The Four Modes

The Four Modes is a model framework for the Contextualization of Missions in the West outside of the Institution-Building Mode that has dominated church work and missions in Western Christendom in the Modern Era. It’s based on the observation of missional churches by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch when the communities of believers move outside “the four walls” and beyond models of attracting people to the events and services of church institutions.¹ We articulate these four modes as Proximity Spaces, Shared Project, Economic Enterprise, and Micro-Church Movements.

Proximity Spaces

Intentionally designed contexts where Disciples and not-yet-disciples can meaningfully interact with each other.

Shared Project

Small-scale discipleship community embedded in a service posture in a larger institution or community project.

Economic Enterprise

Using business and abundant life-on-life contact as a Kingdom driver of discipleship and human thriving.

Micro-Church Movement

Simple, self-replicating discipleship community multiplying and leveraging relational networks.

See Michael Frost & Alan Hirsch The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission For The 21st Century Church, Hendrickson, 2003, pgs 23-28. Frost and Hirsch call the forth mode “Emerging Indigenous Faith Communities”. We use the term “Micro-Church Movements” to describe the same phenomenon.