The Journey - Missional Accountability
By Jaye Johnson
In his book, The Journey: Missional Accountability, Jaye Johnson helps readers understand that the mission of God's people is to discover God's intention and letting that objective guide our movement and decisions.While we find struggling churches in different contexts, theological backgrounds, sizes, and cultures, declining congregations have one thing in common: There is a palpable lack of focus on what God desires. They have collectively ceased seeking God's plan for their congregations and communities.
Conversely, all thriving churches have leaders fearlessly living in God's purpose, both as individuals and collectively as a congregation. They are drivers willing to do what is required to steer the church toward that purpose, even when it may be uncomfortable or cause others to become disgruntled.Missional accountability is looking over one another and the church in love to make sure that together we stay focused on joining God in redeeming the world.
Missional accountability keeps the leaders and the expedition or church motivated and supported as they grow in their relationship to God, one another, and the mission. Missional accountability blossoms in the dynamic intersection where spiritual growth, leadership, and purpose converge.
Here's what readers are saying about The Journey: Missional Accountability
Great leaders are willing to sacrifice their personal preferences for the sake ofthe mission of their organization. Dr. Jaye Johnson uses the image of a road trip to describe the journey of healthy congregations toward the goal of joining Godin redeeming the world. Clergy and laity alike will benefit from Johnson’s conviction that by watching over one another in love, disciples of Jesus Christ unleash the power of the Holy Spirit to partner with God in developing passionate and adaptable leaders who are equipped to lead others on The Greatest Expedition of all: sharing Christ’s love with the world.
Bishop Laurie Haller
Iowa & Dakotas Conferences of The United Methodist Church
The Journey: Missional Accountability is an excellent study guide to help congregations focus both on the mission aspect of their work and on “purpose over preference” being “at the heart of missional accountability.” Jaye Johnson uses the three foundational elements of spiritual growth, leadership, and purpose to help churches have a clear understanding of missional accountability. He also includes great questions for congregations to bring their churches into missional alignment.
Dirk Elliott
Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church
Jaye Johnson is one of the most remarkable experts on missional leadership in the North American Christian context. A seasoned pastor, a clergy coach, and a guru around various assessments for leveraging more effective leadership, he has written an incisive text for pastors and congregational leadership teams who want to understand how to lead congregations through the murky cultural waters of North American in the 21st century. I commend this book with great enthusiasm!
Elmer M. Colyer
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary