Key: Coach
COACH new leaders “on-the-job”
The relationship between Paul and Timothy was famous, known by churches from Jerusalem to Rome. Stephanas and his team followed Paul’s example of personal, loving and edifying relationships for the ongoing training of leaders.
Training for the development of local elders and church planters was done “on-the-job.”[1] [2]
As much as possible, the training was done “behind the scenes.” This approach allowed the locals to lead their own people.[3] However, it required lots of self-control and humility for Stephanas and his team members. It was sometimes hard to release less experienced local people to do the work rather than just doing the job themselves. But if the team became known as the main leaders of the movement, it would have been extremely difficult for them to later take support roles.[4]
The emphasis was “learn-by-doing.” The training method for the church movement is summed up in these four words:
- Model. The trainer demonstrates the skill (in real-life situations)
- Assist. The trainer assists the trainee as he does it
- Watch. The trainer observes the trainee doing it on his own
- Leave. The trainer exits, as the new leader continues
The training was aimed at multiplying leaders. Paul’s letter to Timothy illustrates the process: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” [5] Timothy, one of several men trained in ministry by Paul, was told to train some reliable men as well. The men trained by Timothy then taught other leaders also.[6]
Local leaders worked at encouraging and equipping all the people to join in building up the church, reaching the lost and transforming their community.[7] These leaders were carpenters, fishermen and merchants who continued in their jobs as they served the Lord in ministry.[8]
As with the Apostle Paul, the team considered the churches unfinished until local elders were appointed.[9] Leaders with proven Christ-like character and fruitfulness in ministry were selected as elders to oversee the churches. They were commissioned and prayed for in a special gathering.[10]
[1] Today we have the tempation of sending potential leaders away to outside institutions. This is risky when working with an unreached people group. Those who travel away to another culture, or from a rural to an urban setting or from a developing country to a developed country often do not return or do not easily fit back into the culture. Train indigenous leaders locally “in the ministry rather than for the ministry.”
[2] John Wesley, though a man with many years of formal education and training, did not rely upon the schools of his day to find pastors. He said, “Give me 12 men who love Jesus with all their hearts and who do not fear men or devils and I care not one whit whether they be clergy or laity, with these men I will change the world.” Wesley put one in five people into significant leadership roles. He mobilized thousands of poor, uneducated men and women with spiritual gifts and hearts to serve, resulting in one of the greatest revivals and church planting movements in history!
[3] Acts 18:26
[4] Local Leadership: A UNIVERSAL ELEMENT IN CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENTS “Missionaries involved in Church Planting Movements often speak of the self-discipline required to mentor church planters rather than do the job of church planting themselves…. This is not to say that missionaries have no role in church planting. On the contrary, local church planters receive their best training by watching how the missionary models participative Bible studies with non-Christian seekers. Walking alongside local church planters is the first step in cultivating and establishing local leadership. David Garrison, Church Planting Movements, page 34.
[5] II Timothy 2:1-2
[6] Effective on-the-job training courses designed to help reproduce indigenous leaders and churches are available. Both The Shepherd’s Storybook and Train & Multiply combine three important elements: 1.) evangelism/leadership in real life situations; 2.) home study with simple practical studies; 3.) regular meetings between the trainer and his trainees. For these excellent resources and more go to , and
[7] Eph. 4:11-16
[8] Lay Leadership: A UNIVERSAL ELEMENT IN CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENTS “Church Planting Movements are driven by lay leaders. These lay leaders are typically bi-vocational and come from the general profile of the people group being reached. In other words, if the people group is primarily nonliterate, then the leadership shares this characteristic. If the people are primarily fishermen, so too are their lay leaders.” David Garrison, Church Planting Movements, page 35.
[9] Titus 1:5-9
[10] Acts 14:23