A Local Church On Mission - by Presidir/Christ Together

In the community of Manchaca, TX, a fast-growing area just 18 miles from downtown Austin with a strong Hispanic presence, we had the opportunity to walk alongside a young Hispanic congregation that, after five years of existence, was entering a season of redefinition. Their original focus had been to gather people to worship God on Sundays. However, through a relationship of trust built with their lead pastor and worship pastor, we began a process of reflection and redirection toward a more missional vision.

This vision is rooted in a simple yet transformative principle —"The Church does not exist for itself, but for every man, woman, and child within a defined circle of responsibility through prayer, collaboration, and intentionality.” We helped the leadership reevaluate their ministry in light of their true purpose. This reflection led them to define their mission field geographically with the clear goal of serving the community and making the Gospel accessible.

As a result, new “ministry bridges” began to emerge: initiatives designed as living connections between the congregation and the surrounding community. For example, outreach activities were launched in apartment complexes with the aim of serving residents and creating spaces for care and connection. Yet beyond these visible actions, the most inspiring outcome has been witnessing a deep shift in the leadership’s mindset. Moving from a focus on attracting and retaining people, they have embraced a vision of making disciples and sending them out on mission, with a clear sense of responsibility to their community.

Today, the great challenge is to discern how to collaborate missionally with other expressions of the Body of Christ in the area. The desire is to see more congregations jointly embrace God's mission in their context, stepping beyond the walls of the church building and becoming a living Church in every corner of the community.