DMM: A Durian Debacle, & Leadership Development

DMM: A Durian Debacle & Leadership Development

“There is a foul air among us!”, decried one of the main characters in the film which depicted J.R. Tolkien’s famous novel Lord of the Rings. 

A Tsunami-like wave of olfactory pungency rushed over my fellow airline passengers and me. 

There certainly was a foul air among us. Enroute home through Jta, on an early morning flight from Mdn to Jta, pungent was a kind descriptive word. Our flight was delayed headlined by a ruckus displayed somewhere between rows 38-40. This flight was delayed due to a scuffle among passengers prior to takeoff. There was a mutiny on the Lion, Lion Airways, to be exact. Pervasively so, there existed a huge cargo of the famous tropical fruit called durian.

Durian is a sticky fruit which folks either love or hate. There are no nominal believers when it comes to durian. Apparently, the durian’s odor filled our cabin, which launched a small riot. Our flight was delayed. 

The demo failed in the end, but did reveal an at once both comforting yet disturbing thought. The majority people group in that region are the Fierce people group, who once were a fierce cannibalistic tribal group. On display that day was their unregenerate old school intimidation tactic which most likely once lay their human prey immobilized. I sat there thanking Jesus that at least they were no longer cannibalistic. Regretfully so, however, though they heard the gospel over 100 years ago, they are largely known as a mile wide and an inch deep in their lack of being transformed in character by the gospel. Obedience based multiplying households of disciples are rare among this people group. The Fierce are one of only a handful of people groups in our country which have responded to the gospel but sadly, have yet to truly be transformed by it. The remaining people groups are 320 distinctive Unreached People Groups who are all Muslim peoples, excepting the Bese and the Trese, who are Hindu.   

In the Disciple Making Movements/DMM process, one of the essentials is the development/pouring into the local leaders/facilitators is the area of the need to address character issues which have yet to be surrendered unto the Lordship and freedom in Christ.

Character issues of patterned sins we simply “tolerate” is much like the choice to live with the stench (disobedience) and call it the norm. However, those who want to bring honor and glory to the only Living God will yearn to live with a holy dread of displeasing/bringing shame to God’s holy name. Imagine how different our fellowships, our communities, and our spheres of influence would be with hearts who long to obey Jesus as the norm as an expression of their growing love and adoration of His goodness.

“I do what I do as a slave to my worldview.”-JK

Leadership Development of Local Leaders

Character Issues Addressed

Worldview leads to crossroads moments when confronted by God’s heartbeat and His worldview. Altogether otherworldly, most radically countercultural, and highly counterintuitive to one’s own patterned way of seeing life is the Father’s Word in concert with His Holy Spirit’s empowerment. Unless one is personally transformed at the chewy center of heart level allegiances, contagious abundant life will be stilted, the old man worldview will prevail, and a stench will prevail.

Indeed, we do what we do as a slave to our own worldview.

My husband and I have seen the Father readying our hearts and our local partners in a purifying process of recent. One of the areas, which help to usher in the outpour of the Holy Spirit among a given Unreached People Group, is the area of personal repentance/desire to live in utter dependence upon the Holy Spirit for God’s glorifying holiness.

Excerpt from a DMM trainer colleague... 

A Word About Disciple Making Movements (DMM)

4^th Generation Movements among Unreached People Groups -- 3rd of 5 key areas -- Obedience (Accountability)

The conclusions of a group of 38 key DMM trainers who are working all over the world and are connected to over 80 CPMs reveal good clues as to what the Holy Spirit is doing around the world in these movements. 

As you read each post, use these as opportunities prayerfully to evaluate your own ministry.

Obedience (Accountability)

1.Leaders moved on when unproductive people did not produce


2.High intolerance for error; obedience-based discipleship corrects errors when measured by God’s Word


3.Importance of goal setting as we hold one another accountable 


4.Accountability for generational growth. Are you seeing children and grandchildren? Check on how 3^rd and 4^th gen are doing 


5.Mapping house fellowships and generations:  Draw / diagram out which elements of a house church they have and trouble-shoot areas lacking.  Drawing out helped diagnose actual progress


6.Periodic meetings of leaders (every 1,3,4,6,12 months for different spheres).


7.Character issues addressed


8.Unflinching Grace-filled evaluation -- if you are not seeing multiplication after you have persevered, you are willing to change anything and everything

Practical Tool of DBS (Discovery Bible Study) on Purity/Holiness

Mathew 5:27-28, I Corinthians 6:9-10, I Corinthians 6:13-20, I Thessalonians 4:3-7, Hebrews 13:4, 2 Samuel 11:1-17, 26-27, 2 Samuel 12:1-14  (Read each passage together out loud, rephrase in own words what is said in the text without teaching or preaching the passage, just rephrase in own words based upon the text)

Discuss as a group the following discovery questions based upon text alone.

        1.  What do these verses reveal about purity?

    2.

         

Discuss your personal plan to guard your vulnerable areas in obeying these truths.Who are you making yourself accountable to in order to honor God and grow in these areas of purity? How often do you meet?

3. Take time in listening prayer to ask the Lord what practical steps of obedience is He asking of your heart.