Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

P ART I: C OACHING U RBAN C HURCH P LANTERS • 145

The MTL also has great responsibility for ongoing communication. You should be sharing your observations and suggestions with the Team Leader. When there are difficulties that will affect the overall health of the team or the Team’s Charter completion you should make the Director of the governing church authority aware. Question 3 How do the roles of Team Leaders and Multiple Team Leaders differ when it comes to actually launching a church planting effort in a new community? Answer to Question 3 The Team Leader is responsible, in concert with his/her other team members, to engage the community as witnesses of Jesus Christ. In other words, they are called to do the work of the ministry as the primary members, doing the work of evangelizing, demonstrating the love of Christ, baptizing new converts, and discipling believers. The Team Leader develops and supervises ministries directly with his team members, seeking to carry out the Team’s plans as the Holy Spirit directs. His/her role is direct and immediate, called to evangelize, equip, and empower the unreached urban poor in the community where God has called them. The MTL, on the other hand, is a coach and facilitator to the Team Leader and his/her team. The MTL’s role is primarily to counsel, encourage, resource, and facilitate the effort within the stated Charter authority. However, if the activities or decisions are contrary to the Charter’s direction, you have full authority to help the team return to its mandate. The MTL can even recommend to the Director or governing church authority that the Charter be revoked. While the MTL’s presence will undoubtedly be refreshing and helpful in the church planting effort, their primary role is to provide coaching and support to the team, and not to become overly involved in the Team’s day to day affairs and efforts. Question 4 If the MTL’s role is primarily acting as a coach, then, precisely what may an MTL do to help “resource” a team? Answer to Question 4 Your role is to facilitate the Team Leader’s ability to fulfil his or her Charter through your counsel, input, advice, and service. Resourcing may take any number of alternative routes: