{"id":2159,"date":"2019-10-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-30T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/send-network\/podcasts\/%podcast_channel%\/training-that-grows-the-relational-soul-of-a-church-planter-ongoing-training-for-trainers-with-boston-send-city-missionary-david-butler\/"},"modified":"2020-05-05T14:01:13","modified_gmt":"2020-05-05T18:01:13","slug":"training-that-grows-the-relational-soul-of-a-church-planter-ongoing-training-for-trainers-with-boston-send-city-missionary-david-butler","status":"publish","type":"podcasts","link":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/send-network\/podcasts\/ongoing-training-for-trainers\/training-that-grows-the-relational-soul-of-a-church-planter-ongoing-training-for-trainers-with-boston-send-city-missionary-david-butler\/","title":{"rendered":"Training that Grows the Relational Soul of a Church Planter \u2013 Ongoing Training for Trainers – with Boston Send City Missionary, David Butler"},"content":{"rendered":"

David Butler oversees church planting strategy throughout greater Boston by shepherding kingdom leaders and church planters. While not from the northeast, a trip to Boston rocked his heart for the city. After being a lead pastor for 35 years in Tennessee, Kentucky and New Hampshire, David now lives on mission with a prayer and vision to see \u201cIn Boston as it is in heaven.\u201d David earned a BS in political science from Murray State University, an MDiv from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his DMin from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Gayle, have three married children and nine amazing grandkids. There are few places David enjoys more than being at Fenway taking in a Red Sox game.<\/p>\n

Before you listen to the podcast, take a simple self-assessment. Give yourself a score on a scale of 1-10, 10 being high.<\/p>\n

___ As a trainer, I don\u2019t just focus on getting through the training curriculum. Instead, I make efforts to become part of the story of each planter I train.<\/p>\n

___ I find myself being so dialed in to the planters\u2019 stories that I have a discernment that enables me to ask questions that help the planters grow emotionally.<\/p>\n

___ I am willing and able to share my own stories of brokenness that set the stage for planters to feel free to be authentic and vulnerable in sharing their own stories.<\/p>\n

___ I am sensitive to the fact that when planters get together, they are often protective, wanting to project a glittering image\u2013a false self\u2013to make themselves look good.<\/p>\n

___ I have developed tried and true ways to encourage planters to evaluate whether or not the work that is being done by God through them is because of the work that is being done by God in them.<\/p>\n

___ Total<\/p>\n

Where did you score highest? Lowest? What does this score tell you about your ability to help planters grow emotionally? What steps might you take to help your planters not only develop their technical planting skills but also their emotional and spiritual health?<\/p>\n

Now, listen to the podcast with David Butler. Afterwards, answer the following questions.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

David acknowledges that church planting is demanding, especially in areas like Boston. It\u2019s like \u201ccultivating concrete.\u201d He listed the challenges of<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Expectations<\/li>\n
  2. Comparison<\/li>\n
  3. Resources<\/li>\n
  4. Abandonment<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These can expose a relational and emotional lack of maturity in the life of a planter. What other challenges have you seen that expose character flaws in the lives of planters?<\/p>\n

    David said, \u201cWe don\u2019t spend enough time letting guys tell their stories.\u201d He\u2019s talking about their family of origin stories. How might providing a safe place for planters to tell their stories help them grow in their emotional intelligence?<\/p>\n

    David talked about traits of a healthy church planter. He mentioned the importance of Resilience \u2013 grit, an ability to fail forward. He mentioned that planters must \u201cLove the city more than they want to change the city.\u201d Then he articulated what one of the Boston planters shared: A healthy church planter<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Is Humble<\/li>\n
    2. Is Hungry<\/li>\n
    3. Is Holy<\/li>\n
    4. 4) Has a high EQ<\/li>\n
    5. Knows how to Hustle<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Think of a church planter you are training. Which of these characteristics is missing most in his life? What can you do to help that planter grow in that area?<\/p>\n

      David stressed that character is not really a competency and that it is, and always will be, an area for ongoing development. He says that it\u2019s tempting for us to focus on how well the planter is succeeding in his church planting tasks, but that it\u2019s rare for us to use John Wesley\u2019s question, \u201cHow is your soul?\u201d As a trainer, what are some practical ways you can improve your ability and focus to journey with a planter in the process of his relational and emotional growth?<\/p>\n

      David believes that his role as a trainer and as Send City Missionary is to become on a daily basis more and more a part of the story of the planters\u2019 relational and emotional growth. What changes do you need to make as a trainer to make yourself more available to be part of the planters\u2019 journey toward greater emotional and relational health?<\/p>\n

      David read a quote about a mentor from the book by Richard Plass and David Cofield The Relational Soul<\/em>. \u201cHe had suffered many losses but still had an indomitable spirit. Years of deep and regular communion with God enabled him to live well with his significant limitations. He had learned to die daily to his false self, and as a result was amazingly gracious and openhearted, direct and wise. And he could laugh. He was someone I wanted to be around, so we began to meet a couple times a month. With me he minored in advice and double-majored in encouragement and perspective. At his stage in life he wasn\u2019t trying to prove something. He just loved me.\u201d What steps can you take to become a trainer like this?<\/p>\n

      David encourages planters to see that planting is really about authentic relationships. If people in the community can see the planter\u2019s brokenness, they will be attracted to how real the planter is. When have you seen a planter\u2019s vulnerabilities become attractive in a missional sense? How might you encourage other planters to become more and more emotionally healthy so they can feel free to lead from their own weakness and brokenness?<\/p>\n

      After listening to this podcast, what is God saying to you about how you might create space for helping a planter grow in his emotional intelligence? What is God saying to you about how you might learn to minor in advice and double major in encouragement and perspective? When will you start? Who will help you?<\/p>\n

      ***<\/p>\n

      You can follow David on Twitter at @dab1520, on Instagram at dab1520, and on Facebook at David Butler.<\/p>\n

      Books and resources mentioned in this podcast.<\/strong><\/p>\n