187. Starting Apostolic Teams and Collaborating Across Our City, Nation, and Nations

In this episode, Roy continues sharing from our time together about starting apostolic teams and navigating the real challenges of collaboration. Starting Apostolic Teams This builds on Roy’s previous insights about forming teams made up of different roles — including movement catalysers, DMM strategists, prayer mobilisers, learning designers, coaching cultivators, apostolic pioneers, and disciple-makers. He describes these as different “swim lanes” — distinct expressions of gifting that allow people to run in their grace and calling while contributing to a shared mission. Roy observes that many people from Christian backgrounds tend to be permission-seeking, whereas harvest-field people often are not. As leaders, we need to intentionally give churched believers permission — again and again — to step into and express the gifting they carry in our contexts. Multiplying prayer  Roy then shares from his Kansas City context about cultivating replicating prayer: “It’s not about the volume but the distinctiveness of prayer [that’s focused on lostness].” – RoyRather than simply increasing activity, the focus is on prayer that is harvest-focused and easily reproducible. Collaboration Roy also explores how to build teams through meaningful collaboration. He references five conditions for collective impact drawn from research out of Stanford University: Common Agenda – A shared understanding of the problem and a shared vision for change.Shared Measurement for Success – One of the biggest challenges in Christianity, especially when we assume we are doing the same thing but measure differently.Mutually Reinforcing Activities – Training and mobilisation are difficult if they are not aligned with a common agenda and shared measures.Continuous Communication – Learning to communicate consistently, not just when we are face-to-face. Creating a “campfire” platform (online) where stories and resources can be shared.A Backbone Structure – A brand-light (or brand-bashful) organisation that exists to support and strengthen leaders rather than promote itself. Roy concludes: “We need to define who we are so we can defend who we are. But this allows us to collaborate more, not less… We can create tables for anybody to come. We can create tools that anybody can use. But when we create tracks for people to run on, they are very distinct.” – Roy Be Encouraged Be provoked and encouraged as you listen to this episode — and consider what it might look like to start apostolic teams and cultivate collaboration across your city, your nation, and even the nations.