15 observations in disciple making movements in urban locations - 1
From research by Two Four Eight
The world is rapidly becoming urban. Globally, over 3 million people move to cities every week. Today, 4.4 billion people (56% of the global population) live in cities. By 2050, 70% of the world will live in cities. The vacuum of faith created by secularism is rapidly being filled with worldviews and religions antagonistic to Christianity. People in cities are increasingly unreached because our message does not speak their language.
Birthed out of experience in 8 countries in Southern Africa, Two Four Eight now exist to multiply Disciple Making Movements (DMMs) in the cities of the world. For five years (2010-2015), they entered a time of urban research. They organized learning groups with leaders in the USA, UK, Europe, Africa and Asia and from then have gained experience of birthing DMMs in cities globally. From research in 2021, they have published lessons learned and various questions for leaders to consider. Here is a summary of these insights (Part 1):
1. Foster Obedient Lifestyles through Discovery Learning
Urban disciple-makers should seek to model, teach, and replicate lifestyles of loving obedience to God through discovery-based, adaptive learning methods. Discovery-based learning is a term that describes various formats that create learning environments where open-ended questions are asked, following the reading of Scriptures themselves. All who attend are encouraged to reiterate the passage in their own words and answer the questions, thereby learning how to engage with Scripture themselves rather than needing priests, experts, or some other intermediary.
Most interviewees alluded to the importance of facilitation as an effective format for disciple-making. Facilitation is seen as a reproducible introduction to, and model of servant leadership. "The discovery process builds and empowers growth and develops leadership skills."
2. Emphasize Affinity Group Engagement in Cities
Urban disciple-makers should seek to identify and strategically engage with cities at the affinity group level. The concept of affinity appears to be more relevant and precise in describing the way that urban populations interact. All of those we interviewed have spoken about the significance of working through existing relationships and natural social networks. 'Affinity' is widely used to describe these groups in the modern city, where people seek community and cohesion for alternative reasons than those in more suburban or rural settings.
Our interviewees mention several points of cohesion in cities. Some examples are common needs e.g. the homeless, common interests e.g. sport, and common causes. One interviewee noted that his disciples, all young adults, were particularly active in common causes.
3. Begin with the Broken, Marginalized and Poor
Urban disciple-makers should seek to identify and strategically engage with the broken, poor and marginalized in their city. We have observed that the most significant disciple-making momentum in urban spaces appears to be among the broken and marginalized. Those we interviewed specifically emphasized the poor, foreigners, refugees, non-traditionally churched and the unemployed, or under-employed. Many other groups were mentioned, but with less frequency.
Most of these we interviewed expressed a clear focus on the "broken" or "poor" affinities within the urban environment rather than a more general focus on "the lost." Many of those we interviewed also shared that they are seeing greater fruitfulness and efficacy among the poor and marginalized when compared to other populations. We identify “marginalized” as those who are ignored or treated as insignificant and peripheral in society.
4. Invest in High-Commitment, Disciple-Making Relationships
Urban disciple-makers should seek to invest heavily, intentionally, and long-term into those that they disciple. Many expressed deep feelings of love, loyalty, and commitment for those that they disciple. Some went further, stating that their disciples are 'family' and that they would "give up everything else before giving up on these relationships."
Most expressed that these disciple relationships are very ‘challenging’, with many ‘hurdles’ and ‘failures’. These relationships require many years of building trust through social capital and ‘life-on-life’ experience. Most expressed that disciple-making is not quick, and that multiplication of disciple-making will only appear or look quick after a few generations, because of multiplication and exponential growth.
5. Invest, One-on-One, in Disciple-Making Relationships that Multiply
Urban disciple-makers should establish and maintain clear one- on-one disciple-making relationships that are encouraged to reproduce and multiply. These disciple-making relationships appear non- territorial or exclusive: they encourage others to interact. Often a disciple in a growing movement is being discipled by more than one person in different ways (i.e., in marriage, family life, vocation, etc.). Distinctively, both the disciple-maker and the disciple can point to these significant and influential relationships.
Most urban practitioners make themselves readily available and accessible to their disciples. They exchange messages regularly, interact in various ways, and plan consistent and regular meeting times. Most often, the disciple-maker is also discipling others, and not just 1 person, and the disciple is encouraged to engage with and disciple several others.
6. Develop Servant-Hearted Leaders who Replicate
Urban disciple-makers should prioritize developing leaders like Jesus. These leaders, they say, are 'ordinary people who hear and God and release, empower and trust others to do the same.' They truly love those they are working with and, when necessary, actively lay down their own agendas and lives for those they work with.
Leaders model and multiply disciple-making like Jesus - the kind that seeks to serve rather than to be served, and the kind that empowers and releases authority. Many spoke about proper teaching around Jesus-style leadership (inputting), through direct modelling (demonstration) and a high standard of accountability. Most seem to release power and responsibility quickly and give their disciples 'challenging assignments and appointments.' They do this gracefully and with an abundance of upfront trust and respect. If the disciple fails, then the leader 'cleans up the mess,' alongside his disciple.
7. Prioritize Insider Leaders
Urban disciple-makers should seek to prioritize (emphasize, engage, focus on and support) local and/or indigenous leaders. In many cases, the main ministry leaders are actively working to increase the authority and power of the local leader and actively diminish their own.
Most of our interviewees spoke about the importance of identifying and working primarily with leaders that 'belong,' are part of the 'tribe,' or 'affinity.' Many of the leaders that we interviewed recognize their own affinity’s propensity for cultural biases, blind spots, and/or their inability to completely contextualize the Gospel into another peripheral place of belonging.
The role of the external leader therefore, as an incarnational kingdom translator, becomes even more significant as they help newer, internal believers to hear and obey God for themselves.
Part 2 of this article is here.
Download the research report here.
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From research by Two Four Eight, 19/03/2024