Leadership Archives - Pursuing Disciple Making Movements in the Frontiers

Why Saying “No” is a Crucial Skill

By C. Anderson on Sunday, May 8, 2022

I personally don’t like saying no. It feels…not nice. It seems…unkind, or like I don’t value the person who is asking me to do something. Yet saying no, and meaning it, is a crucial skill for those of us pursuing DMMs. This is why we need to learn not only what to say no to, but also how to say no with honor and respect.

Lets start with the what part. What do we need to say no to as a DMMer? (Is that a thing? Can I call us that?) Sorry. Rabbit trail. Okay, so my point is, we need to say “No” to things that side track us, that pull us away from the main vision we are going after- a Disciple Making Movement. Anything that seems good but isn’t related to making disciples who make more disciples or to reaching lost people should go on our “I might need to say no” list. read more

Leadership

Leverage These Key Routines to Make Better Use of Your Time as a DMM Practitioner

By NT Movements on Sunday, April 24, 2022

Effective movement leaders and trainers are extremely focused. They carefully guard their time and priorities so they can train and disciple well. Leveraging key routines, they recognize that their time is one of their most precious resources.

The follow post is a guest post written by a colleague from South Asia. She is mentoring hundreds of disciple-makers and leaders. This article is born out of experience and filled with wisdom for us.

Goals Alone Don’t Get You There

Simply having the goal of a DMM is not enough. Many people have those kinds of dreams, but only a few ever see their vision fulfilled. Those who see goals fulfilled don’t focus only on the goals. Rather they put into place key habits that they do on a daily, weekly, and on a monthly basis. The progress they make every day may not be very big, but over time they accomplish big things. read more

Church Planting Leadership

Movement Pioneers Are Busy and Overwhelmed…How Can We Help?

By C. Anderson on Sunday, February 27, 2022

Is it time to appoint deacons? What is the difference between a deacon and an overseer? What do they do in a DMM (Disciple Making Movement)? Can I call myself Bishop if I am the leader of a movement?

I’ve been writing a series on leadership development in Disciple Making Movements. This is Part Five of that series. Please remember that what I write is not to be applied to legacy or traditional churches. My goal is not to attack churches or tell anyone that their denominational tradition is wrong. read more

Leadership

Part Four: How Does Eldership Function in Disciple Making Movements?

By C. Anderson on Sunday, February 20, 2022

“There is a well-respected man who has come to Christ. He used to be an imam. The whole community honors him and his testimony is solid. But he has two wives. Can he serve as an elder?” A church planter asked me this on a coaching call. Not a simple question to answer. This man was the cultural elder and the Person of Peace. Could he not be a spiritual leader too?

Many questions swirl around these issues as we start movements.

What do elders in a Disciple Making Movement (DMM) do? How are they appointed? Who decides who is appointed as an elder? read more

Discipleship Leadership

Five Ministry Gifts – Part 3 on DMM Leadership Development

By C. Anderson on Sunday, February 13, 2022

“Some people have all the fun,” my kids would say. “Why don’t we get to have fun too??” When we look at gifts in others, a similar question can creep into our hearts. “Why do they get all the spiritual gifts?” God gives His gifts generously. He told us to desire the gifts of His Spirit. Five of those gifts are described in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

In my last article, I wrote about the dangers of ministerial titles. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul mentions five important ministry gifts. read more

Church Planting Leadership Mindset Shifts Strategy

Are Ministerial Titles Helpful or Can They Harm Movements?

By C. Anderson on Sunday, February 6, 2022

“Pastor Cindy”…ahh! That had a nice ring to it! Being called pastor somehow set me apart. I was special. When my husband and I first started pastoring, we were quite young…fresh out of Bible college. We served as youth ministers in a church that instructed us to call ourselves “Pastor Todd” and “Pastor Cindy.” Only later I came to understand the danger of titles, and what it did to increase the separation between myself and those I served.

Titles put you on a pedestal. It’s one you will sooner or later fall off of. It may be in a very visible way that hurts many. Or it could be in a hidden way, which hurts you. We all fail to live up to that standard of perfection and holiness. We’re human. The titles of Pastor, Bishop, Apostle, Reverend, sometimes cause more harm than good. This is certainly true when it comes to Disciple Making Movements and releasing the priesthood of all believers. read more

Church Planting Leadership Strategy

Leadership in a Disciple-Making Movement: Part 1: What is Servant Leadership?

By C. Anderson on Sunday, January 30, 2022

The world celebrates strong leaders. Watching the news the other night, I heard a poll referenced. It was about two leaders. The poll asked, “Who is the stronger leader?” The show went on to discuss these two leaders; casting the one considered weaker in a negative light. Is strong, decisive leadership what is always needed? Is that how Jesus taught that we should lead?

When Church Planting Movements (CPMs) were first talked about, I read about the characteristics of a movement. One was that they were led by strong, charismatic leaders with apostolic giftings. This is not completely incorrect. Time and wisdom, however, have changed how we think about that. read more

Leadership

What Does Spiritual Leadership in a Movement Look Like? Elders, Bishops, Deacons and So On

By C. Anderson on Sunday, January 23, 2022

Countless questions and controversies happen around the topic of Biblical eldership in churches. Denominations split over these issues and the divisions caused. Twitter and other social media recently blew up with angry posts about whether women could serve as elders. A prominent female Bible teacher I know of recently left her fellowship over this issue. She joined another group leaving a wake of debate behind.

The intention of this article is not to stir up controversy. Nor do I want to engage in heated theological debates on this. read more

Books & Movies Leadership

Looking For Recommendations? 5 Good Books to Read in 2022

By C. Anderson on Sunday, January 9, 2022

If knowledge puffs up (1 Cor. 8:1), why read books? Reading is not as important as applying what you read. Practicing what you know has a far greater value than gaining more and more knowledge. Having said this, good leaders continually learn and grow. Books help us do that. Visionary leaders read. No doubt about it.

Invest money and time in reading. Read widely. Read authors who share your perspective and passions, and those who don’t. Try reading different types or genres of books. As in relationships with people, it is good to listen to new voices and be updated in current viewpoints. read more

Church Planting Leadership

Five Tips on When to Release Responsibility in Disciple-making

By C. Anderson on Sunday, November 21, 2021

Jesus gave authority and power away before his disciples were fully ready. Do we? Sometimes I am afraid to give away responsibility. What if they mess it up? Most of the time I am slower to give away power and authority than I suspect Jesus would be.

Disciple Making Movements (DMMs) model everything after Jesus. Paul’s a great model too. Today I read Luke 9 in my daily devotions. I got stuck on verse one, “He gave them power and authority…” Then, in verse two, He sent them out to use it, however imperfectly. read more