Looking again at the Critical Elements of CPM
This week I will be speaking to a group in Lexington, Ky. on the subject of church planting movements. The leader has specifically asked me to talk to the group about the critical elements of church planting movements. This is a subject that has been addressed in this blog on several occasions, but as I have been putting a short outline together for this group, I thought I would share it on the blog again. Let me make a couple of points at the beginning and then just give the outline I will be using with very little editing.
1. The concept of critical elements is that these characteristics are present in every known CPM.
2. The list of critical elements is constantly evolving, and the one I am sharing comes from David Watson's blog, and is the list that I think is the best at this time.
INTRODUCTION TO CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENTS: THE 21 CRITICAL ELEMENTS
I. Definition: A Church Planting Movement is defined as a rapid multiplication of indigenous churches planting churches that sweeps through a people group or population segment. (David Garrison, Church Planting Movements, 2004)
This definition is referring to specific movements that have occurred in Asia and Africa since 1990. These movements may have similarities with other previous movements (notably the Chinese house church movement since 1950) or contemporary movements (organic church, missional movements), but I am using the term in specific reference to movements displaying the 21 critical elements as described by missionary David Watson.
II. A Brief, Selective History of Church Planting Movements: 1989-2010
A. The Bhojpuri Story: India, 1989-Present
B. The Sierra Leone Story: 2005- Present
C. World Missions and Evangelism: Honduras, 2008-Present
III. The 21 Critical Elements
In 1999, as church planting movements were emerging in Asia, David Garrison gathered several of the strategy coordinators together and they began to debrief on common characteristics of the church planting movements that were occurring in the world. The movement among the people in North India was the most pronounced movement, but similar characteristics were seen in other smaller movements. At that time Garrison and the missionaries identified 10 universal elements and 10 prominent elements. In the years since, the list has been refined down to what we now call the 21 critical elements of church planting movements.
1. Prayer
— Prayer is the starting point for all ministry – know the mind of God and join Him in His work
2. Scripture
— Scripture is foundational and the source of all teaching and preaching.
— Scripture → Principle → Practice
3. Households/“families”
— Focus on households/”families”, not individuals.
— Households include non-related people living together as family.
4. Disciples
— Make Disciples, not converts.
— Converts focus on religion. Disciples focus on Jesus.
5. Teach Obedience
— Teach Obedience to the Word, not doctrine.
— Doctrine is our church’s teaching from the Bible. It may be highly interpretive, and may not consider the full counsel of the Bible.
6. Access Ministries
— Access Ministries open the door for Church Planting and lead to community transformation.
— Ministry should precede evangelism and evangelism must always be the end result of ministry. Timing is important and necessary.
7. Plan/Be Intentional
— Plan your work and work your plan – Be intentional in Access Ministry, Prayer, Scripture, Appropriate Evangelism and Church Planting
8. Man of Peace
— Start with the Man of Peace or an existing relationship that will permit a Discovery Bible Study or Witness
9. Appropriate Evangelism
— Evangelism is an intentional calling to a family to study the Word of God in order to move from not knowing God to falling in Love with Him through Jesus Christ. The primary method used is the Discover Bible Study in relationship with maturing believers. This makes Disciples, not Converts.
10. Communities of Believers (church)
— Form new believers into minimum Biblical practice groups that will become Communities of Believers (churches) who transform communities
11. Reaching Out (Missions)
— Reaching Out to “ALL” segments of society becomes a part of the group DNA as a result of obedience to the Great Commission (missions)
12. Reproducing
— Reproducing disciples, leaders, groups and churches becomes a part of the group DNA
13. Inside Leaders
— Keep all things reproducible by Inside Leaders and directed/lead by Inside Leaders.
14. Authority & Holy Spirit
— Authority of Scripture and the Holy Spirit are all that is needed to start. Church Planting is an act of God through His Spirit and His people who are obedient to the Word and the Spirit.
15. Persecution
— Persecution is part of being a Christian. In pioneer work it is expected and response is trained.
16. Educating/ Teaching Training/ Coaching Equipping/ Mentoring
— Discipleship and Leadership Education and Training are “on the job,” continuous and primarily through mentoring. This builds communities that hold each other accountable for obedience to the Word of God. Education increases Knowledge. Training increases skill sets primarily through coaching. Equipping increases capacity through mentoring relationships.
17. Outside Leaders
— Outside leaders Model, Equip, Watch, and Leave. Outside leaders introduce new concepts that are contextualized by inside leaders.
18. Self-supporting
— Self-supporting, local leaders start and sustain all work – including groups, fellowships, and churches. Self-supporting may mean the worker has a job or business. This improves access and breaks down the barriers between clergy and laity.
19. Redeem Local Culture (Embrace the Local Culture)
— Do not import external culture, but redeem local culture by embracing all you Biblically can in a culture and transforming/redeeming the rest.
20. Spiritual Conflict/Warfare
— In areas where the Gospel has never been preached, or in areas where traditional religions have reigned for a significant amount of time, it is not unusual to find those engaging in CPM activities confronted by Spiritual Conflicts that range from annoying to life-threatening.
— Living in obedience is the best preparation for Spiritual Warfare.
— One does not have to seek out Spiritual Warfare when planting churches. It will find the one doing the church planting.
21. Group Dynamic: Small groups are involved.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
ONLINE
www.churchplantingmovements.com
David Garrison’s website
www.davidlwatson.org
David Watson’s blog, absolutely vital information
BOOKS
1. Church Planting Movements (1999) David Garrison (can be downloaded for free at his website above)
2. Church Planting Movements (2004) David Garrison (can be ordered from his website)
The Key text on Church planting movements
Other Books that have relevance:
3. Organic Church, Neil Cole
4. Church 3.0, Neil Cole
5. The Forgotten Ways, Alan Hirsch
6. The Multiplying Church, Bob Roberts Jr.
7. Discovering Church Planting, J. D. Payne
8. The Rabbit and the Elephant, George Barna, Tony and Felicity Dale
9. There’s a Sheep in my Bathtub, Brian Hogan (Story of a CPM in Mongolia)
10. Amazing Grace, R. Bruce Carlton (Story of a CPM in Cambodia)
1. The concept of critical elements is that these characteristics are present in every known CPM.
2. The list of critical elements is constantly evolving, and the one I am sharing comes from David Watson's blog, and is the list that I think is the best at this time.
INTRODUCTION TO CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENTS: THE 21 CRITICAL ELEMENTS
I. Definition: A Church Planting Movement is defined as a rapid multiplication of indigenous churches planting churches that sweeps through a people group or population segment. (David Garrison, Church Planting Movements, 2004)
This definition is referring to specific movements that have occurred in Asia and Africa since 1990. These movements may have similarities with other previous movements (notably the Chinese house church movement since 1950) or contemporary movements (organic church, missional movements), but I am using the term in specific reference to movements displaying the 21 critical elements as described by missionary David Watson.
II. A Brief, Selective History of Church Planting Movements: 1989-2010
A. The Bhojpuri Story: India, 1989-Present
B. The Sierra Leone Story: 2005- Present
C. World Missions and Evangelism: Honduras, 2008-Present
III. The 21 Critical Elements
In 1999, as church planting movements were emerging in Asia, David Garrison gathered several of the strategy coordinators together and they began to debrief on common characteristics of the church planting movements that were occurring in the world. The movement among the people in North India was the most pronounced movement, but similar characteristics were seen in other smaller movements. At that time Garrison and the missionaries identified 10 universal elements and 10 prominent elements. In the years since, the list has been refined down to what we now call the 21 critical elements of church planting movements.
1. Prayer
— Prayer is the starting point for all ministry – know the mind of God and join Him in His work
2. Scripture
— Scripture is foundational and the source of all teaching and preaching.
— Scripture → Principle → Practice
3. Households/“families”
— Focus on households/”families”, not individuals.
— Households include non-related people living together as family.
4. Disciples
— Make Disciples, not converts.
— Converts focus on religion. Disciples focus on Jesus.
5. Teach Obedience
— Teach Obedience to the Word, not doctrine.
— Doctrine is our church’s teaching from the Bible. It may be highly interpretive, and may not consider the full counsel of the Bible.
6. Access Ministries
— Access Ministries open the door for Church Planting and lead to community transformation.
— Ministry should precede evangelism and evangelism must always be the end result of ministry. Timing is important and necessary.
7. Plan/Be Intentional
— Plan your work and work your plan – Be intentional in Access Ministry, Prayer, Scripture, Appropriate Evangelism and Church Planting
8. Man of Peace
— Start with the Man of Peace or an existing relationship that will permit a Discovery Bible Study or Witness
9. Appropriate Evangelism
— Evangelism is an intentional calling to a family to study the Word of God in order to move from not knowing God to falling in Love with Him through Jesus Christ. The primary method used is the Discover Bible Study in relationship with maturing believers. This makes Disciples, not Converts.
10. Communities of Believers (church)
— Form new believers into minimum Biblical practice groups that will become Communities of Believers (churches) who transform communities
11. Reaching Out (Missions)
— Reaching Out to “ALL” segments of society becomes a part of the group DNA as a result of obedience to the Great Commission (missions)
12. Reproducing
— Reproducing disciples, leaders, groups and churches becomes a part of the group DNA
13. Inside Leaders
— Keep all things reproducible by Inside Leaders and directed/lead by Inside Leaders.
14. Authority & Holy Spirit
— Authority of Scripture and the Holy Spirit are all that is needed to start. Church Planting is an act of God through His Spirit and His people who are obedient to the Word and the Spirit.
15. Persecution
— Persecution is part of being a Christian. In pioneer work it is expected and response is trained.
16. Educating/ Teaching Training/ Coaching Equipping/ Mentoring
— Discipleship and Leadership Education and Training are “on the job,” continuous and primarily through mentoring. This builds communities that hold each other accountable for obedience to the Word of God. Education increases Knowledge. Training increases skill sets primarily through coaching. Equipping increases capacity through mentoring relationships.
17. Outside Leaders
— Outside leaders Model, Equip, Watch, and Leave. Outside leaders introduce new concepts that are contextualized by inside leaders.
18. Self-supporting
— Self-supporting, local leaders start and sustain all work – including groups, fellowships, and churches. Self-supporting may mean the worker has a job or business. This improves access and breaks down the barriers between clergy and laity.
19. Redeem Local Culture (Embrace the Local Culture)
— Do not import external culture, but redeem local culture by embracing all you Biblically can in a culture and transforming/redeeming the rest.
20. Spiritual Conflict/Warfare
— In areas where the Gospel has never been preached, or in areas where traditional religions have reigned for a significant amount of time, it is not unusual to find those engaging in CPM activities confronted by Spiritual Conflicts that range from annoying to life-threatening.
— Living in obedience is the best preparation for Spiritual Warfare.
— One does not have to seek out Spiritual Warfare when planting churches. It will find the one doing the church planting.
21. Group Dynamic: Small groups are involved.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
ONLINE
www.churchplantingmovements.com
David Garrison’s website
www.davidlwatson.org
David Watson’s blog, absolutely vital information
BOOKS
1. Church Planting Movements (1999) David Garrison (can be downloaded for free at his website above)
2. Church Planting Movements (2004) David Garrison (can be ordered from his website)
The Key text on Church planting movements
Other Books that have relevance:
3. Organic Church, Neil Cole
4. Church 3.0, Neil Cole
5. The Forgotten Ways, Alan Hirsch
6. The Multiplying Church, Bob Roberts Jr.
7. Discovering Church Planting, J. D. Payne
8. The Rabbit and the Elephant, George Barna, Tony and Felicity Dale
9. There’s a Sheep in my Bathtub, Brian Hogan (Story of a CPM in Mongolia)
10. Amazing Grace, R. Bruce Carlton (Story of a CPM in Cambodia)
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