[This post is part of the Start Something New series. Read the other posts here!]
You have everything it takes to start a missional movement. Yes, you. I’m not referring to someone else. You!
My friend, Troy McMahon, is leading a network of reproducing churches while serving as the Lead Pastor of a large multi-site church in Kansas City. But it all started 15 years ago while Troy was still working for General Mills and he was my apprentice in leading a small group.
My friend, Doug Leddon, is the Executive Pastor of our largest campus with over 3,000 attendees. But four years ago Doug was working in the financial industry of Chicago and was my small group apprentice leader. I could give you a list of people who are impacting tens, hundreds and thousands of people in a variety of contexts and ministries who all got their start as an apprentice.
I have learned that if you implement the Biblical practice of apprenticeship, you have everything it takes to start and spread a missional movement. The practice of apprenticeship is a core competency of every movement. And becoming an apprentice of Jesus and developing other apprentices of Jesus is something you and I can do!
The very first action that Jesus took when catalyzing His movement was to recruit twelve apprentices.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
He was calling them into an apprenticeship and giving them instructions to do the same with others.
Over two thousand years later, the Jesus movement has reached billions and billions and continues to move forward into eternity. It is through apprenticeships that people are empowered to reach their leadership capacity and influence as many people as possible for the mission.
One of the reasons apprenticeship works is because it’s simple and reproducible. And because it is so simple, you will be tempted to read how to do this and think, “Oh, I know that,” and then never do it. Please don’t do that. Absorb the following five steps for developing an apprentice and put this Biblical practice to use. You can start by bringing to mind someone you are currently developing or would like to develop. Now, imagine yourself walking that person through the following steps of apprenticeship:
Step 1 – I Do. You Watch. We Talk.
If a person is leading a missional team, for example, the apprentice would primarily observe the experienced leader as he or she leads the team. Some time within a few days of the team serving, the two meet together to discuss what was observed. This debriefing time should include three simple questions: 1) “What worked?” 2) “What didn’t work?” and 3) “How can we improve?” This time of debriefing is crucial for a successful apprenticeship and needs to continue throughout the process.
Step 2 – I Do. You Help. We Talk.
In this phase of development, the leader gives the apprentice an opportunity to “help” lead in a particular area. For example, if someone was being developed to become a student ministry small group leader, the leader may ask that person to lead the prayer time, while the experienced leader leads the rest of the group. Again, the two meet together one-on-one to talk about the experience.
Step 3 – You Do. I Help. We Talk.
Now the apprentice transitions from supporting or helping to being the primary leader of the team or group. If a person was being apprenticed to lead a team of sound technicians, he or she would operate sound and provide leadership for other sound technicians. The more experienced leader releases leadership and now helps the new, developing leader. As had been the case in the previous steps, the leader and apprentice leader will meet to debrief the ministry experience.
Step 4 – You Do. I Observe. We Talk
The apprentice process is almost over now as the new leader is increasingly more confident in his or her role. Consider this process in children’s ministry: a children’s group leader would give his or her apprentice an opportunity to fulfill all the functions of leadership with the more experienced leader observing the new leader in action.
Step 5 – You Do. Someone Else Observes.
This is where the process of reproducing comes full circle and the former apprentice is now leading and developing a new apprentice. Ideally, the leader who has developed and released several apprentices will continue to work with those leaders in a coaching capacity.
This is from the award-winning book that Jon Ferguson and I wrote titled, Exponential: How You And Your Friends Can Start A Missional Church Movement. It is full of simple and reproducible principles to help you accomplish the mission of Jesus. If there is one section of our book I want you to photocopy and send to somebody else, it would be these simple, five steps. If you memorize anything from our book, memorize these five steps. If you’re tempted to steal anything from this book and claim it as your own, claim these five steps. These five steps have the power to help you and your friends start and spread a movement!
[This post is part of the Start Something New series. Read the other posts here!]
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Yes. Apprenticeship is the key, and not just in leading ministry. It is the mechanism by which we impart the gospel to our children:
http://apprenticeshipofbeinghuman.com
The five steps you’ve identified are just as powerful in leading a household well as in leading the household of God.
Graham, you are absolutely right! I’ve often thought that the most important leadership development that I do is at home with my three kids. Good point!