The core competency of any movement is apprenticeship. Since I believe that Jesus came to start a movement this is very important so let me say it again: the core competency of any movement is apprenticeship. The very first action that Jesus took when catalyzing his movement was to recruit twelve apprentices. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) He was calling them into an apprenticeship and giving them instructions that they would do the same with others. 2,000 years later the Jesus movement has reached billions of people, transformed societies and continues to move forward into eternity. It is through apprenticeships that people are empowered to impact their world and have the potential for exponential impact.
If you are like me and want to be a part of Jesus’ missional movement first and foremost we must apprentice with him. Just like those first followers, we must walk alongside Jesus and be guided and mentored by him everyday. But secondly we must follow his example and learn how to apprentice others into the movement. So, who is it that God is asking you to bring alongside you as an apprentice? Is it a friend? A neighbor? Someone in your church? Somebody in your neighborhood or maybe somebody at work?
When we started COMMUNITY, we started with a handful of friends. Not only were we Jesus’ apprentices but we each went out on the mission and found an apprentice. That’s our story at Community; just a handful of friends who came together with a willingness to risk anything and everything. And over the years God has allowed us to be a part of and contribute to his ongoing movement in amazing ways! Community has fifteen locations that impact thousands with more sites starting next year.
If you want to see movement remember this: The core competency of any movement is apprenticeship.
