[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufiUt0xAibE&w=590]

[serialposts]Trajectory. This word has buzzed around in my head all week.

tra·jec·to·ry [truh–jek-tuh-ree] noun, plural -ries.
1. the curve described by a projectile, rocket, or the like 
in its flight.
2. the path described by an object moving in air or space
under the influence of such forces as thrust, wind
resistance, and gravity, esp the curved path of a
projectile

I blame Pastor Steve McCoy of 360 Church for making my head spin with this one. I was visiting his church because I was impressed with their local outreach and global missions programs. Even as I entered the church building they had tables out in the front driveway that were being used to collect shoes to send to an orphanage in Central America.

Their vision for pouring out the Love of God in the community and around the world is really very impressive.

And as I sat in the back row listening intently to the stories about lives changed and the Gospel preached, I was blown away at this humble pastor’s plea. He spoke about the trajectory of the mission of the church.

“The most important point in any trajectory is the launch point,” he shares.

He gave the example of a flight from Sarasota, FL to Atlanta, GA, and getting the direction right from the beginning. The desired trajectory will essentially be a straight line from SRQ to ATL. But if your direction compared to that line is off by just one degree at the beginning of that flight, then you’ll miss the runway by more than 20 miles.

He muses, “I don’t know about you, but when I’m landing in a plane I like to be a little closer to the runway than 20 miles.”

The video at the top of this post is from one of the small groups in his church. They talk about getting the Gospel right first where they are at. And then together reaching out to impact the world together.

The pastor urges the congregation to understand that all that outreach and missions projects they do are good. But if they don’t get the ministry right first with the people sitting inside that room, then they’ll end up way off with all that stuff out there.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
 ~ Galatians 6:10 (ESV)