Movement Principles TWELVE PRINCIPLES FOR BUILDING SPIRITUAL MOVEMENTS Twelve principles for building spiritual movements are: 1. Any student movement is born and sustained on consistent prayer by staff, students, and community, Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. How would you evaluate your prayer base? 2. The growth of a movement is proportional to how well the individuals develop a sense of cause. Learn how to communicate the Big Picture of your ministry. Learn how to communicate simply and clearly. Don t ever stop communicating the cause. Explain your cause to a student in one minute or less. Explain your cause to an adult you are asking to get involved. 3. If you sow broadly, you can expect to reap broadly. Be visible. Be aggressive in evangelism. Ask at every opportunity. Encourage everyone to share their faith a movement is propelled by a widespread commitment to evangelism. Are you sowing broadly in evangelism? What strategies are you finding most effective? 2-21
If you were not sowing broadly in evangelism, what would some solutions be? Are you sowing broadly in relational time with students? Are you sowing broadly in asking others to be involved? Are you sowing broadly in challenging students to conferences? 4. Never forsake the basics they are foundational. The cause dynamic change in students. They are transferable. They allow kids to see success. List the basics you think are foundational. 5. Identify critical people, events and ideas. Knowing your top priorities will assure that you are wise in your actions. Go for the jugular. 2-22 20% of the effort produces 80% of the results (Pareto principle). An effective leader knows what to do next, why it is important, and how to mobilize people and resources.
What are the critical things for you? If you could only accomplish two or three things in your ministry this semester, what would be the most important two or three? 6. Find help. Many hands expand the impact. A movement is a lot of people not two or three. Develop an attitude that everyone can help out in some way. Find other adults to help don t be afraid to delegate. What are sources of people to help expand the impact? Is your Community Resource Team healthy? How can it grow? How do you plan to recruit your help? List times and places and people you will talk to, and by specific dates. 7. Move with the movers. Select students and adults who have a heart for God and are able to influence others. Look for spiritual movers. Start with the students who can make it go. Don t settle for second best. List some characteristics of spiritual movers. 2-23
8. Conferences are to movement what training camp is to an athlete. Conferences cannot be viewed as optional or extra events if we are to see movement Conferences accomplish more in a few days that discipleship does in weeks or months. Why are conferences important in building spiritual movement? What is your strategy to recruit strong for your next conference? Do you have brochures, information, etc.? Do you have a challenge sheet to record student response? 9. Movement is accelerated when students take ownership and assume responsibility. 2-24 90% of movement is students asking other students to be involved. More students are attracted when there are student leaders from many segments of school life. Work with natural groups of students news travels fast among friends. A standard should be established of students eagerly inviting their friends to ministry events.
Unity and momentum grow from spontaneous events initiated by student leaders. To what extent do your students talk to others about Jesus Christ? Do your students know how to explain to others? Do your students know how to share their faith? How can you include more students in planning and leadership? 10. Movements are strengthened when the students develop the we feeling. Allow for regular opportunity for quality social interaction. Shared experiences help produce camaraderie and commitment to the group. What role do you feel social events play in building movement? 11. Visibility attracts new blood. meetings and outreaches are the bread and butter of your visibility. A successful high-visibility event established a winning attitude. Take risks, walk through doors, be visible. 2-25
Meetings, Action Team, conferences and retreats create and maintain the critical social dynamics of a movement. What is your visibility strategy right now? What are the purposes of Meetings? 12. Confidence in the leadership is essential for a movement to grow. The leaders must demonstrate integrity. The leader s love and concern must be felt by all. Their lives must illustrate commitment to the cause. What are some ways confidence in the leadership is strengthened? Do the students sense an attitude of love and understanding from you and the other leadership in your movement? APPLICATION 2-26 What two or three action steps do you need to take as a result of looking at these principles?