Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART III: P LANTING U RBAN C HURCHES • 311

C. Develop interrelated structures which connect in a systemic and integrated manner.

1. Movements involve a plurality of leaders, congregations, and associations .

2. Shared structures of organization: they remained steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching (i.e., their instruction about order and structure) , see Acts 2.41-47.

3. Shared protocols of leadership identification and certification: apostolic confirmation of the Holy Spirit’s selection

a. 2 Tim. 1.6 (ESV) – For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. b. Acts 20.28 (ESV) – Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

D. Implications: Why must we strive to connect and integrate all our efforts in growing, mobilizing, and planting churches?

1. To invest in common ventures designed to enable and empower all of the member churches

2. To provide ongoing answerability and support to fledgling and growing churches

3. To join forces in specific projects and operations designed to advance the Kingdom of God in evangelism, outreach, and mission 4. To give care and edification to leaders, members, and congregations in significant felt-need operations and issues (e.g., leadership enhancement, family enrichment, camping, justice issues, etc.)