A New Way for a New Day
Four ways M4 is changing the way we equip teams.
Young people are looking for new vision and modality for forming Christian Community.
Authenticity, simplicity, truth and connection are primary values many want played out in a church they would commit to creating. And they would much prefer not to go it alone.
M4 provides assessment, training and coaching for church planting teams. It provides the information and support needed before, during and after the plant is birthed.
M4 has also shifted some key dynamics around recruitment and training:
Shift 1: From Responding to Recruiting
Most denominations are experiencing a lack of new leaders in their pipeline. M4 Ready provides an identification and recruitment funnel for young adults.
Denominations can combine or go it alone in running M4 Ready over nine-months beginning with a vision-casting rally, 6 modules of leadership development, a spiritual retreat and mentor support.
Qld and Vic. are already planning on a combined M4 Ready experience, and it’s not too late for other states and movements to do the same.
Shift 2: From Solo to Teams
Up to 10 people per team are included in the two-year M4 Team Process. Whilst the planter and their spouse receive particular support, the whole team are trained, coached and take part in the learning communities.
This requires a new way of learning. Teams work best with coaches not classrooms. They need someone to guide and support as they do the work. M4 coaches are experienced church planters. They work with teams to fulfill the vision God has given them for their church plant.
Shift 3: From Courses to Active Process
The M4 system shifts the teaching environment from the classroom to online. Information and assignments are delivered through an online Learning Management System and series of workbooks.
Every six months teams come together for a learning community experience where all that learning lands. Together they form up clear goals and strategies to get them to the next important stage of the process.
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Their Coach then works with the teams to achieve what they have agreed to.
Shift 4: From Addition to Multiplication
The early church expanded so rapidly because it had a scalable and contagious culture.
All living things have seeds of replication within – and so should churches. Disciples who make disciples, leaders who make leaders, and so on.
Within the equipping process of M4 is a DNA and pathway of multiplication. This means churches can be planted “pregnant”, with future planters being part of the initial team, learning how to create a healthy plant themselves.
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Read more about M4 Ready and the M4 Team process.