May 28, 2024

Ron Johnson Movements in Denver CO | S7 Ep. 6

7 minutes

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Transforming Faith: From Traditional Churches to Disciple Movements

Ron Johnson, the founding pastor of Restoration Church, shares his journey from skepticism to embracing disciple-making movements (DMM) in the U.S. and abroad, including Nepal and India. Initially focused on planting Pavilion Model churches, Johnson's perspective shifted during COVID-19 as he saw the potential for rapid expansion through DMM. His church has since initiated numerous discovery Bible studies, leading to hundreds of baptisms and the establishment of over 1,200 simple churches. Johnson emphasizes the transition from a church growth mindset to a kingdom mindset, the importance of moving from addition to multiplication, and shifting from knowledge-based to obedience-based discipleship. Despite challenges, Johnson advocates for running traditional and movement-based approaches in parallel, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards of each approach.

Key Takeaways

00:00 Introduction: Meet Ron Johnson

00:20 The Journey Begins: Embracing Disciple Making Movements

00:31 The Impact of COVID on Church Growth and Strategy

01:59 A Shift in Strategy: From Traditional Churches to Movements

02:51 The Role of the Holy Spirit and Prayer in Movement Growth

03:16 Embracing Diversity: The Global South's Influence

03:46 Lessons Learned and the Path Forward

05:17 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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See Below for additional information:

This episode on the Real Life Theology Podcast features Ron Johnson, a follower of Jesus Christ and a pastor at Restoration Church. Ron shares his journey of transitioning from traditional church models to disciple-making movements. He discusses the impact of COVID, the growth of simple churches, the role of prayer and the Holy Spirit, and the challenges of balancing prevailing model church practices with a movement strategy. Ron emphasizes the importance of shifting mindset from church growth to kingdom focus and obedience-based discipleship. He reflects on the hybrid approach and concludes that running prevailing model and movement separately but complimentary is more effective. Ron's story showcases the growth of over 1,200 simple churches in their city and thousands more globally, driven by a diverse community and a strong emphasis on prayer and obedience to God.

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