T4T: A Discipleship Re-Revolution: The Story Behind the World's Fastest Growing Church Planting Movement and How it Can Happen in Your Community! [Paperback]

Steve Smith (Author), Ying Kai (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2011

Steve Smith's book represents the accumulated wisdom of nearly two decades of CPM best practices from around the world. The T4T, or Training for Trainers, movement is the most explosive and fruitful Church Planting Movement that we have ever seen. Since its inception in 2001, the T4T movement has seen more than 1.7 million baptisms and more than 130,000 new church starts. Truly we have never seen anything quite like this movement that is now influencing other mission efforts throughout the world. With Steve Smith and Ying Kai's help, we are now given an insider's look at how and why this movement is multiplying so rapidly. The book also includes real life examples and case studies of how T4T is multiplying new churches and groups in Asia, the Muslim world, and the U.S.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: WIGTake Resources (2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974756210
• ISBN-13: 978-0974756219
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steve and his wife Laura have partially succeeded, partially failed and mostly learned a lot in following God in the various ventures he has given them. From USA church planting/pastoring to reaching out to an unreached people group in Asia, to coaching kingdom workers in how to cooperate with the Spirit of God in seeing church planting movements start. Steve's lifelong desire is help God's people become completely obedient to the Word of God to demonstrate their love for Him!

Steve currently oversees the work of the International Mission Board (SBC) in Southeast Asia and is the author of two books:
* T4T: A Discipleship Re-Revolution
* The Final Assault: A Novel about Finishing the Task

Steve can be reached at [e-mail]

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars breadth vs. depth, obedience vs. knowledge November 11, 2011

By kengster13.blogspot

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a book that will challenge your paradigms about discipleship. Traditionally, we like to see disciples grounded in the Word, and proven in their character before we empower them for kingdom service. Often, we limit the expansion of the church until the congregation has reached a certain size. Whether spoken or not, our measure of spiritual maturity usually emphasizes knowledge rather than obedience. The Training for Trainers (T4T) method presented in this book challenges all of these paradigms of maturing before serving, growing before multiplying, and obedience over knowledge.

However, T4T is much more than just a discipleship method. T4T integrates all the basics of a church planting movement (CPM) into one comprehensive solution that accomplishes the elements of a CPM, namely evangelism, discipleship, church planting, and leadership development. CPM practitioners no longer have to resort to an assortment of methods but have what the authors claim is a "Swiss Army knife" amongst all CPM approaches. Built into the T4T method is a repeating process that trains believers, enabling them to practice and eventually progress to become trainers themselves of other disciples.

At the heart of T4T is an understanding that discipleship can be reduced to a dual responsibility of following Jesus and fishing for men. Disciples are not only positioned to receive teaching but also to reciprocate by giving of themseves to the expansion of the kingdom. In that regard, T4T uses the term "trainers" for disciples and builds on the goal of multiplying generations of trainers. The T4T process elevates the primacy of the Great Commision and empowers a new believer to witness and share the gospel from the get-go.... This approach stands in stark contrast to many discipleship programs which are usually knowledge driven and focused on the spiritual formation of a new believer. For the T4T method, a new believer's being, belonging, and behaving are all occurring simultaneously.

But what is radical about T4T is that not only is a new believer encouraged and is held accountable to witness for the gospel, but they are also given the mandate to start new T4T groups and train others that they bring to faith. The infancy of a believer is not a gating factor for him (or her) to begin to train others. The authors point out that many CPMs are stalled because leadership have control issues and fall short on trusting the control of the Holy Spirit in empowering new believers. While I am in full support of the idea of empowering the priesthood of believers, the T4T approach does beg the question of sustainability in spiritual growth. Even though there is a continuing training-on-the-job in the T4T process, the question remains whether a new believer can carry out his leadership and pastoral role in his new groups with divine distinction. In matters of pastoral care and vision-casting, can a person whose own heart has yet to have been sufficiently exposed and trained by a reasonable body of divine content be able to teach others (Mt 10:24, Lk 6:40)?

Along the same veins, I also find the lack of discussion on spiritual gifting and calling somewhat troubling. The underlying tone of the book seems to point fruitfulness as a direct result of hard work and resolve. Performance orientation is emphasized as the authors suggest investing in those who are fruitful (identified as "Trainer of Trainers"). The authors also seem to be saying "size matters" when they remarked that the character requirements of a leader is dependent on the congregration size.

In conclusion, T4T raises some stirring questions about our paradigms in discipleship that deserve due reflection. However, the theological and pastoral concerns I have of the approach makes me wonder if in God's economy, does the end justify the means? Read more ›

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Missing Link in Church Planting Movements July 11, 2011

By Toby

Format:Paperback

I've studied Church Planting Movements (CPM's) for years. And this is the single most practical book I have ever read on the subject. It looks in detail at a remarkable move of God in Asia where a few hundred believers exploded to over 1.7 million in just 10 years.

The basic idea of the book is that if we want to see a rapid movement of new churches that turns an entire city or region upside down for Christ, then we need to do things differently. Our ways of thinking about church meetings, discipleship, and evangelism need to change. The first sections of the book lay the foundations for what needs to change.

Where T4T separates itself from other books on the subject, is it gets very practical on how that can look. It explores models in detail without lifting the model up as the answer. This was valuable because it helped me apply what I was learning and work towards building our own model for our context better than any other resource I have ever used.

This book is an absolute must-read for anyone involved in missions or ministry. I direct a missions organization, and we only have a few days a year where all the leaders of the organization are together. This year, we are going to spend those few precious days unpacking this book. Essential reading for those in missions!

You don't have to be a missionary to get something out of this book though. Anyone who wants to see God move in their neighborhood, city, or region will find their first steps in the pages of this book. Let's get practical about bringing the Good News we have to everyone we know!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Discipleship Re-Revolution! September 14, 2011

By Erik Laursen, International Projects Manager, Every Home for Christ

Format:Paperback

About 3 years ago I experienced a radical call to give up the American Dream and pursue missions work. Since that time I have immersed myself in books about the fulfillment of the Great Commission. I am a reader of Mission Frontiers Magazine and requested a copy of T4T through a promotion they were running. I am so glad to have received it! T4T has to be one of the best books I have read in regards to missions work! The only problem I had is that it was filled with so many amazing testimonies combined with practical applications that I couldn't help but read it extra slow in order to spiritually digest the amazing truths presented by Steve Smith and Ying Kai!

I just started a new job at Every Home for Christ as International Projects Manager and I am very excited to see how this book will help me working with our missionaries on the field! What a wonderful thing it is to see the Great Commission being taken literally!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn how to start a church planting movement. February 10, 2013

By Steven C

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book has changed the way I think about church planting. The model is similar to the church planting movement that took place during the first century. If you are serious about reaching the nations and finishing the work of the great commission then this a must read book is for you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST for any church planting or church growth leader March 31, 2013

By Fred A. Adams

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've planted many churches over the years. If I'd been fortunate enough to have had this book at the beginning of my ministry, my fruitfulness would have been significantly increased. I have now bought a lot of these books and handed them out to the lead pastors I have under me. The impact has been tremendous!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A handbook for church planting March 19, 2013

By BDC

Format:Kindle Edition

I give this 5 stars because this book gives personal accounts, offers clear vision for why T4T is a good method, and then gives you practical help for implementing it in your context. It is very complete!