We’ve been following with interest the whole “disciple-making movement” (DMM) movement. In some ways, it remind me of Donald McGavran’s “Church Growth Movement” of the 1980’s. These movements seem to pick up more and more steam until they reach a “tipping point” — at which time we suddenly look around and observe, “Wow — this is a really big deal.” DMM’s seem, to me, to be at that tipping point.
If you’re not familiar with the thinking, it seems that CityTeam has done as much as any other agency or church to quantify exactly what we mean by a DMM. They are documenting and developing the materials as fast as or faster than anyone else. For example, see their introductory screens here:
http://www.cityteam.org/dmm/about/dmm.php
http://www.cityteam.org/dmm/about/is-isnt.php
http://www.cityteam.org/dmm/about/process.php
http://www.cityteam.org/dmm/about/principles.php
http://www.cityteam.org/dmm/about/counter-intuitives.php
They have even quantified the vision, mission and values here:
http://www.cityteam.org/dmm/about/vision.php
and observed some prime locations in the USA in which DMM’s are flourishing, here:
http://www.cityteam.org/dmm/about/locations.php
What does all this mean for missions? Well it could result in some very positive growth. Students of George Patterson’s “Obedience-oriented education and evangelism” (of the 1970’s) have written that it was some of the most solid church growth (and church multiplication) they have ever observed. Disciples were deep AND rapidly-multiplying. If we could get the hang of this deal, without being caught up in jealousy, in-fighting, disunity and strife over who gets the credit, it would mean a huge chapter of growth for the church of the new millennium.
What are your thoughts on DMM, City Team, iDisciple seminars, and church growth? Any personal testimonies? Thoughts pro or con? Thoughts about how we can keep away jealousy and envy for what others are doing for the Kingdom? If so, please just click “comment” after the web version of this item. Thanks in advance for your opinion.
The International Missionary Training Network of the World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission ran a roundtable on this subject in 2014 with input from David Garrison and Jerry Trousdale of City Team. We are also linking with Curtis Sergeant. We are gathering resources and want to promote this work as much as we can.