A MISSIONARY APPROACH
One thing that sets Converge Group apart from others is a deep focus on equipping those we partner with. We call it a Missionary Approach. This placed along side of building actual relationships with those we disciple make a great learning atmosphere.
At our discipling and coaching center we take time to grow the people who join us. We share key principles to develop a discipling culture, provide some coaching, and watch how the Holy Spirit and church activators innovate to share the Gospel. It takes a little bit of time, 18-24 months, but the results are effective and people are equipped.
It’s through the missionary approach we work to create a new sub-community of people living within the community at large. Our first wobbly steps are spent learning about the village we live in and the people who live there. We take time in a church startup to discover the Person (or People) of Peace who invite us into their lives.
Energy is spent building genuine friendships with those who “lean in” to us or the gospel we share. We believe the people most adept at showing us the best way to share the Good News are the indigenous of the tribe we hope to reach. They teach us the culture, customs, and language of the village, and we share with them our lives and the gospel.
This is what new church startups are about for us.
For example … Something we discovered from our people of peace in Columbus is the problem with trust. This tribe are not the most trusting souls in the world and for good reason. We are talking about a people who struggle with trusting others because they live in a world where valuable ideas and concepts are always at risk of being lost, stolen, or co-opted. How do you prove an idea or concept is, in fact, yours? What evidence is there that it originated with you and the research you have done before someone else steps in to take the credit? You don’t; instead you create an ever tightening circle around you to protect what is yours. Such distrust creates a major hurdle when sharing the Gospel for it is built on trusting Christ, and it simply can’t be ignored.
The result is we have to earn the opportunity to share the Gospel with them. It takes time. It requires a lot of testing. They watch you carefully, and when you do share with them it better sound and look like good news to them. Why? Because you may never get another chance.
It’s listening closely and observing carefully as the people of your village teach you how to share the Good News with them. Yes, you read the last thought correctly. The indigenous people of our village that we strive to reach often become our teachers helping us learn how to better frame the timeless story of Christ’s love in a way that makes sense in their world.
In a missionary approach we are students of the people as we do the research and development it takes to discover the best ways to share the gospel with different types of people. Once discovered, not only does the missionary benefit, but anyone else who reaches into this same demographic through local churches across our nation.
This is what new church startups are about for us.