Article Review The Slippery Slide of Starting Movements C. Anderson (Mission Frontiers, March/April 2020)

 As a church planting coach Anderson observes that, behind almost every successful disciple-making movement, there are numerous failed attempts. She reflects that failures are the vehicles of success, yet they are often not the stories that are told. In this article Anderson tries to reframe failure. She encourages those facing failed attempts to begin disciple-making movements to move from frustration and disappointment, to a faith-filled, childlike response of joy in the challenge.

Anderson notes that disciple-making movements are fragile in their early stages, that failure should be expected, and (drawing from Luke 14:28-30) that those engaged in starting movements should anticipate the costs involved with such failures.

Anderson then outlines ten common failures, encouraging learning, adaptation, change and laughter in response:

1. Failure to simplify

It take hard work to make things simple, such that they can be taught in under two hours to a 10 year old. Anderson argues however, that such simple structures and systems are needed to see multiplication, and require relinquishing some ‘ideals and desires’.

- How simple can we make training?

2. Failure to contextualise

The methods that see DMM’s grow in other contexts are likely to fail if transplanted, Anderson contends. Principles may be adapted, but experimentation and observation should be the grounding of methodology, and Anderson notes that learning from successful evangelistic methodologies in a context is a good starting point.

- What successful evangelistic work in our context can we apply DMM principles to?

3. Failure to lay strong foundations

Anderson observes that movements grow rapidly once they are established. However, she notes that the work of establishing them on good foundations can take significant time and effort, particularly if working cross-culturally, or in context of legacy church. Here she encourages the work of prayer and intercession, and seeking people of peace.

- Are we prioritising engaging our context prayerfully and relationally over programme and results?

4. Failure to humbly evaluate

Anderson stresses how pride and busyness can cause failure. She notes a tendency to overstate successes for the sake of support, and to fail to track and assess activity thoroughly.

- Is there a way to systematically and periodically trace progress, such that success and failure can be recorded accurately and learned from?

5. Failure to localise financial ownership

Anderson warns against outside funding in seeing movements grow. Whilst recognising that finances are needed, she notes that outside funding ‘destroys local ownership, initiative and sustainability’.

- What are the expectations, (and perceived expectations), of the legacy church and an international DMM organisation that is currently supporting the work, and what impact may these have on the growth of any DMM?

6. Failure to persevere

The ability to continue though failure with little progress, without losing zeal is a characteristic Anderson argues is required for the establishment of a DMM. Here she uncharacteristically gives a personalised encouragement, referencing Galatians 6:9: ‘God will bring it about as you refuse to give up.’

- How can we continue to be driven by conviction rather than fruit?

7. Failure to multiple and train leaders

Anderson notes that developing leaders through coaching in context, is vital to see movements that grow.

- What leaders are emerging and how are we prioritising their development?

8. Failure to diversify giftings

Movements often have a charismatic leader, which Anderson observes can be positive for getting a movement started. However, she contends that for movements to be sustainable, other leaders need to be empowered, and leaders need to be able to move and serve in the background.

- What hopes and expectations do our leaders carry? What checks do we have in place to ensure others are empowered?

9. Failure to embrace suffering

Anderson also remarks on the call to suffering, which can be physical threat or sickness, financial hardship or spiritual attack. For a Western context, she particularly notes the opposition that can come from legacy church, and the suffering that can come from being misunderstood and loss of reputation.

- How are we preparing ourselves for suffering?

10. Failure to quickly learn from our mistakes

Fifty percent of attempts to begin movements fail within the first five years, Anderson estimates. She therefore encourages an expectation of failure, and reframes it as an opportunity to learn.

- What would change if we stepped out courageously with no fear of failure, and what practices can we put in place to help us learn from mistakes?