Missio Dei: The Church Sent

Purposefully, Impactfully, and Faithfully Embracing God's Call

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Are you ready to answer God's call to a missional life? Whether you're a judicatory leader seeking to transform your synod or a ministry leader longing to revitalize your community, "Missio Dei" is your chance to guide those around you into embracing what it truly means to be the church. Come and live into the call to bring God's mission and love to the world!

Join us to gain clarity on the church's unique calling, explore what it means that we are a people sent by God, and develop a personalized plan to lead your church and community towards an approach that focuses outwards instead of inward. As you step into this adventure, we pray you'll inspire those around you and revitalize your faith through practical, communal action and service! Whether you're a seasoned leader or just beginning your journey into a deeper understanding of what it means to truly be the missional church, our course provides the tools, insights, and support you and your community need to join in God's good work in the world around you. We invite you to take the first step today.

What You'll Learn

  • Understand God's Calling: Gain clarity on how your church or faith community is uniquely called to reach and serve others, and deepen your understanding of how this calling aligns with God's overarching mission.
  • Rest in God's Sending: Find peace in knowing that God is present, actively equipping and sending each of us out to for God's purposes in the world!
  • Create a Missional Plan: Develop a plan to lead your church and community toward an approach that more fully embodies God’s call to focus outward, even "to the ends of the earth."

About this Course

  • Modules

7

  • Learning Elements

42

  • Videos

5

  • Practices & Activities

15

  • Time

5 hours, 30 minutes

  • Price

$55

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Here's What's Inside...

Get oriented to the course, meet your instructor, download the interactive handbook, and more.

In this module, you will:

  • Understand the differences between the attractional and the missional church models.
  • Examine your own ministry setting for evidence of these models.
  • Identify how the missional model was evident in the early church.

In this module, you will:

  • Learn how the Trinity provides a model for the sent church.
  • Appreciate the ways that the church can advance God’s work in the world.
  • Consider how you are part of the “sent church.”

In this module, you will:

  • Learn the importance of watching for God at work.
  • Develop your ability to see your community with new eyes.
  • Consider how you might join in God’s work around you.

In this module, you will:

  • Learn about the importance of repentance.
  • Embrace the ways that God calls and sends God’s people.
  • Develop an action plan for becoming more missional.

In this module, you will:

  • Learn about the restorative work of God.
  • Explore stories of missional ministries.
  • Begin a plan to help you and your church take missional action steps.

Find out your next steps as you complete the course and how to stay connected with your group. You'll also be able to submit feedback about your course.

You'll Learn How to Shift Ministry Models
Paper Men Joining Together As Team, Union, Family or Network

When we embrace God’s call to truly be the church in a missional sense, congregations flourish and communities unite. Rather than maintaining churches with an events-focused, “If we build it, they will come” mentality, let’s transform the way we function beyond our sanctuary’s walls—as God’s hands and feet out in the world! It will be a journey of deepening faith, renewed vitality, and lasting impact. This is “Missio Dei,” where faith, purpose, and transformation converge.

What to Expect

  • Comprehensive Content: Backed by the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA, "Missio Dei" offers in-depth insights and resources for turning your church's active attention to the world outside its walls—the world it's called to reach and serve.
  • Expert Guidance: Learn from experienced instructors and ministers, Chris Steubing and Edwin Ortiz!
  • Interactive Community: Connect with like-minded faith leaders on a shared journey into a fuller embodiment of the missional church model. Together, we can prayerfully prepare to embrace God's sending.
  • Flexible Learning: Our self-paced, online modules are accessible whenever and wherever you are.

Ready to Enroll?

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Access to this on-demand course

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Access to an online supportive community

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Access to 20+ on-demand courses

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Access to all workshops and their recordings

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Access to member-only live Q&A monthly interviews

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Access to monthly group coaching

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Looking for just in-time training resources?

Use this on-demand course as a complementary ready-made resource for small groups, Bible studies, discipleship growth, and equipping lay leaders in your specific ministry setting.

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Meet Your Instructors

  • Edwin Ortiz-Rivera

    Edwin Ortiz-Rivera is a pastor, the Mission Developer, and the Multiethnic Coordinator for the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA. He was a missionary in Spain and has more than 20 years of missionary experience, including a Master’s Degree in mission. Pastor Edwin is the author of two novels: La Travesía del Cucubano and La Gaviota y el Gorrión. His favorite role is being a grandpa, and he enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with family and friends around the table, and meeting new people.

  • Chris Steubing

    Chris Steubing is a pastor who has served as an ordained minister of the ELCA for congregations in Minnesota and Michigan. He now oversees congregational vitality and new ministry initiatives as Director for the Evangelical Mission of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA. Pastor Chris attended Texas Lutheran University and Luther Seminary and worked in several churches as a youth and family minister and a praise band leader before ordination. His most recent congregational ministry setting was a specialized mission partnership with the ELCA and the St. Paul Area Synod, where he led a congregation through a multi-year process of spiritual and organizational renewal. Pastor Chris is passionate about family, music, the San Antonio Spurs, and equipping the baptized people of God to follow Jesus in everyday life.

Connect as you learn

Connect inside the Faith+Lead Learning Lab

Learning happens best when you do it together with folks who are on the same journey as you are.

That's why our private social network, the Faith+Lead Learning Lab, hosts conversations about course content with other learners, instructors, TAs, and community leaders.

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Study together with a small group or congregation

Want to bring Missio Dei: The Church Sent to your Bible study, small group, or even your entire congregation?

Choose "Enroll a Group" at checkout and select how many people you'd like to provide access to the course. You can go through the course together in-person, watch lessons together via Zoom, or even create a private group in the Learning Lab where participants can connect asynchronously.

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