Disciple Making Movements: Important Cautions

A friend of mine who leads a very effect disciple making church (over 7,000 in attendance and in discipling groups and they have planted over 10 other disciple making churches) shared with me some concerns about putting too much emphasis on Disciple Making Movements (DMM).

Over 82 million people are in Disciple Making Movements (DMM), but they have not yet fully taken root in North America (2414now.net).

I have summarized the concerns my friend shared below (I too, share his concerns):

A major concern is reliance upon a formula. Some seem to feel if you follow Disciple Making Movement (DMM) principles as a formula from overseas, that they will work in the North America, but formulas often do not work the same in different locations. Here are some examples.

• The Discovery Bible Study (Discovery Group) – is being utilized in many places in North America, yet we are not finding that it is effective, like it is overseas.

• Prayer and Fasting – we pray and fast but then expect God will work the same way in every place (like overseas), but it does not necessarily lead to revival or a significant increase in effectiveness. We think, it is our fault. But is it? Maybe God, in His sovereignty has other purposes (or else it is our fault in some way).
  
• Effective Disciple Making Methods Vary – Paul used different methods in different places (his strategy in Athens in Acts 17 was different than Ephesus in Acts 19). Sometimes Paul would use a method that was effective in one town, but when he went to another town, he was thrown out.

• Some Populations are Just Resistant – Jesus told the town of Capernaum that they were going to be judged and that if the miracles he performed there, had been performed in Sodom, they would still be in existence, instead of receiving judgement (Matt.11:23).

• Revivals in the 1800s Did Not Last – America had revival movements (John Wesley, Alexander Campbell and the Restoration Movement) similar to the revivals today in Disciple Making Movements in places like Africa but then, after all the conversions and excitement, the special work of God abated–and it turned to spiritual growth and success by more normal means. This reality may also end up being true for Disciple Making Movements. They are only 35 years old and they do not know their historical trajectory.

America has been hardened over time and it takes a lot of work to get through all the barriers that have been built in the lives of people–Americans, especially secular ones, have been discipled by the world’s ideals and they are inclined against the faith.                    

Here is the concern: a Disciple Making Movement focus may give false promises or at least imply them–and this leads to comparison such as, ‘why is God doing something over there but not here?’ There are people in North America who have worked just as smart and just as hard as Shodankeh Johnson or Josh Howard, but do not see the same fruit. We don’t want to discourage people who are trying their best but feeling like a failure because it doesn’t look the same as in North America is it does in West Africa or India.

We must remember that the angels in heaven rejoice when one sinner repents. (Luke 15:7)

Let’s rejoice when God does something like what he is doing in Disciple Making Movements in other parts of the world—let’s learn what we can learn and keep growing as leaders and disciples–but let’s not over promise or discourage people who are trying their best in this area.