Multiplying Like … Pilots?
Years ago I joined the US Air Force with the desire to become a pilot. The Air Force has a very successful method for reproducing pilots. Upon arrival at pilot training, I received four weeks of intensive theory, rules and practical knowledge on flying. This training was done using the big batch reproduction method with 60 in a class. Once we had grasped foundational truth, the Air Force sent us out to the jets. Then using the old style Grand Prix start, they told us, “At the starting gun, first one to run to a jet, safely take off, make twenty laps around the flagpole and land, wins!” Over the next few hours, some couldn’t get the jet started, some ran into things on the ground, some went off the side of the runway, some got the aircraft in the air, some ran into each other in the air, some crashed trying to land. A couple actually made it into the air and landed safely, but it was ugly. You probably remember the sensational news reports about this failed Air Force experiment in making pilots.
Hopefully by now you know I am kidding. What the Air Force did is pair each of us up with an instructor pilot (IP), someone who knew how to fly. Over a period of weeks, the instructor personally (very small batch reproduction) demonstrated skills and techniques, gave us a chance to practice in a safe manner, corrected our errors and encouraged us to keep trying when we struggled. When I did struggle with some discipline of flying my IP would remind me of the goal, become a pilot. Once I earned my wings, I had little thought of the long days, stinging critiques, or humbling failures. I had achieved my goal! I had done so because someone pulled along side me to personally instruct me.
This process is so successful that the Air Force takes approximately 1/3 of all pilot training graduates and turns them around to serve immediately as instructor pilots. Upon graduation from pilot training, the natural progression for every pilot is to become an instructor pilot. They expect every pilot to reproduce, not just the ‘gifted’, not just the Wing or Squadron Commander, but every pilot should reproduce. Is this not very similar to the method Jesus Christ modeled on the earth?
What would it look like if each of us embraced the full meaning of Matthew 28:19-20? What would it look like if each of us embraced the idea that we were created in Christ to reproduce? Combining a vision for prayer with making disciples who make disciples, David Yonggi Cho has had remarkable success in Seoul, South Korea (over 800,000). Cesar Castellanos has had a modicum of success in Bogota, Columbia (over 400,000). There are many other great examples available. The point is not growing big churches, but focusing on a simple process that leads people into a vital, intimate, close personal relationship with Jesus, and then imparting to them the vision and command of our Lord in Matthew 28:19-20.
Jesus had a variety of techniques at His disposal for building His church. Yet the method He chose was to gather a few nobodies around Himself and transform their lives with the daily power of His presence and His word. As my friend Jerry Fine says, “For 2000 years, we have been seeking to improve on Jesus method of building the church.” Why are we seeking to improve that model? Because we are impatient. We live in a microwave society where we stand in front of the microwave oven and declare, “Are you going to take all minute!” Building disciples takes time. Most people and churches of are so focused on programs that we produce no lasting fruit because we cannot fathom spending (wasting? investing?) the time to make a single disciple.
In my next blog, I’ll take a look at what might happen if the church followed Jesus model while following his command in Matthew 28:19-20. May God grant you His richest blessings.