Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

62 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

quickly overload an untrained leader. On the other hand, a small group will stretch, but not break and discourage him.” 109

Meet Regularly with Cell Group Leaders The church planters must pray for guidance about when to form new fellowship groups. They must insure that the separate units remain unified with each other and with the leaders. It is helpful to plan events such as picnics or pot-luck dinners that bring all the groups together for times that build a bond of love and trust. Such activities build the organizational decision-making confidence of the developing leaders. This confidence is needed to move from discipling groups to a combined worship meeting. Urban Christians are often unaccustomed to making confident decisions within a group context. 110 Many feel powerless and victimized. The urban church planter must consciously build their decision-making confidence. Ray Bakke says, “You build decision-making as you build muscle – by gentle exercise. You use concrete, small, nonthreatening issues to start with. People cannot jump from paternalized, welfare-state dependency to democracy in one stride.” 111 David Claerbaut sees leadership development as a three-step process. 112 First, church planters must help new Christians in a holistic manner. Urbanites have many more problems than just spiritual ones. They lack money, proper housing, adequate education, legal protection. They are often plagued by relational or family problems, such as having a family member with a drug or alcohol problem.” 113 Second, this help must proceed into the “mutually caring alliance” of the discipling group. Supportive group relationships must be available. Third, within this intimate setting, the new Christians must be encouraged to strengthen their gifts. Claerbaut notes “there is always a tendency for urban workers to see the poor as those with less education, less power, and

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109 Ray Guy, “Pilgrimage Toward the House Church”, Discipling the City , Ed. Roger Greenway, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1979), p. 126

110 A valuable book on group decision-making is Em Griffin’s Getting Together: A Guide for Good Groups , (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1982)

111 Bakke, p. 95

112 See David Claerbaut, Urban Ministry , (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983), p. 195

113 Claerbaut, p. 194