All In for All Peoples

All In for All Peoples

Jun 20, 2023 | Longer Reads

by R. Nyman

A few years ago, the VP of Global Strategies for BEYOND turned to me and stated, “We are observing a challenge to see women, as well as men, come to initial trainings in CPM (Church Planting Movements) globally. If we are serious about the fulfillment of the Great Commission, then we need to figure out a way to make sure both men and women are equipped/coached in making reproducing disciples for the launch of CPMs among all UPGs (Unreached People Groups).”

My husband and I also had observed many cases among other organizations where the commitment to equip/coach women, as well as men, for the making of reproducing disciple-makers in a CPM process was not emphasized.

When it comes to whether the global body of Christ truly yearns to be the “final lap”¹ generation of the fulfillment of the Great Commission, for Jesus’ fame and renown, there is what I like to call the No Child of God left behind policy of Jesus. All disciples of Jesus in for all peoples. Not some for all peoples, not all for some peoples, but ALL disciples for ALL peoples. (See Hab. 2:14; Rev. 5:9–14; Matt. 28:16–20; Rev. 7:9–12; Matt. 24:14; 2 Peter 3:9).

No Caveats in the Kingdom of God
In a recent conversation with an ex-pat CPM Outside Catalyst² who visited a movement in the Middle East, she relayed the following. When she listened to their all-male leadership share amazing stories, she asked them what they do to help equip and coach their women in the multiple house churches to reproduce as disciple-makers. The movement leader was puzzled and answered, “We have no plan. The women have to take care of the men and the children. How could they be involved?”

Another movement leader, when asked what their plan was for the equipping of both men and women to implement making reproducing disciples, looked a bit puzzled and then responded, “The women in our movements must take care of the children, as well as work in order to bring in support of the male CPM catalysts.”

Another movement leader was facilitating a CPM training for the week. He assumed that the women who were gathered in the room next to him were there in order to pray for his training. In reality, the women were meeting to be trained in CPM. This common assumption that women’s sole role in movements is to support the men as they lead movements overlooks the rich resource women are and can be in seeing the Great Commission fulfilled.

I assert that we can raise the bar to see both men and women become more effective as a global mission effort to establish a movement mindset norm of ALL in for ALL peoples.

Vision Anemia
At least 50% of most UPGs are female, and in many cultures, it is not appropriate for men to interact with women. Often, especially among Muslim UPGs, women see themselves as the gatekeepers³ for their households. In other words, why wouldn’t we trust the Holy Spirit to leverage women as CPM catalysts in these UPGs? Who, if not women laborers, will seek out  Women of Peace to open their oikos to the Gospel? And as new CPMs emerge, who will help to equip the multiple generations of local women leaders?

The intent of this article is to encourage those who have yet to make sure both men and women are equipped as disciples who understand how to make reproducing disciple-makers. But it’s important to pause and reflect on the various seasons of life in which women may find themselves that may impact how they engage in disciple-making.

Whether they are single, married without children, married with children, single again, young or old,  they all have been called by Jesus’ command to make disciples who make disciples of the ethne. This great work was given to all people (male and female) in every generation. While the call is the same, the implementation may vary significantly depending on their season of life. However, what is true in any season is that women are hugely gifted in relational acumen. That gift provides avenues into communities that might otherwise have been inaccessible.

A Bit of History
The Jan/Feb 2016 issue of Mission Frontiers⁴ was a huge piece in laying a foundation toward the normalization of women, as well as men, as Jesus’ disciples who make reproducing disciples in CPM efforts. When I had the opportunity to put that issue of Mission Frontiers together, it was mostly outside catalysts who were sharing CPM implementation stories and experiences.

Now, six years past that groundbreaking MF issue, we are seeing the multiplication of near-neighbor and focus UPG women who are sharing their stories, giving their insights as they implement to see the launch of CPMs. Finally, we are seeing ALL for ALL, not outsiders only for ALL peoples, not men only for ALL peoples. Not near-neighbor/indigenous UPG laborers only for ALL peoples, but ALL ethne to ALL ethne. Both men and women for the baseline making of reproducing disciples who love, hear, and obey Jesus.

What must be done to see women flourish as CPM practitioners
Potential actionable steps for more intentional equipping/coaching of women for CPM-focused efforts could include the following:

  1. Listen to and learn from the movement leaders and their stories. Discuss with listening ears how they train/coach women in their movements. The purpose is to be diagnostic in gaps in the CPMs to this end.
  2. Discern gaps in present movements in order to serve their gaps of seeing ALL (male and female) of their potential laborers equipped and coached more intentionally.
  3. Create avenues for women within CPMs to tell the story of how they partner with men in training/coaching others to reproduce disciple-makers.
  4. A weekly CPM coaching circle of men and women can be a most effective way to equip others. Use 7 DMM High-Value Activities⁵ to be woven into the coaching times. These CPM coaching times are suggested to be an ongoing coaching piece. The coaching circle can be most effective with four to six CPM implementers when held for 90 minutes divided into 1/3 member health, 1/3 CPM vision strengthening, 1/3 CPM actionable steps through listening prayer in mutual accountability.

All of us (men and women) are to delight in and declare God’s glory, developing intimacy with God. Out of the overflow of this intimacy, we are to “be” and “do” in Christ and seek to reproduce Jesus in others. For all who follow Jesus, making reproducing disciples is a privilege as well as a command.

I urge the Body of Christ to consider how to best support, inspire, and equip women to thrive and bear multiplying fruit to the glory of God. As co-laborers with God in His mission to reconcile the world to Himself, women have a place and a role to play, and it is right beside their brothers in the faith who are committed to the same call.

This article was first published in Mission Frontiers: Women in Mission, Mar/April  2023 , pages 41-43. It was used here with permission.

About the Author: R. Nyman and her husband have served with BEYOND (http://www.beyond.org) in SEAsia among Muslim UPGs since 1991 and train/coach and personally implement Disciple Making Movements. R. serves as Austronesian Affinity Bloc Strategy Leader for BEYOND.

Remember Susi, the Seeker?

Remember Susi, the Seeker?

Jun 14, 2023 | Stories

Since the beginning of the year, Jane* and her local partner have been studying the Bible with Susi*, a spiritually hungry Muslim woman. When we last updated you, Susi knew she was a sinner and was seeking the truth about Isa al Masih (Jesus the Messiah).

One night after they had studied the death and resurrection of Jesus, Susi said, “I’m starting to believe that Isa is God and He is the only way.” Jane was delighted! What an answer to prayer! 

Since Susi’s husband and extended family do not believe, she remained cautious about fully committing herself to follow Jesus. Knowing there will be challenges, Jane advised Susi to consider the cost of following Jesus while continuing to pray that God would reveal himself to her husband in a powerful way. 

At the end of that meeting, Susi asked if there were any printed BIbles in her language. (They had been studying together using a phone app.) Jane happily gave her a Bible, and Susi began studying the book of Matthew on her own!

In April, Susi prayed a heartfelt prayer to Jesus, confessing her sin, committing her life to follow God, and thanking him for his “amazing” sacrifice on the cross. She feels the peace of eternal salvation, and her life is filled with the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. 

The next week, Jane and Susi studied baptism. After a week of thinking and praying, Susi said, “What we’ve learned about baptism is God’s Word, and I desire to follow wholeheartedly.”  

Pray for Susi as she has ongoing conversations with her husband about her new faith in Jesus. She wants to share her testimony with him and see him become Isa’s follower too. Pray that her husband will give his blessing and be present at her baptism.  

*pseudonym

SUSI IS STILL SEARCHING
She wanted something to hold on to wholeheartedly. She even told her mom that she was searching outside Islam for truth. read more …

JOURNEY TO DISCIPLESHIP
Susi was interested in each of the Old Testament stories and asked, “Are these stories talking about the blood of Jesus?” read more …

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR
WORK IN THIS AREA

Revitalized Vision for Reaching the Lost

Revitalized Vision for Reaching the Lost

May 31, 2023 | South Asia, Stories

Recently Greg* and one of his local partners started meeting with a group of tribal believers to cast vision for multiplying disciples, and encourage them to obey Jesus’ commission in Matthew 28. Many of these precious brothers and sisters are farmers and laborers, some of whom trek over six miles through the forest and over steep hills to meet in a church building made of mud and thatch. 

Starting with Old Testament Scripture, Greg and his partner showed how Father God’s heart has longed for all peoples and nations from the beginning. They shared how Jesus lived his life as a pattern for us to follow, then gave his disciples the responsibility of the Great Commission. By the third visit, they sensed the people were accepting their responsibility to obey Jesus. Greg asked what experiences they’d recently had in trying to share the Good News with unbelievers. 

One young man stood up and said, “Brother, I am only a simple mason. I don’t know much. But after you shared about the simple ways we can engage those around us in conversation, I had an opportunity. On the job that day, rather than taking along friends I already knew, I purposely asked my boss to choose people to work with me. The two men I ended up with were brothers. They come from a nearby town that has few or no believers. When they saw my behavior and that I was not chewing “gutka” (the local tobacco-like substance), they asked me why. This started a conversation about how my life has changed. These brothers were impressed with my testimony and invited me to visit them at their home. This town is new for us, and my wife and I are praying for a chance to go meet with these men and their families to share the Good News.” 

After that brother sat down, Greg pointed out that since they live among so many unreached people, their places of work and the activities of their daily lives can provide many opportunities to share the Good News. Everyone accepted the challenge of finding new people and places to share the Good News before meeting again. When the local pastor stood to pray, he told Jesus they wanted to share with many people and asked Jesus to show them all how and where to find persons of peace. 

Pray for this group of energized followers to be directed by the Spirit and to have rich and fruitful conversations with many in their communities. Ask that these conversations would lead to Bible studies and new generations of multiplying disciples.

*pseudonym

WHAT CAN I DO vs WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
… we’ve had the privilege to walk beside others who have seen great fruit in ministry, and as we’ve constantly been willing  read more …

GOING OUT AMONG THE LOST
The women started a conversation, sharing upfront that they were followers of Isa (Jesus). They found the couple to be friendly and polite. In the course of talking read more …

DO YOU GO BEYOND THE FOUR WALLS?

The idea of reaching lost people more effectively by going outside the four walls of the church is daunting. Choosing to go to the lost …read more …

When Tradition Clashes: A Story of Humility and Discovery

When Tradition Clashes: A Story of Humility and Discovery

May 24, 2023 | South Asia

When a Christian woman visited another state in India last year, she met some believers from the North India movement. She was attracted to the simple way they love and obey Jesus and wondered if they could help her and her husband with their ministry in Goa. She called Sanjay* to ask if he would train some of their church people in this “new” approach to discipling. He readily agreed.

Here’s a translation of Sanjay’s trip report:

I went to a lady’s house. They didn’t know me. I didn’t know them. They thought I was coming to show off like other ministry leaders. They asked where I was going to sleep that night. I can sleep in your house; the floor is fine. They didn’t expect that. [I could see that the woman ] distrusted me [because I didn’t act the way a typical minister would]. I lived simply. I didn’t need the fancy chair, special introduction, or fancy treatment. I came to work, not for a holiday or to be honored.

We had the meeting. Many people came, especially ladies. I shared about [the importance of having spiritual] generations, making disciples, DBS [discovery Bible study], and working with the poor, even without money. They loved it. 

But the woman looked very disturbed. I can tell you are angry, I said. What is the problem? She said she felt judged by all I had shared. I had stressed things they hadn’t done. I am not judging you, I replied. I am just looking at what Jesus commanded us to do. Nothing else.  

After our conversation, she decided this was good teaching. But her husband didn’t like any of it. He wanted me to be like other Christian leaders. He thought I must be trying to trick or cheat them because [my presentation] wasn’t nice or fancy, and I didn’t want special treatment.

The husband and wife talked after lunch. I learned later that the man was so angry with his wife for changing her mind about me and this work that he slapped her face.

After lunch, we met with a different group. Again, I spoke about generational growth, disciple-making, and DBS. The husband was resistant to the end. He said, Tell us how much you will pay us, and then we will do this work. I told him, If you work for the Lord, the Lord will pay you. I will not.

The Lord gave me an idea. I asked, Would any of you like to know more about this work? A few said Yes. When it was time to leave, I gave the man and his wife a small gift of money as thanks for my stay. I welcomed them to contact me if they want to pursue this work. I also told them that a few people wanted to know more. Since no one is getting paid, the man agreed that I could work directly with the interested ones [bypassing him]. 

I thank the Lord. Through this man who’s not good-hearted, the Lord connected me with eight sincere people. This month, I will do some online training with them, and I will return and continue to train those applying what they learn.

Talk about obeying Jesus’ new command! Sanjay didn’t shy away from the woman when he saw her upset. He pressed in. In doing so, he obeyed Christ’s command to love as He loves. Please join us in praying for this husband and wife in Goa. Pray, too, for these eight people eager to apply what they heard. May they bear abundant, lasting fruit.

*pseudonym

8 MONTHS, 5 GENERATIONS 64 BAPTIZED
“When we see generational growth, we know the work is going well….If we don’t have generational growth after 5 or 6 trainings, something is read more …

THE QUIET GUY DISAPPEARED
Sanjay and John, national partners of BEYOND’s South Asian field leaders, conducted a series of disciple-making trainings in Northern India. One of the participants read more …

BALKING AT BAPTISM
In North India, the Banjara are a poor and marginalized people. They live in tents next to open sewage at the side of the road. They eat leftovers that people throw to dogs.  read more …

What Must Be Done?

What Must Be Done?

May 24, 2023 | Longer Reads

by Stan Parks

In some movements, the obedience question is “Since this Bible passage is true, how will you apply this in your life this week?” As you have read about movements starting movements, you might ask, “In light of this, what shall I do now?” An even better question is not, “What can I do?” but “What must be done?”

We don’t expect these movements to reach the world by themselves. God invites his global body to be part of finishing the Great Commission. We each have a part to play.

A seminary professor was urging prospective American church leaders to redistribute God’s resources to the rest of the world instead of lavishing it on ourselves. He said, “I say it respectfully, but I say it forcefully. God is not that stupid a general.” The disciples in movements are our most effective and strategic frontline Gospel messengers. We need to realign our Great Commission efforts to fully support them.

They are not asking or waiting for logistical and financial support to reach other people groups. They are already reaching out because they are empowered by the Holy Spirit and driven by their love for the lost and their desire to glorify God. But they recognize help from outside can enable them to reach more groups more quickly.

We need to avoid a misplaced nationalism that says, “Citizens of each nation must reach all their unreached peoples and places with no outside help, lest we promote dependency.” The  movements  are not asking for help  for  their  internal  costs  (to develop and sustain their movements). They fund those things locally. Yet as they plan and work to reach groups outside themselves, we can come alongside them and help with reaching each and every unreached group.

Six principles for helping movements should inform us all, regardless of our role.

  1. Prayer is first. The importance of prayer cannot be overstated. Informed, strategic prayer must be the foundation of every effort to reach the unreached. We are in a spiritual battle for the eternal souls of men, women, and  children.  We can’t afford to fight with earthly weapons. Every disciple of Jesus can play an important part in this, no matter their location or situation.
  2. Aim for holistic Church Planting Movements (CPM), not for various ministries as an end in themselves. CPMs are not one type of ministry alongside other types of ministries. Community development, medical work, arts, media, and Bible translation — all can both help begin CPMs and blossom as fruit of CPMs. As Jesus establishes his church, all the various types of transformative ministries will arise from within the church in that culture and community.
  3. The entire body of Christ is needed. 1 Corinthians 12 shows the need for honoring and collaborating with the whole body of Christ.
  4. True partnership among local disciples and outsiders. National and international outsiders need to defer to the necessary leadership of local disciples. At the same time, local leaders need to humbly encourage true partnerships.
  5. Funding should empower. All too often money  is given in a disempowering and dishonoring manner. Funding should be based on outcomes rather than activities, particularly when these movements have a long record of fruitfulness. One exciting model is foundations prioritizing assistance for movements and setting up task forces of movement catalysts and leaders to help evaluate the proposals.
  6. Cooperation not control. Many  movements have arisen from cooperation among national and international denominations, churches, seminaries, and agencies. This requires honoring one another despite different approaches, while honestly evaluating the impact of various efforts.

As you consider ways to help movements cascade, keep these things in mind.

1) Movements are not waiting for you to volunteer. You will need to patiently and graciously offer your help without demanding anything from movement leaders. You can imagine the load they carry, with movements doubling every 3.5 years, while trying to reach out to new peoples and places. And most live and serve in the midst of brutal governmental and religious opposition and persecution.

2) You may not be able to connect directly with movement leaders, due to security, their lack of time, or other considerations. But there are other ways to serve.

3) Movement leaders are looking for people to first and foremost be their brothers and sisters. As relationships and trust are built, possibilities for you to help may emerge.

4) You need to do all you can to learn about movements and become a movement practitioner right where you are. Your potential for being helpful is greater if you yourself are living a disciple-making lifestyle.

You may be called to be a Movement Servant. (See “Movement Servants Needed!” in MF May-June 2021, 37-41 and “Movement Servants — Helping Movements Multiply” in MF Nov-Dec 2022 for some specific ways you might help.) This involves patiently preparing yourself, and at the right times doing your best to do anything and everything asked of you by the movement(s) you serve.

However, you do not have to be a full-time movement servant to help. You could help in a wide variety of ways, including prayer, research, crisis response, medicine,  community   development, business for access to new areas, media 4 movements, funding, technology, Bible and media distribution, administrative help, supervising interns, etc. ‘For up-to-date information about these items and other possibilities, email us at cascade@2414now.net

Individuals, teams, churches, organizations, and agencies — what could you do to involve (or better involve) your entire group in these efforts? What could you give up? What could you change? Are you willing to make radical changes?

We thank God for what he is doing through movements in our day. Especially for the spontaneous multiplication of movements planting other movements among the unreached. Are you willing to lay aside whatever you need to, in order to be a part of doing whatever it takes to see movements in every unreached people and place in this generation?

About the Author: Stan is a Church Planting Movements trainer and a coach for leaders of Church Planting Movements around the world. He has been serving Unreached People Groups since 1994 while based in Indonesia, Singapore and Dubai. He is Co-Facilitator of the 24:14 Coalition which is focused on Kingdom Movement engagements in every Unreached People and place by 2025.

This article was first published in Mission Frontiers: Cascading Gospel: Movements Starting Movements, Jan/Feb 2023, pages 38-39. It was used here with permission.

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