Lausanne World Pulse – Themed Articles – Pioneering Church Planting Movements

By Younoussa Djao
July 2009

Introduction
 When we look at the remaining task to be finished of reaching and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20), we quickly realize that there is much resistance to the gospel. We also see that there are some common characteristics that non- or less-reached nations share. For example:

  • Resistance to the gospel
  • Strong community/family-based culture
  • Oral culture
  • Strong spiritual strongholds
  • Major non-Christian religions, such as Islam, Buddhism, Traditional Religions, etc.
  • Poverty
  • War

Strategies that have worked well in other parts of the world are not giving the same and expected results among these nations. Albert Einstein is quoted to have said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

Below I would like to describe some principles and a process that have made a break-through possible among some of these remaining nations to be reached. Wherever these principles and this process have been implemented (that I know of), there have been many churches planted in a very short time. In one country in sub-Saharan Africa, one leader who got trained and went to implement this approach said, “We have planted about forty-two churches in three years; but with this approach, the Lord has helped us plant 150 churches in three months.” There have been good results among Muslims, Buddhists, Traditional Religions, etc.

Because the space allowed in this article is too short to give details, I will give principles followed by a short description. Every principle comes from scripture. I will use Luke 10:1-11 (parallels: Matthew 10:5-14; Luke 9:1-6) as the main text.

I. Go Where Jesus Is about to Go
Jesus sends seventy-two of his disciples, two by two. The Bible says that he “sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go” (Luke 10:1-11).

 

Raising and developing local leaders to do the work without much help from outsiders is a key for

long-term success.

The success in church planting happens when God himself is at work. So we will see success only if we go where he is at work. The Church Planting Movement (CPM) is not a human-made movement. It is an act of God. Making sure that we do church planting where God is at work is crucial.

The question then is how do we know where God is at work?

II. Make Sure to Pray!
 Jesus told his disciples that they should pray that God raises workers for the field. The most strategic prayer will be to ask God to raise workers from within the harvest field to do the work. Raising and developing local leaders to do the work without much help from outsiders is a key for long-term success.

We should also pray to know the mind of God and where he is at work. When we discover that and join him where he is at work, we will undoubtedly see success. Also, any spiritual victory is won in prayer. Reaching people and winning them for Christ is a spiritual battle. Prayer is at the beginning, middle, and end of any successful ministry.

The long-term work of reaching a people group should remain on the shoulders of local leaders.

III. Look for the Person of Peace
In Luke 10:5-8, Jesus gives instructions about what to do when the disciples get to the places where they will minister. He says that the first thing to do is to look for a person of peace—and when they have found him or her, to stay with that person (i.e., do their ministry through that person). Jesus said, “Do not move around from house to house.” I believe Jesus is saying that we should not do house-to-house evangelism. The first and main activity of a church planter is to discover the person of peace in a given area or people group. When he or she has found that individual, he or she should do his or her ministry through and with this person.

The presence of the person of peace is the indication that God is at work in that place or among that people group. The person of peace is characterized by hospitality and other things; however, the main characteristic is his or her interest in the spirituality the church planter expresses through his or her attitude, language, the things he or she speaks about, etc. He or she has a spiritual hunger, is seeking the truth, and is attracted by any spiritual person and/or spiritual discussion. God is working in the life of that person. This is what creates the connection with the church planter.