Mission Formation

A book, a writing space, a longing

Jun 16, 2026

I love the idea of mission formation - being shaped into the likeness of Jesus for the sake of this world He so desperately loves. Robert Mulholland alludes to it in Invitation to a Journey. Rich Villodas unfolds this idea from another angle in The Deeply Formed Life. I write about it in Shaped by the Spirit. But these last two weeks, I’ve had a front row seat of mission formation happening in real time.

Monthly Musings: Mission Formation

A cohort has gathered - three families and a single guy from Brazil, and single women from Peru and Mexico and Canada. Their hope over these twelve weeks?

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To grow and be released as well-formed disciple-makers
into the global mission family 
through hands-on mission and mentoring,
within life-on-life, intercultural teams.

It’s not an easy desire, but it’s a worthy one.

To grow to look more like Jesus, in their thinking, their responses, their alignment of desire, their willingness to give up for the other…

We’re all for it, until…

…well, until we bump up against something that we’re not sure we should have to give up. Our theology is tested in real life. I mean, we all have rights, don’t we? ;-)

This group is seeking to give up their non-Jesus-looking rights for His sake, and for the good of those around them. There has been lots of work on their spiritual root system, so to speak - identity as a child of God, identity in Christ, relationship to God the Spirit, Kingdom perspective, our relationship with others when conflict bubbles to the surface, and more these past two weeks - so that any branches that spread out are, by God’s grace, healthy and fruitful.

They have already and will continue to collide with each other on one topic or issue or another, learning that their way or the way of their family, church, past experience isn’t necessarily the only or best way. And doing it across cultures, with (in this particular group) three heart languages at play? That adds a beauty and dynamic challenge not always seen. It is a hot house for life with Jesus. And they are leaning in.

When I get to witness and be a part of this kind of formation for mission, I am both astounded and grateful. I sit and listen to stories vastly different from my own. I pick up tips for maturing in Jesus from those years, even decades younger than me. I see the story, the truths of who Jesus is and what He invites us into examined, turned over, wrestled with, integrated. I am tested by my own teaching as I long for my words and actions to match. At times, I observe people floundering and am able to walk beside them for a time, speaking truth, sometimes hard truth, into their lives. And, through the Spirit’s ongoing and committed work, out the other side steps someone who looks just that little bit more like God revealed in Christ, with a passion to share His good story with others.

Yup! This is the good life.

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