(T4T) as an aid for developing sustained church planting movements

389 Pages·2015·4.82 MB·English

An evaluation of Training for Trainers (T4T)
as an aid for developing sustained church planting movements (CPMs)

by

STEPHEN ROBERT SMITH

submitted in accordance with the requirements
for the degree of

DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY

in the subject

Missiology

at the

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

SUPERVISOR: PROF W A SAAYMAN

SEPTEMBER 2014
Student number: 3368-606-8

DECLARATION OF OWN WORK

I declare that An evaluation of Training for Trainers (T4T) as an aid for develop-
ing sustained church planting movements (CPMs) is my own work and that all
the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by
means of complete references.

____________________________ __________________
SIGNATURE DATE
(REV S R SMITH)
SUMMARY

This paper attempts to evaluate Training for Trainers (T4T) as an aid for developing healthy
and sustained church planting movements (CPMs). The thesis is that Training for Trainers
(T4T) can enable and sustain (by the Spirit’s power) healthy church planting move-
ments because a discipleship process is built into the methodology that develops believ-
ers in their personal and communal growth and equips them to repeat the process with
other individuals they reach. The very format of the T4T process provides a context for de-
veloping disciples inwardly and training disciples to minister outwardly. The T4T process
continues over the course of months and years to systematically move believers through the
essential stages of sustained church planting movements:
• Bridges in conversations with the lost from non-spiritual topics to the gospel in
order to find those God is preparing (knowing whom to talk to and how to start)
• Reproducible evangelism methods that are effective in the local context and can be
learned by any new believer
• Reproducible discipleship that addresses both short-term and long-term spiritual
growth in a manner appropriate to the local worldview and able to be passed on by a
new believer
• Reproducible church models appropriate to the local context and able to be led and
passed on by new believers
• Leadership development and multiplication patterns that develop leaders rapidly
in the context of ministry and enable the number of leaders to keep pace with the
number of new churches
T4T moves each new generation of disciples (trainers) and churches through this pro-
cess because it casts vision for and gives loving accountability for disciples to truly become
trainers of others. It does this primarily through a three-thirds training process. T4T is train-
ing for trainers who will train trainers who will train trainers. T4T attempts to initiate move-
ments of God in which at least four generations of new disciples and churches emerge.
This paper evaluates T4T is based on case studies, survey instruments and biblical
principles and then offers recommendations for CPM practitioners.
KEY TERMS

Church planting movement; Training for Trainers; church multiplication; church planting;
Four Fields CPM framework; reproducing evangelism; reproducing discipleship; reproducing
churches; reproducing leaders; three-thirds process; sustained CPM
STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP

I declare that AN EVALUATION OF TRAINING FOR TRAINERS (T4T) AS AN AID FOR
DEVELOPING HEALTHY AND SUSTAINED CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENTS (CPMS)
is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and
acknowledged by means of complete references.
Table of Contents
List%of%Tables%.......................................................................................................%viii%
1.% Introduction%....................................................................................................%1%
1.1.! Statement%of%the%problem%....................................................................................%1!
1.2.! The%research%question%..........................................................................................%2!
1.3.! The%working%hypothesis%.......................................................................................%3!
1.4.! Thesis%statement%..................................................................................................%4!
1.5.! Research%questions%to%be%answered%.....................................................................%4!
1.6.! Underlying%assumptions%and%theological%paradigm%and%scope%of%this%study%..........%5!
1.7.! The%scope%of%this%study%.........................................................................................%9!
1.8.! Additional%definitions%of%terms%...........................................................................%10!
1.9.! Value%of%the%study%..............................................................................................%15!
1.9.1.! Personal!............................................................................................................!16!
1.9.2.! Missions!............................................................................................................!16!
1.9.3.! Church!...............................................................................................................!18!
1.9.4.! Academia!..........................................................................................................!18!
1.9.5.! Society!..............................................................................................................!19!
1.10.! Development%of%the%research%method%and%sources%used%....................................%19!
1.10.1.! Qualitative!research!approach!.........................................................................!20!
1.10.2.! Additional!observations!on!the!research!method!............................................!24!
1.11.! Ethical%Considerations%........................................................................................%25!
1.11.1.! Informed!consent!.............................................................................................!25!
1.11.2.! Permission!to!do!the!study!...............................................................................!25!
1.11.3.! Confidentiality!..................................................................................................!25!
1.11.4.! Benefits!for!the!researched!community!...........................................................!25!
1.12.! Literature%Review%...............................................................................................%26!
1.12.1.! Church!Planting!Movements:!How!God!Is!Redeeming!a!Lost!World.!!
! David!Garrison.!.................................................................................................!26!
1.12.2.! Acts!29:!Practical!Training!in!Facilitating!ChurchRPlanting!Movements!!
! Among!the!Neglected!Harvest!Fields.!R.!Bruce!Carlton!....................................!30!
1.12.3.! What!Jesus!Started:!Joining!the!Movement!Changing!the!World.!!
! Steve!Addison..!.................................................................................................!35!
1.13.! Organization%of%the%Study%...................................................................................%42!
i
2.% Case%studies%providing%a%context%for%the%scope%of%T4T%church%%
% planting%movements%......................................................................................%46%
2.1.! Historical%analysis%of%the%original%T4T%movement%with%1.7%million%converts%........%46!
2.1.1.! Launch!of!a!movement!.....................................................................................!46!
2.1.2.! The!Ying!Kai!story!–!a!narrative!account!...........................................................!49!
2.1.3.! Beyond!the!first!group!......................................................................................!62!
2.1.4.! Eleven!years!of!sustained!growth!.....................................................................!63!
2.2.! Analyses%of%other%T4TSbased%church%planting%movements%around%the%world%......%70!
2.2.1.! A!worldRwide!sampling!of!T4T!case!studies!......................................................!70!
2.3.! Statistical%Analysis%..............................................................................................%84!
2.4.! Conclusion%.........................................................................................................%91!
3.% The%process%of%T4T%discipleship%......................................................................%93%
3.1.! How%the%T4T%process%begins%...............................................................................%93!
3.1.1.! An!allRinRone!approach!.....................................................................................!94!
3.1.2.! One!goal:!build!multiplying!generations!of!trainers!.........................................!95!
3.1.3.! The!2!Timothy!2:2!process!................................................................................!98!
3.1.4.! Starting!the!process!of!mobilizing!believers!to!fulfill!the!2!Timothy!2:2!!
! and!Great!Commission!vision!–!Session!One:!WHYRWHOMRHOW!...................!98!
3.1.5.! Setting!the!DNA!of!reproducible!discipleship!in!Session!Two!–!!
! stablishing!a!pattern!.......................................................................................!104!
3.1.6.! Summary!of!Sessions!One!and!Two!................................................................!108!
3.1.7.! Immediacy:!a!key!to!a!reproducing!pattern!....................................................!108!
3.2.! The%threeSthirds%discipleship%process%................................................................%109!
3.2.1.! The!seven!parts!(ingredients)!of!a!threeRthirds!meeting!................................!111!
3.2.2.! The!first!third:!looking!back!............................................................................!112!
3.2.3.! The!second!third:!looking!up!..........................................................................!119!
3.2.4.! The!final!third:!looking!ahead!.........................................................................!122!
3.3.! The%essential%elements%for%reproducing%trainers%...............................................%125!
3.3.1.! The!four!essential!components!in!the!threeRthirds!process!for!!
! reproduction!of!trainers!.................................................................................!126!
3.3.2.! The!effect!of!time!demand!and/or!awareness!on!the!four!essential!!
! reproduction!components!..............................................................................!127!
3.3.3.! Survey!analysis:!correlation!between!the!four!essential!reproduction!!
! components!and!CPM!metrics!........................................................................!128!
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3.4.! Building%a%movement%through%the%20%%that%are%trainers%of%trainers%.................%130!
3.4.1.! Four!responses!to!becoming!trainers!.............................................................!131!
3.4.2.! Four!soils!principle!..........................................................................................!131!
3.4.3.! Importance!of!the!20%:!trainers!.....................................................................!132!
3.4.4.! The!law!of!percentages!...................................................................................!133!
3.4.5.! The!power!of!two!groups!................................................................................!133!
3.5.! Starting%new%generations,%not%just%multiplying%groups%......................................%134!
3.6.! Mentoring%a%movement%for%sustained%growth%..................................................%135!
3.6.1.! Paul’s!mentorship!of!movements!...................................................................!135!
3.6.2.! T4T!mentorship!...............................................................................................!136!
3.6.3.! Mentorship!factors!displayed!in!the!T4T!surveys!...........................................!142!
3.7.! Conclusion%.......................................................................................................%144!
4.% The%scope%of%CPM%principles%implemented%through%T4T%and%methods%%
% or%adapting%it%in%culturally%appropriate%manners%..........................................%145%
4.1.! A%common%%CPM%framework:%the%Heart%and%Four%Fields%CPM%Framework%.........%145!
4.1.1.! Development!of!a!framework!.........................................................................!145!
4.1.2.! An!overview!of!the!framework!.......................................................................!147!
4.2.! Vision%...............................................................................................................%150!
4.2.1.! Case!studies!....................................................................................................!150!
4.2.2.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!156!
4.3.! Segments:%basic%population%segments%in%which%to%start%reproducing%churches%.%156!
4.3.1.! Case!studies!....................................................................................................!159!
4.3.2.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!161!
4.4.! G4%–%four%generations%(and%beyond)%of%new%believers%and%churches%.................%162!
4.4.1.! Case!studies!....................................................................................................!162!
4.4.2.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!167!
4.5.! Abiding%in%Christ%and$Prayer%.............................................................................%168!
4.5.1.! Case!studies!....................................................................................................!168!
4.5.2.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!173!
4.6.! Finding%GodSprepared%people%–%bridges%to%the%saved%........................................%173!
4.6.1.! Case!studies!....................................................................................................!177!
4.6.2.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!178!
4.7.! Finding%GodSprepared%people%–%bridges%to%the%lost%...........................................%178!
4.7.1.! Case!studies!....................................................................................................!179!
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4.7.2.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!183!
4.8.! Field%two:%reproducing%evangelism%...................................................................%183!
4.8.1.! Case!studies:!gospel!presentations!.................................................................!185!
4.8.2.! Case!studies:!the!broader!evangelism!strategy!..............................................!189!
4.8.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!191!
4.9.! Field%three:%reproducing%discipleship%................................................................%192!
4.9.1.! Case!studies!....................................................................................................!193!
4.9.2.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!198!
4.10.! Field%four:%reproducing%churches%......................................................................%198!
4.10.1.! Case!studies!....................................................................................................!200!
4.10.2.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!209!
4.11.! Center%platform:%multiplying%leaders%................................................................%209!
4.11.1.! Case!studies!....................................................................................................!211!
4.11.2.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!216!
4.12.! Summary%..........................................................................................................%216!
5.% An%evaluation%of%T4T%as%a%process%for%developing%healthy,%sustained%%
% church%planting%movements%........................................................................%218%
5.1.! Principles%of%the%CPM%framework:%the%Heart%and%Four%Fields%CPM%framework%..%218!
5.1.1.! Organization!of!the!evaluation!based!on!the!framework!...............................!218!
5.1.2.! Review!of!the!framework!...............................................................................!219!
5.2.! Vision%...............................................................................................................%221!
5.2.1.! Survey!results!..................................................................................................!221!
5.2.2.! Scriptural!principles!to!which!this!adheres!.....................................................!222!
5.2.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!224!
5.3.! Segments:%basic%population%segments%in%which%to%start%reproducing%churches%.%225!
5.3.1.! Survey!results!and!case!studies!......................................................................!226!
5.3.2.! Scriptural!principles!to!which!this!adheres!.....................................................!226!
5.3.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!228!
5.4.! G4%–%four%generations%(and%beyond)%of%new%believers%and%churches%.................%231!
5.4.1.! Survey!results!..................................................................................................!231!
5.4.2.! Scriptural!principles!to!which!this!adheres!.....................................................!232!
5.4.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!232!
5.5.! Abiding%in%Christ%and$Prayer%.............................................................................%233!
5.5.1.! Survey!results!..................................................................................................!234!
iv
5.5.2.! Scriptural!principles!to!which!this!adheres!.....................................................!235!
5.5.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!235!
5.6.! Finding%GodSprepared%people%–%bridges%to%the%saved%........................................%236!
5.6.1.! Survey!results!..................................................................................................!237!
5.6.2.! Scriptural!principles!to!which!this!adheres!.....................................................!238!
5.6.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!243!
5.7.! Finding%GodSprepared%people%–%bridges%to%the%lost%...........................................%246!
5.7.1.! Survey!results!..................................................................................................!247!
5.7.2.! Scriptural!principles!to!which!this!adheres!.....................................................!248!
5.7.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!249!
5.8.! Field%two:%reproducing%evangelism%...................................................................%251!
5.8.1.! A!broad,!biblical!evangelism!strategy:!Scriptural!principles!...........................!251!
5.8.2.! Survey!responses!and!case!studies!.................................................................!260!
5.8.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!261!
5.9.! Field%three:%reproducing%discipleship%................................................................%262!
5.9.1.! Survey!results!..................................................................................................!262!
5.9.2.! Scriptural!principles!to!which!this!adheres!.....................................................!265!
5.9.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!267!
5.10.! Field%four:%reproducing%churches%......................................................................%270!
5.10.1.! Survey!responses!............................................................................................!270!
5.10.2.! Scriptural!principles!to!which!this!adheres!.....................................................!273!
5.10.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!274!
5.11.! Center%platform:%multiplying%leaders%................................................................%276!
5.11.1.! Survey!results!..................................................................................................!276!
5.11.2.! Scriptural!principles!to!which!this!adheres!.....................................................!278!
5.11.3.! Conclusion!......................................................................................................!288!
5.12.! Summary%..........................................................................................................%290!
6.% Recommendations%for%longSterm%sustainability%of%CPMs%that%utilize%%
% the%T4T%process%...........................................................................................%292%
6.1.! T4T%as%a%process%to%get%to%church%planting%movements%.....................................%294!
6.1.1.! Four!field!implementation!..............................................................................!295!
6.1.2.! ThreeRthirds!process!implementation!............................................................!297!
6.2.! T4T%as%a%process%to%achieve%sustainability%of%CPMs%...........................................%298!
6.2.1.! Defining!sustainability:!sustained!momentum!versus!permanence!/!!
v