontational way?
• How do I equip my family to embody the message and image of Jesus in my community?
• How do I live out my unique calling from God and equip other believers to do the same?

Faculty at Missional University have been busy answering these questions and have created a Certificate in Missional Praxis that answers each question, in-depth, through very practical and empowering courses. Students dive into the Scripture to see the mission of God in action, develop mission-shaped spirituality and soul care practices, discover a conversational approach to talking with others from a worldview perspective, learn how to lead their families in missional living, and create mission-shaped disciplemaking approaches to lead others to follow Jesus into the world.

Six Continents Teaching

At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus—the incarnate Almighty God—who took the form of a human, born of a virgin as prophesied by Isaiah. But that incarnation also included His entire sojourn on earth. He adapted to the Palestinian cultural setting in which He was raised in Nazareth. Upon the launch of His ministry, Jesus took the long-established role in that society as a “peripatetic philosopher”—a person who discussed the great philosophical issues of the day while walking the streets—usually with a crowd following Him.

As Jesus began to discuss the coming of the kingdom of God, Jesus called ordinary people to follow Him. These disciples were to become the twelve apostles who took the message of reconciliation to Europe, Africa, and Asia. Their mission according to Jesus: to make disciples across the world, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

“On the seventh day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Six Continents Teaching,
Five Missional Answers,
Four Educational Levels,
Three Intercultural Options,
Two Missional Opportunities,
and One Christian on aUnique Mission”

Today, Missional University has an online global faculty from West Coast, USA to Wellington, New Zealand across 20 time zones on every continent (except Antarctica) who are teaching followers of Jesus to serve in the mission of God.

Seven Missional Careers

When a baby is born, we often think of what he or she will become. Will the child follow in the steps of his parents in the family business? Will the child become a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or teacher?

For the baby Jesus it was anticipated that He would follow in the steps of Joseph, His earthly father, and become a carpenter or craftsman—and so He did. But the New Testament also shares a broader story of who Jesus grew up to be: not only a craftsman but a shepherd, a teacher, a prophet, a priest, and a king.

“On the first day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Seven Missional Careers,
Six Continents Teaching,
Five Missional Answers,
Four Educational Levels,
Three Intercultural Options,
Two Missional Opportunities,
and One Christian on a Unique Mission”

The disciples who followed Jesus were average, ordinary people: fishermen, a tax collector, a community organizer, tradesmen, and a treasurer. At Missional University we equip average ordinary followers of Jesus to merge their faith, career and mission. We specialize in designing programs to support seven very unique types of missional careers:

• Careers in Navigating Cultural Differences
• Careers in Living Your Life as Mission
• Careers in Transforming Communities
• Careers in Advocating for Justice
• Careers in Communicating Creatively
• Careers in Caring for Creation
• Careers in Joining God’s Mission

Eight Schools Inspiring

As Joseph looked at baby Jesus in the manger, undoubtedly, he thought of how he would grow up. Knowing that most families in Nazareth did not have the financial means to pay for formal Jewish education, he knew that he and Mary would teach Jesus as much as they knew about the Scriptures and Jewish tradition.

Imagine their surprise when they went to the Festival of the Passover in Jerusalem and “lost” the 12-year-old Jesus on the way back. After searching for Him, they found Him “in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.” It was after this that Mary and Joseph could see that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man”—intellectual, physical, and spiritual growth.

“On the eighth day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Eight Schools Inspiring,
Seven Continents Teaching,
Six Missional Careers,
Five Missional Answers,
Four Educational Levels,
Three Intercultural Options,
Two Missional Opportunities,
and One Christian on a Unique Mission”

The curriculum design at Missional University is interdisciplinary and missionally-driven, interculturally-focused, and contextually-informed. Students gain insights from three or four of the schools. The schools and colleges work together to create a holistic missional education. The schools & colleges of Missional University are:

• The Missional College
• School of Missional Practice
• School of Community Ministry
• School of Justice Mission
• School of Creative Expression
• School of Ecological Mission
• School of Theological Studies
• School of Experiential Learning

Nine Experiences Learning

Along with teaching in the synagogues, Jesus created learning experiences for His followers. He taught spiritual truths from everyday life using parables, shocking statements to gain attention, catchy sayings and word plays, poignant questions, and repetition. He taught by example and by practical assignments for His followers with reports on their application.

Jesus was a master of indirect communication thereby causing those who heard His teaching to ponder the significance of his sayings. He used a dialogical method that caused His disciples to reflect on their own experiences in order to deepen their learnings.

“On the ninth day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Nine Experiences Learning,
Eight Schools Inspiring,
Seven Continents Teaching,
Six Missional Careers,
Five Missional Answers,
Four Educational Levels,
Three Intercultural Options,
Two Missional Opportunities,
and One Christian on a Unique Mission”

At Missional University every degree program includes components of experiential learning such as observerships, practicums, field instruction, internships, mentorships, capstone, projects & portfolios, and research & thesis writing. In these learning experiences, students experience observation practice, participant observation, action learning, action research, and missional clerkships.

Ten Statements Guiding

Early in His ministry, Jesus gave the “sermon on the mount” where He laid out statements describing the character of the people of the kingdom of heaven who are “blessed.” He declared that those who are blessed are those who are poor in spirit, mourn, meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, merciful, pure of heart, peacemakers, and persecuted for the sake of righteousness.

In similar fashion in 1805, William Carey and his colleagues, missionaries to India, developed the “Serampore Covenant” which described the character of the relationships between themselves and the people they served in the mission of God. This declaration of missionary strategy has served as a cornerstone document over the last two hundred years.

“On the tenth day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Ten Statements Guiding,
Nine Experiences Learning,
Eight Schools Inspiring,
Seven Continents Teaching,
Six Missional Careers,
Five Missional Answers,
Four Educational Levels,
Three Intercultural Options,
Two Missional Opportunities,
and One Christian on a Unique Mission”

At Missional University we also have developed “guiding documents” to form the biblical, theological, missional, and practical foundation upon which we stand—to which all faculty, staff and board members ascribe. Our Ethos Statement is based on the Serampore Covenant developed by William Carey consisting of 10 principles that guide our relationships with one another and to those for whom we serve in the mission of God. Our Faith Statement is the Lausanne Covenant which was developed by the Lausanne Movement that was started in 1973 by Billy Graham and John Stott.

Eleven Educational Innovating

Fourteen times in the gospels Jesus is referred to as a “rabbi” or master teacher. True to the rabbinical tradition, Jesus proclaimed divine law, taught in the synagogues, gathered disciples in His teaching, debated with the scribes, was asked to settle legal disputes, sat as He taught (which was a typical rabbinic practice), and supported His teaching by referencing the Hebrew Scriptures.

However, Jesus also brought a number of innovations to His educational practice—and became a “disruptor” in rabbinical teaching methods. He taught out of doors and He taught women, tax collectors, sinners, and children. Jesus not only taught concepts, He modeled their application in real life so that His followers could learn. He used a case study method of demonstrating principles in action. He called upon His followers to learn how to think and do for themselves. He called his disciples to follow Him—not just His teachings. And He sent and commissioned His followers to serve in the mission of God not only in their local areas but across the globe.

“On the eleventh day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Eleven Educational Innovating,
Ten Statements Guiding,
Nine Experiences Learning,
Eight Schools Inspiring,
Seven Continents Teaching,
Six Missional Careers,
Five Missional Answers,
Four Educational Levels,
Three Intercultural Options,
Two Missional Opportunities,
and One Christian on a Unique Mission”

Today, Missional University has also been called a “disruptor—introducing educational innovation into higher Christian education by identifying gaps or openings in education that others fail to see.” Missional University is NOT a Christian liberal arts university, a bible college, or a seminary. Each of these established approaches fails to deliver non-clergy Christians who understand their call to serve in the mission of God in the world, have identified the mission to which they have been called, and are prepared to serve in that mission.

Twelve Followers Leading

When Jesus told His disciples that “as the Father has sent me, I am sending you,” they had no idea the extent to which they would be sent to serve in the mission of God in the world. Each of these followers of Jesus—average ordinary working people—would take the training they received and carry the message of good news to peoples across Africa, Asia, and Europe. They would transmit the mission and vision of the gospel to others who in turn would carry the message of redemption, reconciliation, and renewal further. Scholars have traced the steps of the disciples and the subsequent generations of followers for the next 500 years as their missional movement penetrated larger and larger geographical areas with the gospel of peace.

“On the twelfth day of Christmas, my Lord & Savior sent me:
Twelve Followers Leading,
Eleven Educational Innovating
Ten Statements Guiding,
Nine Experiences Learning,
Eight Schools Inspiring,
Seven Continents Teaching,
Six Missional Careers,
Five Missional Answers,
Four Educational Levels,
Three Intercultural Options,
Two Missional Opportunities,
and One Christian on a Unique Mission”

At Missional University twelve multinational and multicultural followers of Jesus serve as academic administrators who lead their faculties in the mission and vision of equipping grassroots, non-clergy missional leaders from across the globe. Using 21st-century technology, the online Administration Center has become a virtual hub of activity. Leaders from across the globe work together—through video conferencing in real time —recruiting and training faculty and creating curriculum including certificate and degree programs.

The online Academic Center sees the continuous activity of faculty at work with the Dean of Online Education and their Educational Technology Specialist in designing online courses that exceed quality standards—complete with an appropriate range of academic activities, assignments, and assessments.

Living a Missional Christmas Every Day

Every Christian believer has been called by God to join Him in His mission in their family, neighborhood, community and to the ends of the earth. God designed us for mission, has sent us on assignment, and gifted us for a reason. Knowing how you are shaped by God enables you to find your purpose and passion in the pattern that God has provided for you. Missional University empowers you to merge your faith, life, and mission. Have a Merry Missional Christmas!