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Every church would take large steps forward if they only saw themselves responsible to train their own leaders. To follow through with this process it would be helpful to sketch a goal that will be later refined. An example of such a goal would be for the church to produce one trained pastor/elder or missionary/evangelist within a three year period.
There will be many steps. The first ones are most important and are outlined below.
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The STEPS
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Survey
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Understand what needs to be done.
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Transform
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Bring people to where they are ready to make disciples.
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Entreat
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Seek God's protection, provision and guidance.
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Prepare
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Equip the leaders, encourage the people, and ready the materials.
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Start
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Begin one stage at a time, deliberate and purposed.
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 • Survey
Each church must evaluate the kind of leaders that they desire. What kind of training, both formal and informal, is now in operation? Who does the training? How much does it cost? What is each of the kinds of training being given? Be specific. Where do they lack training? What is the training for?
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• Transform
The leaders of the church along with the church must accept this vision, repent from any lack of developing disciples, and ready themselves to be disciples and become disciple makers.
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• Entreat
Jesus told us to pray men into the harvest field. We must recognize that formidable opposition stands against every church that gets serious on producing well-trained disciples. Progress in leadership development requires advance in our prayers.
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• Prepare
Resources will be slim at first. After prioritizing stage #1, prepare the trainers, trainees, church policies, to establish stage #1 and whatever other stages of discipleship that can be implemented. Allow the budget and time (even Sunday School, etc.) to orient itself to these programs.
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• Start
Begin stage #1 according to plans, but be flexible. Start by training those who can later train stage #1 disciples. Training includes this successive process:
• You train them
• You have them work with you as you train another.
• Observe them intermittenly as they train another.
Each stage requires careful preparation. As one stage gets established, begin the whole process again by going again through the steps.
As one moves into specialized and advanced training, one might pool resources with others or use special conferences to help equip leaders. Even seminaries offer special courses now by video. Remember these opportunities are investments of the highest kind.
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