I like the way one writer describes our work as “that ministry which through evangelism and discipleship establishes reproducing kingdom communities of believers in Jesus Christ …” From the very start, we must be about developing, empowering and releasing local believers into ministry. Otherwise, our work will not give rise to ‘multigenerational reproduction.’
Craig Ott and Gene Wilson in their book, Global Church Planting, put it this way: “When the response is slow, church planters should pray patiently, sow the gospel and make strong disciples using indigenous principles. There will be pressure to shift to another approach, to assume the pastoral role, or to become the primary “doers” of the ministry. But this is counterproductive in the long run. Expatriate workers who do this may plant a church – even a large church – but will not launch a CPM, and they may in the process set a negative precedent that hurts multiplication for another generation.”
This process of developing, empowering and releasing others into ministry does not happen through a one, two, three step method. It is more of an ‘art’, directed by the Spirit. Yet, though the process may not be straightforward, we must always keep in mind the image (the endpoint, in other words) we are ‘painting’ from the beginning. If we do not prayerfully work towards making strong disciples and giving them the ministry, we will fall back into becoming the primary doers of ministry.
What are the ways we can keep our minds and hearts focused on that endpoint?
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