MODULE 6: EQUIPPING FOR MASTERY

In this module you will learn about the final core value of Alongsiders.

When your people – the leaders you have raised up – have caught the vision (Purpose), are willing to lead it themselves (Ownership) and feel connected and committed to one another (Belonging), your final task is to equip them to take it the movement forward (Mastery) themselves.

At each stage in the process, you want to prepare them to go deeper. Deeper in their faith, and deeper in their commitment to what God has called us to do - to make disciples. Watch this brief introduction to Mastery:

Your greatest reward as a leader is to see those that you have raised up fully becoming “movement gardeners” themselves who are raising up yet another generation of leaders to lead the movement.

You and your leaders will be developing more leadership skills than what you learned as Alongsiders. This is because as your “movement garden” grows, you will need more “tools” to take care of the garden. These tools are the leadership skills that God wants you to develop.

What are the unique leadership skills that God has given you? What are the unique gifts and leadership abilities within each member of your team of leaders? In Ephesians 4:11-12 it says that Christ has given different gifts to equip God’s people and build up the church. So take time with your leaders to do the following:

1. Identify your gifts. What are the special God-given abilities that God has given you and your leaders? Scripture says that Christ has given different gifts to build up the church.

2. Celebrate your gifts. Take time with your team to acknowledge the different leadership skills within your team. Give special attention to each one. Have a party to celebrate who God created you to be!

3. Develop your gifts. Consider taking some time in each team meeting to learn something new about how you and your team can be better leaders. Sharpen your tools to make them more effective!

4. Exercise your gifts. Your leadership tools won’t work in your movement garden if you don’t use them! Use every opportunity to encourage your leaders to use their gifts – whenever you meet together and by frequent follow up with them individually.

Questions

Group Leader Name

First Name

Last Name

Who is doing this training with you today? Write their names below:

1. Look back and identify one difficult problem you faced as an Alongsider or as an Area Rep or Coordinator. What kind of skills did lack at the time, but you wished you had, to solve the problem?

2. What are some skills, knowledge and wisdom little brothers and sisters in your movement have gained?

List as many as you can think of.

3. What are some skills, knowledge and wisdom the Alongsiders in your movement have gained?

List as many as you can think of.

4. What are some skills, knowledge and wisdom the Area Reps and Coordinators (you!) have gained?

List as many as you can think of

5. Are there skills, knowledge and character growth you want to see more of within your movement?

Brainstorm together and list the results here

6. What movement tools do you need to grow your movement? How can you get those tools?

Any comments, concerns or questions about Mastery and growth?

ROLE PLAY ACTIVITY

What You’ll Need:

Blindfolds
An empty room or outdoor space
A collection of items like chairs, empty boxes, etc

Instructions:

Place the items (boxes, chairs, water bottles, bags, etc.) around the room so there's no clear path from one end of the room to the other.
Divide your team into pairs and blindfold one person on the team.
The other must verbally guide that person from one end of the room to the other, avoiding the "landmines."
The partner who is not blindfolded can't touch the other.
If you want to make the activity more challenging, have all the pairs go simultaneously so teams must find ways to strategically communicate over each other.

BIBLE STUDY

God granted Nehemiah so much wisdom. He inspired and mobilized an army of builders to work together (Neh 2:17). He didn't work alone, but multiplied himself so that many others worked with him. Nehemiah dealt with enemies and various conflicts. He kept a good relationship with the king, his boss. The king gave his support and blessing to Nehemiah. He kept the builders focused on the purpose. Nehemiah was a skilled leader who influenced a movement.

"Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people. 'The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!' So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out" (Neh 4:19-21)

How are you doing as a leader? How are you multiplying yourself, delegating leadership to others with leadership qualities and skills?

INSPIRATION

Here is another video developed to help your Alongsiders guide their little brothers and sisters to achieve their goals in life.

Finally, as you watch this video, imagine your Alongsiders are graduating at the end of the year with their certficates and diplomas. Imagine how everyone will feel when they receive their certificates.

What’s Next?

In the final module, you will put together a plan for growth - from 50 to 500 Alongsiders. Are you ready?

Mobilizer 201: Module 6