DMM/CPM: Rhythms of Launched Movements

Rhythms of Launched Movements

"The most effective leaders spoken of in the Bible had little awareness of the impact their lives had on others. They were too busy obeying God to keep track of their successes."-pg. 787 NIV notes on life of Ezra

"Do you want to train others to start a church or do you want to train them to help launch a movement to Christ?", I recently asked a Dallas Theological Seminary Professor. He pondered the question. 

We discussed his observations of the students whom he had seen come through his classes in the two decades of his time in that context. I wondered. Therefore, I sensed the permission to ask, "Dr. Something, what do you see as the biggest need for this generation of those preparing to serve cross-culturally?"

Without skipping a beat, he lamented on how many were not making reproducing disciples in their cross-cultural context in effective ways. 

Movements to Christ are made up of transformed lives in Christ, who reproduce as disciples who make disciples, who make disciples who love and obey Jesus. 

A missionary statesman once told us that of the missionaries whom he has known, in a four decade span of life, he found the following to be true:

25 % of missionaries are highly effective

50% of missionaries are somewhat effective

25% of missionaries are highly ineffective and need to go home

In a recent survey of those who are seeing CPMs occurring among Unreached People Groups, here are some reflections on what can be considered some patterns for effective impact for God's glory. 

What is effective?-notes from S.P.

• Vision-casting for CPM emphasizing reproduction
• Do not lose sight of trusting God to raise up Persons of Peace who open the door to their households/affinity groups. 
• Efficacy/Supremacy of God's Word in Discovery Bible Study (or Discovery Group) process with dependence upon the Holy Spirit, not defaulting to teaching. 
• Abundant gospel sowing. Storying/testimony/orality increasingly important. Thematic stories, ontime stories, Spirit-led stories, teaching in parables. Teaching people to speak and bless neighbors with stories. Listen to their personal story—hear their story, tell your story then tell His story. No religious language.
• Must get our hands dirty among hardest to reach people in society: hospice ministry, jail ministry, fringe populations—hurting people, focus on those who get less attention, food pantry, ministries to addicts, focusing on inner healing, pain has resulted from lifestyle of sin
• Focusing on family and friends networks. Focus on house of peace in the neighborhood.
• Strong emphasis on lay leadership.
• Emphasis on accountability—takes time and personal relationships with those whom we coach as we are making reproducing groups of disciples.
• Technology—using internet, people opening up online using Facebook. People need people even in urban environments, even among masses, people still need other people.
• Secular people respond to action, obedience-oriented, experiential. Strong emphasis on rapid obedience. Expect immediate obedience.
• Prayer based - belief that God will answer. If there is a need—immediately pray. 

Here are lessons from those seeing CPMs in the Hindu  world.-notes from S.P.   Signs and wonders create breakthroughs. They are tuned into spiritual nature             of the world.             God is showing up relevant to peoples’ needs, vision and dreams.             Public and private—internal wonders of transformation.         2.   One key is extraordinary love and compassion demonstrated personally by believers.                Hindus respond to genuine authentic compassion. Value of relationships—              relationship driven.               Model authentic community as it relates to family lines as well.        3.   God is at work in and among Hindus as He’s drawing them to Himself.               Luke 10—walking as Jesus sent them—walk with intentionality, be ready               to share the hope within you.         4.   How to share? Action oriented, incremental stories, storying, orality, parables,               redemptive bridges --              be able to speak the truth as they go. Give an overall framework and fill in the gaps.               Does not have to be 50 weeks, but a Creation2Christ framework.         5.  Obedience based accountability - they want to see action and people living               out their faith as it contrasts with what they see in the Hindu world.         6.  Discipleship is critical—how they come to Christ not as important as               how they are discipled.               Focus on heads of households. More apt to reach urban than rural,               family network carries the gospel. CPM Lessons in the Muslim World-notes from S.P. There are a growing number of CPMs among Muslims. Chaos in various areas is leading to freedom and desire to ask questions.  God orchestrating and changing nations. Run to chaos and get organized for it.  Be ready when someone asks questions. Key strategy to avoid visibility by outside foreigners.              The outsider can become a lightning rod, esp. with white skin.             So have key training outside target group area. Trainers who are MBB are better             and do it differently. A growing number of MBB’s are taking people and              modeling and showing how. Focusing on refugee groups who are dispersed—social political, etc.              Focus on family evangelism and not individual evangelism. Let group process             take place.              Strategic focus on women as gatekeepers spiritually. Importance of husband-wife              teams.              Husbands as early adopters and influencers, wives as holding keys to spirituality.  Find natural ways to talk about Isa, so that in second encounter you are already              talking about Isa in your life. People of Peace, finding them in the mosque,              going in for the late night and early morning prayer time. People who come to pray              at that time are desperate and don’t want to be seen. Some are finding large             number of people of peace at those times. There are growing instances of seeing the larger mosque community brought to faith -              as the leadership, imam and others become seekers and lead the rest.              An increasing number of teams focus (prayer and witnessing) on winning              the leaders first to win the community. Some start with the Quran and talk about Isa as a bridge. Others find other              redemptive bridges. Then move into introducing and following through on              obedience-based discipleship using the Bible. CPM Lessons for Effectiveness in the Buddhist World  and Tribal Peoples-notes from S.P. Buddhism is like a chameleon-- it layers over the underlying belief systems.  There is a need for clear vision casting for CPMs among Buddhist and  Tribal peoples and people who know what they are seeking to accomplish.  Clear vision and purpose and implementation. What is showing fruit? •        There is a consistent pattern of people receiving signs and wonders          and dreams and then an evangelist(s) who comes and reaps the results. •        Often people consider becoming a Christian due to a tragedy/crisis •        Prayer and prayer-walking. Dealing with demonic strongholds. •        Among tribal people radio has been effective •        Oral teaching approach is very effective all the way up. •        Redeemer theme is important. Theravada world has a belief           in the redeemer who is to come -- parallels with Jesus Christ. •        Obedience to Christ and what obedience to Christ does to a person           as they become a leader. Need for: •        Transparency •        Accountability •        Discipline