As I mentioned earlier, the challenge is not to find where you are on the Map, the challenge is to keep up with the group you’re serving as they develop and mature.

Moving from one stage to the next is often extremely difficult, because you love the people, know the challenges they face and feel like you should help. But unless we create space for people to meet the ultimate Helper, they won’t grow and multiply. Only the indwelling of the Holy Spirit achieves that.

Here’s what you may have to lay down to move on from each stage:

1. Mobilizing to 2. Connecting – leaving what’s safe
   • mission: leave your home country, your family, your church
   • planting: less time fellowshipping in team meetings
   • church: less time in safe church programs
   • dmm: leave the encouraging training environment
2. Connecting to 3. Witnessing – risking friendships
   • mission: risk offending people from other religions
   • planting: risk losing your new friendships
   • church: risk losing long time friendships
   • dmm: risk having Jesus not come through
3. Witnessing to 4. Gathering – it’s not about you
   • mission: giving up control to the local believer
   • planting: not just about your own new friends
   • church: can’t just spend time with your friends
   • dmm: letting the new believer lead the meeting
4. Gathering to 5. Equipping – it’s not about them
   • mission: discipleship is happening away from you both
   • planting: small groups are meeting without you there
   • church: can’t tell how the small group meetings are going
   • dmm: less time at the meetings; more time equipping
5. Equipping to 6. Growing – it’s not about the church
   • mission: things are starting that you didn’t even know about
   • planting: evangelism is going on without your involvement
   • church: the members are starting things that weren’t your idea
   • dmm: you’re two steps away from the evangelism
6. Growing to 7. Multiplying – leave your community
   • mission: less time in your local context to go elsewhere
   • planting: less energy into your church plant, starting others
   • church: less resources are going into the mother church
   • dmm: less investment in your network, starting over elsewhere
7. Multiplying to 8. Partnering – give up leadership
   • mission: giving up leadership to a team of nationals
   • planting: vision comes from the team, not the leader
   • church: the new pastors become the leadership team
   • dmm: less time in your own network to help others get started
8. Partnering to 9. Extending – it’s not about your ministry
   • mission: less people for your own country as you help others
   • planting: less about discipling your country to expand to others
   • church: feel irresponsible for your own conference as you extend
   • dmm: harder to walk with people when you send them away