Seven contrasts
While in Singapore I spent a couple of hours with some friends who run a centre for training in church planting movements and have trained workers all over the globe.
As usual when I meet with great practitioners I just keep asking, “What are you learning?”
I came away aware of the contrast between the practice of church planting movements in the developing world and our experience of church and mission in the West.
Here are the contrasts that stood out.
1. Churches vs Movements
We are quick to call anything that moves a “church planting movement”.
They believe you don’t have a church planting movement until you have four generation of churches—a church that plants churches that plant churches that plant churches.
2. Reproducible vs Reproducing
We talk about “reproducible methods” but don’t ask, “Are those methods actually reproducing?” Our methodologies are often too complicated to be reproduced.
They focus on “reproducing methods”. Methodology is kept simple enough that ordinary believers are confident and competent to win and train others.
3. Ologies vs Acts
We begin our training of workers with our theology, missiology, anthropology, sociology, and all the other ologies.
They spend a lot of time in the book of Acts, learning how churches and new believers rapidly lead others to faith and start new churches that are starting new churches.
4. Equipping vs Accountability
We spend a lot of time equipping with very little accountability.
They raise the expectations of ordinary believers that they too can make disciples. They start local churches that encourage new believers to immediately form churches which equip and hold new believers accountable.
5. Safety vs Boldness
We wisely protect local believers and ourselves from the risk of persecution and our witness is weak.
They challenge believers to count the cost and be bold. They encounter persecution and like the church in Acts their witness is bold and effective. They don’t hide Jesus but believe his promise that “if I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself.”
6. Converting “culture” vs winning people
We study Islam. We study Buddhism. We study postmodernity. We think mission is about ideas.
They witness to people who happen to be Muslims, Buddhists, or postmoderns. They think mission is about people.
7. Pastoral vs Apostolic
We make it a priority to gather disciples and raise up pastoral leaders to care for them.
They also gather disciples and raise up pastoral leaders. But they don’t stop there. They identify and empower apostolic leaders who have a burden for their people group, city or nation.
If you’d like to learn more about the nature of church planting movements a good place to start David Garrison’s book. It’s a free download here. Or you can order the extended hard copy here.
