Sometimes a comment from one of the Ewellogy readers is worth a blog in itself, especially since some folks may not see the comments. Such is the case with my friend and long-time Navigator-trained disciple-maker David Shropshire’s comment on yesterday’s blog How to Stop a Movement. He adds two more movement stoppers:

Wow Bob!! You gave us something to think about. One thing that really impressed me about the Nav guy who discipled me many years ago was that his goal for me was to become a co-laborer rather than to remain ‘under’ him. Or as John the Baptist put it when his disciples were leaving him, “Jesus must increase and I must decrease.”

I agree ‘the way we do church’ (an institutional rather than organic mind-set) can hinder a generational movement, but the biggest problem may be leaders who don’t want to decrease. The temptation is very great to accumulate a following of people to remain under us, rather then to see them as co-laborers and encourage them to stir up their spiritual gifts. Another problem I see: there are a lot of potential kingdom laborers who have the false impression they need a human’s permission to labor in the harvest, when the Lord of the harvest has already given permission. – David Shropshire, June 24, 2022

Thanks, David. Good stuff. Leaders who don’t want to decrease and potential laborers waiting for permission: two more movement stoppers!

The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. (Matthew 10.1, MSG – Jesus sent out the twelve before they were ready!)