I would like to see some measure of normalization here, by which I mean that this type of activity is felt to be an intrinsic part of our extended, open communities and not reliant on specialized hospital and prison ‘ministries’. The ‘monastic’ model of (or metaphor for) church, towards which many emerging believers are gravitating, suggests that practical social care should be a natural expression of our lives as followers of Christ. Emerging communities, and churches that find themselves emerging, need to begin to model this as a way of life.

So the two key principles I would highlight are: i) the renewal of community where it is most hurt is central to an emerging church notion of mission; and ii) we are constantly looking for ways to reintegrate the sacred and the secular in the whole life of the believing community.