What this can look like at a regional level:

“The church’s mission is to show the world what it looks like when a community of people lives under the reign of God. The true gospel is portrayed best by the community that believes it, embodies it, and testifies to it in the midst of any given culture in all places and at all times.” Robert Webber

Networks of servant-leaders, from given areas of the city (including 'formal' or paid pastors & those who have other vocations) and across denominational affiliations explore together ways to enable Christian people to develop together with others in the neighbourhoods in which they live. These leaders meet regularly to engage in a variety of activities such as prayer, equipping events, professional development and for the forming of cooperative strategies.

Why not join a network the Christ followers, churches and denominations active in neighbourhood mission?

Map the geography of the church in every neighbourhood. Reformatting multiple “church” directories onto maps in order that a picture is created of where the people of God dwell. Working with these maps will facilitate Christ followers finding one another in their particular neighbourhoods.

Consider hosting interdenominational gatherings of those engaged in the “missional conversation” and or experimenting with neighbourhood mission. There is a broad interest across denominations in reviewing what the nature of the church is and then to explore the implications that this review may have for what the church is to do.

Consider periodic gatherings of those interested and involved in neighbourhood mission for encouragement and networking: These gatherings can be held in such a way that they do not conflict with Sunday morning worship gatherings and focus specifically on loving our neighbourhood.

Walk with those who are engaging in the formation of Christian community within their neighbourhood.

Walk with “church” leaders who are sending congregations into their own neighbourhoods to gather Christians into community.

Cooperate with denominational organizations regarding “the missional conversation” and its expression in neighbourhood mission.

“God’s intent was to have a people who lived in reconciled relationship to God and neighbor and who demonstrated the fuller reality of this to a watching world so all the nations might come and worship and serve the living and true God (Josh. 2:8-14). The practices designed to express this always had the larger world as their primary horizon (Gen. 12:1-3). But these practices also anticipate the eschatological future as part of their ultimate purpose (2 Sam. 7:15-17).

They looked toward the type of community that would be created by the Spirit through the coming Messiah, as clearly foretold in the messianic passages (e.g., Isaiah 11, 42, 61). Extending mercy, exercising justice, and opening up access to the full knowledge of God to all the nations are part of what it means to be a Spirit-led community of God’s people.” Craig VanGelder

“Community is the great assumption of the New Testament. From the calling of the disciples to the inauguration of the church at Pentecost, the gospel of the kingdom drives the believers to community. The new order becomes real in the context of a shared life. Throughout the book of Acts and in the epistles, the church is presented as a community.

The community life of the first Christians attracted many to their fellowship. The community of faith incarnates a whole new order, offers a visible and concrete alternative, and issues a basic challenge to the world as it is. The church must be called to be the church, to rebuild the kind of community that gives substance to the claims of faith.” Jim Wallis