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Churches and denominations often appear to settle for a primaryobjective that is less than what the apostles recommended. If we arehonest, most church leaders acknowledge that our institutional sense ofpurpose is inconsistent, at best. In some places the purpose of thechurch is quite narrowly defined, and in others the definition is sobroad that it seems meaningless.People wonder, Is this allthere is to the church? It's a good question, and George Hunter, alongtime keen observer of the church, demonstrates the answer. Hunter'srichly descriptive explanation of the missional church will convinceleaders and students to recover a clear and consistent sense of purpose.As we are the stewards of the faith once delivered to thesaints, so we are the heirs of the mission once entrusted to theapostles and their movements. The church's mission, locally andglobally, is or should be its main business. The real church is anecclesia-God's called out people whom the Lord shapes into anapostolate-and sends out to be publicly present in the world-but notof it. This mission is a serving, witnessing, inviting outreach to allpeople.