Model the Process of
Evangelism and Discipleship as Lifestyle
One of the greatest hindrances we have
observed in Church Planting Movements/Disciple Making Movements over our time on the field is not that missionaries are
unwilling but rather that they cannot train others in that which they have not
had modeled in their own lives. It has been my observation that the
missionaries who have a strong background of lifestyle evangelism and multiplying
discipleship have tended to thrive. It is important
that you and I, as missionaries model obedience based on the love,
grace, and mercy of Christ-based discipleship and evangelism. And where this is
the case in a missionary’s life, it has been my observation; there are seeds of
multiplying house fellowships occurring in these target groups. Obedience based
discipleship is more than Bible Study.
Obedience
when not rooted in the adoration/worship/and trust of a loving Father is simply
called legalism. Conversely so, where there is adoration of Jesus but no
obedience to His commands, that is simply cheap grace. Encouragingly so, when
we are in a growing personal intimacy development with ABBA, obedience to His
ways becomes an amazing portrait of grace and mercy painted clearly on the
canvas of the hearts of those who truly desire to obey and love Jesus.
Points
of engagement in Church Planting Movements for women:
Suggested ideas to consider related to multiplying discipleship in CPM processes
--Explore creativity in
worship expressions alongside your indigenous
partners.
Model, Assist, Watch, Leave (MAWL) applies here as well as to
other aspects of the CPM process. If our hearts are not
rooted in growing intimacy in the
Father, we are simply going through the motions
and self-reliant. For it is truly out of the overflow of the reality of our “being” in Christ that we
“do” His bidding.
My hubby and I recently enjoyed a sweet lunchtime visit with David Watson (CPM practitioner/coach).
He mentioned that each of his most effective CPM practitioners spend
3-4 hours daily in intercession. Caution to reader; Don’t freak out over this…simply ask the Father for a longing to be
with Him intentionally as a growing delight in your heart. Start where the
Father invites as He speaks to you in this area, not to compare with others.
Realize
this, the more we all yearn for His glory the more we realize our dependence
upon His Holy Spirit doing the work of preparing the ground as we advance the
Kingdom. Some have commented, “prayer is the work”. Be assured our actions will
follow our personal heart posture
on these areas.
--Be
cautioned that one of the first ways Satan will attack a missionary is to mess
with these above areas. The enemy of our souls wants to rob us of the pure joy
of being with Christ. He will even mess with you, perhaps, as a reader to heap condemnation
upon you in what you have just read. A spirit of legalism or even comparison
with others (envy, jealousy) is a Gold Medal Olympic Sport level of cleverness
that Satan employs against the believer.
Be
aware that one of Satan’s ploys is to invite the servant of Christ to hold the
God of grace and mercy in contempt. Walk in freedom.
It is imperative that each cross-cultural worker, foreign and
national, embraces the significance of
being involved in multiplying discipleship.
A
basic discipleship process with national partners is essential to
include in any effort among Unreached People Groups. Helping believers feed themselves spiritually through Discovery
style Bible study and prayer, practicing
walking in the power of Spirit-filled
ways, working on character issues and gaining
skills to share the splendor and
love of Christ with others is basic.
--Commit
to trusting the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to model all aspects of
evangelism and discipleship alongside indigenous colleagues.
(MAWL-Model, Assist, Watch, Leave process in CPM)
Each
worker on the missionary team trusts God for anywhere from 1 to 5 Persons of Peace in
target group. It is equally important that the cross-cultural worker trusts God to raise up national partners with hearts for target group to meet with regularly for cpm training/equipping, leadership training, and mutual
accountability in CPM processes.
Generally speaking, the discipleship process
will be most effective when women disciple women.
Over 50% of a given Unreached People Group are women. When foreign
female missionaries do not model
these basics in CPM processes then guess what happens among their partnering indigenous leaders?
They follow that example and are imprinted
into thinking that making disciples is an option not a command given by ABBA as a privilege to be engaged in, no matter what season of life one is in.
--Provide training for
indigenous followers to walk in freedom in Christ
from involvement in forms of spiritual bondage or strongholds.
As I observed another organization’s national
female leader attempt to communicate to
the dead spirit of the recently deceased, I was reminded that we assume much when it comes to ministry partners. Do not assume, whether national or
foreign partners, that growth in Christ is a plateau one
reaches. The discipleship process
is a commitment to go the extra mile in demonstrating gracious one-anothering. The discipleship process is intended to spur one another on to a lifestyle of
growing intimacy in Christ, which bears real
deal real time fruit for His glory.
Summary
In
conclusion, the above suggestions are meant to spur you on and not to prick. Consider
what I reflect upon to be intended as a grace-filled burr in the collective
saddle of the Body of Christ. God’s grace is full and His power to lead you is
limitless. In the midst of honest feelings and thoughts of inadequacy, His
enoughness awaits you as you lay hold of His purposes in Christ Jesus. My hope
and prayer is that each of you, as missionary women, will see how vital the
varied roles you play in the process of seeing Church
Planting Movements birthed.
I trust these suggestions will inspire you to
believe God for releasing you into the work of His hands in deeper ways still. I
trust also, that the basics of intentionally asking God to lead you to
indigenous female partners to equip in multiplying discipleship in CPM
effective ways would be the fruit of this little ride with me.
Many
of you are modeling the above considerations and are doing so effectively.
However, it has been my observation that there are others who have expressed
regrets over having not left multiplying disciples behind as they leave the
mission field.
To
bask in the warmth of His goodness and to hunger to live out of the overflow of
His touch in your life is my heart cry. May you continue to desire to drink
deeply of His rivers that wash over each and every situation you face as you
cling to THE ROCK, who is your great STRENGTH.
Refusing
Faded Glory, RA
