Module 4: DEVELOPING STRONG ownership

Once your people are beginning to grow in their passion for the Purpose, it is important to establish a sense of Ownership among them for the vision.

But for you as a leader, ownership is lived out in two very different ways.

On the one hand, ownership means that you are the owner of your own unique expression of the Alongsiders movement in your context. No-one else can own or lead your movement. Only a spider can repair its own web. And only the gardener can take care of their garden.

But as a multiplying leader your garden is going to get much bigger. You can’t take care of it all unless you invite others to take responsibility for different parts ofthe garden. You want your leaders to be owners as well!

Is your ownership of the Alongsiders movement in your area like gardeners taking care of different parts of the garden? This sense of ownership is one of the 4 key success factors for growing and multiplying your movement from 50 to 500.

Questions

Bible Study

In chapter 2 Nehemiah not only inspected the walls for himself, but also for the people who lived inside the city. He shared about the ruins. He invited the Jews to rebuild the wall. Each tended and built their own part.

"They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.' So they began this good work." (Neh 2:18)

He assured the people that God's hand was on them and that God will guide the work. Nehemiah had leaders in charge of their own sections of the wall. Nehemiah was not the only leader, but had given ownership of leadership and rebuilding work to many other leaders. People stood up. They owned the work. They worked hard together because they had faith that God would help them.

"...for the people worked with all their heart." (Neh 4:6)

Look at the Alongsiders and leaders you work with. How do you envision owning and moving the movement together?

ROLE PLAY

Some members of your community may be motivated by what resources and money might come from outside the community. But this can lead to them not take ownership and responsibility for their own part of the garden. Practise role playing how you would respond to these requests for outside funding.

Inspiration

The most basic level of Ownership is the commitment each Alongsider makes to own and take responsibility for the relationship with their little brother or sister. They show this commitment by visiting each week. But sometimes they need a few tips and pointers to get them started. We created this video to help get them started.

What’s Next?

Now that you know about the importance of Purpose and Ownership, you are ready to learn the next key for a growing movement, Belonging. This is an incredibly important part of any movement. Are you ready?