Pioneering Movements: Leadership That Multiplies Disciples and Churches

by Steve Addison

The soldiers stood silently, listening to the gospel in the biting cold. Finally, we lined up as a group and shook the hand of every soldier, each one smiling and nodding in appreciation that we had taken the time to talk with them. Sharing the gospel with Indian border guards could have got us into trouble. The leader of the trek took a risk. I saw in him what the New Testament calls parrhesia—boldness, confidence, openness and freedom of speech. The opposite of parrhesia is to be ashamed, to be silent, to be hidden. This freedom of speech and action was on display in the life of Jesus. Its origin is not human; it is a gift of God. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus passed on that gift to his disciples, to Paul and to the church in Acts. Freedom of speech and action is possible because God has spoken freely in Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah, crucified and risen. He is our only hope of salvation. This Word is alive, active and powerful. It’s not about us—our church, our missional community—or about our methods and strategies. It’s not about our creative imagination or even about movement pioneers. It’s about God and what he has done through Jesus. It’s about the power of the Holy Spirit and his dynamic Word. If Jesus died for our sins and rose again, then nothing is too hard for God. He will make a way. The question is, will we join him in this great cause? Will we stare down the giants that confront us every day?