RESULTS (print)

Congratulations on taking this discernment step on the journey! Below you will see how each of the six* Dynamics are at work in your community at this moment.

Recall the response scale used: 1-Never, Not Interested | 2-Not Yet, But We Hope To | 3-We Have in the Past, but Not Recently | 4-Occasionally | 5-Regularly

Now, examine your community’s result for each Dynamic and consider these brief definitions for each:

• Embed: Absorb, Relate and Serve
• Initiate: Showing and Sharing Good News Wisely
• Practice: Express the Identity and Jesus-Life You’re Inviting Others Into
• Mature: Growing Up as a Sustainable Faith Community by Empowering the Body, Developing Leaders, and Structuring Intentionally
• Hub & Extend: Multiplying Life Near and Far, Creating an Environment for Multiplication

(*we have combined the data for Hub and Extend since they are so closely related, varying only by scope of context)

Here are your results — a snapshot of the Dynamics at work in your community:

Keep a few things in mind as you view your results.

First, the higher the number for the Dynamic, the more active it is in your community at this time, generally speaking. This likely means that your energy is currently focused on the Dynamics with a result of 4 or higher. You may or may not be surprised by these results. The key is understanding whether or not your results match your community’s intentions. As you discern this, consider these questions:

• Do these results surprise you? Are you seeing your focus and energy showing up where you intend them to?
• Are these the Dynamics you intend to be focused on, or are you stuck (or lost) in habits or patterns?
• Are you seeing a healthy balance in the expression of the Dynamics that is appropriate and beneficial to your current stage of church planting? For example, are you continuing to Embed, Initiate, and Practice while you move toward Maturing?

Second, when using Dynamic Adventure as a guide, you will likely benefit from beginning with the Introduction, followed by the chapter corresponding to the first Dynamic in which you’ve received a result of 3 or less. In that section, you will find many useful learning exercises to engage with in your community.

As you examine your scores and discern their meaning, consider some common patterns as illustrated in the examples below:

Example 1:

“The New Community/Missional Initiative”

New communities often see 2’s across the board, since everything is aspirational at this stage. If this is you, consider processing the exercises found in Dynamic Adventure from the beginning. Develop a deep, shared understanding of what it means to be church and set the tone for becoming a mature church that plants more churches from the start. Begin with Embedding, since learning about the values of your context and how God is already at work is essential to developing a strong, healthy foundation.

Example 2:

“The Busy Church”

The busy church is one that seems to always be doing something but may not be getting the results they are seeking. They may not be seeing the desired fruit of their efforts, such as new believers, deep connection beyond the church walls, or buy-in from the community regarding shared vision and leadership responsibilities. If this is you, perhaps your community would benefit from the exercises and readings in the Embed and Initiate sections of Dynamic Adventure. In these sections, you can examine the important foundational questions and practices that provide a deep, communal understanding of calling and purpose, as well as shared ownership of the communal vision for moving forward.

Example 3:

“The Developing, Healthy Church”

The developing, healthy church is on the journey to becoming a mature, multiplying church that plants even more churches. This is very exciting! The Embed, Initiate, and Practice Dynamics are strongly expressed in the church, providing a solid foundation for growth into Maturing and beyond. At this phase you will likely find it beneficial to begin using the exercises in the Mature and Hub and Extend sections of Dynamic Adventure. It’s essential to Mature well in order to solidify the DNA of your community and propel it forward into becoming a church planting church. At the same time, it is vital to maintain intentional focus on the Embed, Initiate, and Practice Dynamics. Unfortunately, many churches tend to lose focus on “the basics” as they move toward maturity, but in reality your embedding, initiating, and practicing behaviors will become the basis of your future multiplication efforts. Finally, if you feel your community has stalled or feels ‘stuck’, consider the chapter prior to the Dynamic in which you are stuck in order to revitalize those efforts and help your community over this bump in the road.

So, What’s Next?

It’s important to acknowledge that every church is unique. The above examples are just that; a few examples of common profiles we have seen in our 50 years of church planting. Your results will be be different, and that’s a good thing.

Once again, remember, this was not a test! You have not ‘passed’ or ‘failed.’ This was merely a GPS reading. So, now that you’ve pressed the “Find Me” button and you have a general idea of your location, it’s time to dig into the Dynamic Adventure guide. It’s full of practical exercises and real-life stories to help you draw up your map and move ahead on your unique church planting journey.

If you would like to receive a personalized results consultation with one of our trained coaches, or learn more about our growing community of imaginative and adventurous church planters, please contact us. Regardless, we wish you the very best on the journey and hope that Dynamic Adventure is a useful tool for you along the way. We’ve written it in the spirit of good stewardship and as a testament to our belief in the One Body of Christ. It is our story and we’d love to hear yours too! Please connect with us on social media or by email and let’s celebrate what God is doing in our communities!

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