Pioneering Movements: 3. The role of insiders
One sign of a church planting movement (CPM) is consistency in getting to four generations of new disciples and churches..
What do we observe about effective "insider leaders" in a CPM? Insiders come from within the target community. They know the culture from within, and are connected relationally. Only if responsibility shifts from outsiders to insiders can a CPM take off.
The best insiders perform these functions:
- They own the vision. Personal responsibility to reach their people. It is not the outsider's vision.
- They multiply mid-range leaders. To sustain a large movement, there needs to be an army of practitioners who can train and model for others.
- Call each other trainer, teacher, and brother. They reject titles like, "senior pastor" and "evangelist." Exalted titles create a professional vs lay distinction. The best insiders keep everyone on a level footing at the cross. Everyone participates.
- Lasting fruit. They are there after the outsiders have left, therefore they must lead the work from the very beginning.
- Organizing a movement. Culturally they can apply pressure in the areas necessary to sustain and correct.
- Bring correction. Enough said.
- Legitimacy. Anything that is foreign will be suspect.
- Role Models. A foreigner can model, but never in a way that local believers can imitate completely.
- Tweaking material to make it their own. Insiders expressing concepts in their own words enhances ownership.
- Discernment. They differentiate the kingdom-minded, and those who build their own kingdom. Godly insiders have eyes to see who is self-promoting, and who is promoting Jesus.
Previously: Pioneering Movements: 2. The role of outsiders
Up next: Pioneering Movements: 4. Obstacles to overcome
