A Strategy on Small Group Leadership Development

235 Pages·2008·2.94 MB·English

by  In Ho Jei

LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

A STRATEGY ON SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT FOR TRANSITIONING OF GAEUMJUNG
CHURCH INTO A CELL-BASED CHURCH

A Thesis Project Submitted to
Liberty Theological Seminary
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

By

In Ho Jei

Lynchburg, Virginia

May 2008
LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET

A A+ B
GRADE

Frank J. Schmitt
MENTOR

Rod Dempsey
READER

ii
ABSTRACT

A STRATEGY ON SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR
TRANSITIONING OF GAEUMJUNG CHURCH INTO A CELL-BASED CHURCH
In Ho Jei
Liberty Theological Seminary, 2008
Mentor: Dr. Frank Schmitt

The purpose of this project is to invent a strategy of small group leadership
development to transition Gaeumjung Church to a cell-based church. This project was
performed on the basis of field analysis, case study, and literature research. The case
study was performed on nine churches with outstanding small group ministry. The author
had been an associate pastor of Gaeumjung Church for one and half years and will be the
senior pastor of the church in a few years. Therefore, this thesis is a result of his
experience and expectation on the small group ministry of the church.

Abstract length: 98 words

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ACKNOWLDEGEMENT

First of all, I would like to give thanks and glory to my Lord for the opportunity
of this thesis project. My research mentor, Frank Schmitt, Ed. D., is acknowledged and
deeply appreciated. He has led me to perform this research project with deep concern and
thoughtful consideration.
The researcher also wants to give thanks to my reader, Rodney Dempsey, D.Min.,
not only because he read this thesis carefully but also because he exerted an effect on the
researcher in connection with the subject of this thesis.
I can never give thanks to all the members of Gaeumjung Church enough.
Especially, I would like appreciate Young-Sik Kang, the senior pastor of Gaeumjung
Church, the elders, and my fellow ministers. Gaeumjung Church had appointed me as the
senior pastor of the next term and has supported me spiritually, emotionally, and
financially.
I would like to be thankful to all the staff of Liberty Theological Seminary, the
three co-pastors, Daniel C. Kim, David H. Chung, and Timothy Chong, and all my
friends who I have met in Lynchburg, VA.
Young Hye Jang, who is my wife, has been a great source of motivation with
prayer, patience, encouragement, and emotional and spiritual support. My lovable
children, Surin and Suah have endured till the completion of this thesis.
All of thanks and glory to God!
I. H. J.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………………... iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT …………………………………………………………….. iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………………… v
LIST OF FIGURES ……………………………………………………………………. x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………… 1
The Statement of the Problem ………………………………………………… 4
The Statement of Limitations …………………………………………………. 5
The Theoretical Bases ………………………………………………………… 5
Biblical Basis …………………………………………………………. 6
The Great Commission ……………………………………….. 6
Eph. 4:11-12 …………………………………………………... 9
2 Tim. 2:2 ……………………………………………………... 13
Theological Basis ……………………………………………………... 16
Theology of Community ……………………………………… 16
The Triune God ……………………………………….. 16
Principle of Creation …………………………………... 17
Biblical Examples ……………………………………... 19
Church as a Community ……………………………….. 20
Priesthood of All Believers ……………………………………. 22
Theory on Small Group Leadership Development ……………………. 24
The Statement of Methodology ……………………………………………….. 25
The Review of the Literature ………………………………………………….. 27
On Building Small Group Based Church ……………………………… 27
On Small Group Leadership …………………………………………... 29
On Leadership Development ………………………………………….. 30
Questionnaire and Interview Questions ……………………………………….. 32
Summary ………………………………………………………………………. 32
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CHAPTER TWO: ANANYSIS ON SMALL GROUP MINISTRY AND
SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN
GAEUMJUNG CHURCH ………………………………………… 33
Introduction to Gaeumjung Church …………………………………………… 33
Small Group Ministry of Gaeumjung Church ……………………………….... 34
Stagnant Small Group Ministry ……………………………………….. 34
Small Group Ministry for Managing the Church Members …………… 38
Geographically Organized Small Groups ……………………………… 42
Women-centered Small Group Ministry ………………………………. 43
Teaching-centered Small Group Meetings ……………………………. 46
Strategy of Small Group Leadership Development of Gaeumjung Church …... 48
Very Low Degree of Satisfaction of Small Group Leaders
on the Strategy ………………………………………………... 49
A Premodern Strategy of Small Group Leadership Development ……. 50
Low Efficiency of the Strategy of Small Group Leadership
Development ………………………………………………….. 53
Unsystematic Process of Selection and Examination of New
Small Group Leaders …………………………………………. 54
Inefficient Follow-up Training ………………………………………... 55
Summary ……………………………………………………………………… 58

CHAPTER THREE: CASE STUDY ON SEVERAL KOREAN CHURCHES …….. 59
Targets and Methods of Case Study …………………………………………... 59
Targets Used for This Case Study ……………………………………. 59
Principles Used for Sampling …………………………………………. 60
Methods of Case Study ………………………………………………... 61
Results of the Case Study ……………………………………………………... 63
Seoul Baptist of Houston (http://www.seoulbaptist.org)
– House Church ………………………………………………... 63
Global Mission Church (http://www.jiguchon.org)
– House Church ………………………………………………... 68
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Church of Dream(http://www.cod.or.kr) – House Church …………….. 70
Guminam Church (http://www.guminam.or.kr)
– House Church ………………………………………………... 72
Wonchon Baptist Church (http://wonchon.org/) – Vineyard ………….. 74
Light Global Mission Church (http://www.jiguchon.net)
– Cell Church ………………………………………………….. 77
Open Door Presbyterian Church (http://opendoorpc.org)
– Oikos ………………………………………………………… 79
Hyangsang Church (http://hyangsang.com)
– Of-Small Group Church ……………………………………... 82
Hosanna Presbyterian Church (http://www.hosanna21.com)
– Darakbang …………………………………………………… 84
Generalization of Results of the Case Study …………………………………... 87
Summary ……………………………………………………………………….. 89

CHAPTER FOUR: LESSONS FROM A LITERATURE RESEARCH ON
SMALL GORUP LEADERSIHP DEVELOPMENT …………… 90
Perceive the Urgency and Importance of Developing Leaders ……………….. 90
Approach Strategically ………………………………………………………... 91
Recognize the Senior Pastor’s Role …………………………………………… 94
Responsibility for Developing Leaders in the Church ………………… 94
The Senior Pastor as a Point Leader …………………………………... 95
Trustworthiness of the Senior Pastor ………………………………….. 96
Develop a Vision and Communicate It Effectively …………………………… 98
Develop a Vision ………………………………………………………. 98
Communicate the Vision ………………………………………………. 99
Work as a Team ……………………………………………………………… 100
Develop Leaders in Accordance with Your Small Group Ministry ………….. 103
Create a Leadership Culture ………………………………………………….. 105
Empower the Small Group Leaders ………………………………………….. 107
Develop a Training System …………………………………………………… 109
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Provide Follow-up Programs …………………………………………………. 112
A Coaching System …………………………………………………… 112
Meeting with Fellow Leaders ………………………………………... 113
Follow-up Training …………………………………………………… 114
Encouragement ……………………………………………………….. 114
Implement and Evaluate ……………………………………………………… 115
Implementation ……………………………………………………….. 115
Evaluation …………………………………………………………….. 116
Develop a Spiritual Atmosphere ……………………………………………… 117
Summary ……………………………………………………………………… 119

CHAPTER FIVE: A STRAGEGY IN DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL GROUP
LEADERSHIP IN GAEUMJUNG CHURCH …………………... 120
The Whole Transitioning Process and Position of Leadership Development
in the Process ………………………………………………………… 122
Small Groups in Gaeumjung Church as a Cell-based Church ……………….. 125
A cell-based church …………………………………………………... 125
Small Groups in Gaeumjung Church ………………………………… 127
Small Group Leadership Required in Gaeumjung Church …………………... 132
Overarching Nature: Transformational leadership …………………… 132
Servant leadership ……………………………………………………. 135
Shepherd leadership ………………………………………………….. 137
Coach leadership ……………………………………………………... 140
A Strategy in the Development of Small Group Leadership in
Gaeumjung Church …………………………………………………… 141
Long-term Strategy in the Development of Cell Leadership …………. 143
Goals of Temporary Strategy in the Development of Cell
Leadership during the Transitioning Period ………………….. 145
Strategy to Achieve the Goals during
Four-year-transitioning Period ………………………………... 145
A synopsis …………………………………………….. 145
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Fourfold training strategy …………………………….. 146
Fourfold support strategy …………………………….. 150
Summary ……………………………………………………………………… 153

CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR KOREAN
CHURCHES CONSIDERING TRANSITIONING TO
A SMALL GROUP BASED CHURCH …………………………… 154
Lead the Transition Strategically ……………………………………………... 155
Expect There Would Be Resistance and Overcome the Resistance …………. 156
Achieve the Goal in Persistence ……………………………………………… 156
Develop Small Group Leaders Systematically ……………………………….. 157
Empower and Encourage the Small Group Leaders …………………………. 158
Recognize the Importance of a Team ………………………………………… 160
Share the Vision Effectively …………………………………………………. 161
Have a Good Relation with the Church Members,
Especially, the Lay Leaders ………………………………………….. 162
Illuminated by the Holy Spirit ……………………………………………….. 163
Produce Leadership Culture …………………………………………………. 164

APPENDIX A ……………………………………………………………………….. 165
APPENDIX B ……………………………………………………………………….. 169
APPENDIX C ……………………………………………………………………….. 170
BIBLIOGRAPHY …………………………………………………………………… 209
VITA …………………………………………………………………………………. 223

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LIST OF FIGURES

1. Responses to “Which public gatherings did you attend last week?” …………… 1
2. Succession of apostolic teaching ………………………………………………. 15
3. Succession of Christian belief in a small group setting ………………………... 15
4. Three approaches of this thesis ………………………………………………… 26
5. The state of Gaeumjung Church’s small group ministry for the last 10 years … 35
6. Change of the number of persons at small groups at 2007
(January through October) ……………………………………………………... 36
7. Responses to “How long have you been a member of Gaeumjung Church?” …. 37
8. Responses to “How long have you been a small group leader in Gaeumjung
Church?” ……………………………………………………………………….. 37
9. Average number of members in each case …………………………………….. 38
10. Percentage of members in each case …………………………………………… 39
11. The structure of Gaeumjung Church for the small group ministry …………….. 40
12. Responses to “Whom do you call when you have difficulties as a small group
leader first of all?” ……………………………………………………………... 42
13. The number of each type of small group ………………………………………. 44
14. Attendants of Sunday Morning Worship Service for ten weeks ………………. 45
15. Topics of the textbook by The Board of Christian Education
for the last four years ………………………………………………………….. 47
16. Opinions of small group leaders about Gaeumjung Church’s supports
for them…………………………………………………………………………. 48
17. Degree of satisfaction of small group leaders on Gaeumjung Church’s
strategy of small group leadership development ………………………………. 49
18. Responses to “What kinds of training or education did you receive
to be a small group leader in Gaeumjung Church?” …………………………… 50
19. Responses to “What kinds of training or education did you receive to
be a small group leader in the church which you have served as
a small group leader in?” ……………………………………………………… 51
20. Responses nullifying 26 plural responses ……………………………………… 52
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