The Rise and Fall of Movements: A Roadmap for Leaders

by Steve Addison, David Garrison (Foreword)

A ministry is what you can do with the help of others. A movement is what God can do when you let go of control and multiply disciples and churches. Drawing on the life and ministry of Jesus, and with reflections on past and present movements, Steve Addison provides a roadmap for leaders who want to multiply disciples and churches to the ends of the earth. Whether pioneering on the edge, riding a wave of expansion, or stuck in suffocating decline, The Rise and Fall of Movements addresses each phase in the movement lifecycle, helping leaders identify their stage and align themselves with God’s purposes.

Genres: Leadership, Evangelism, Christian, Church, Christianity

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2019

Reviews

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love themes. It's beautiful to see how there really are patterns that the Lord has put in place for how his Kingdom works and it's refreshing to begin to see those patterns play out in real life. This book does a great job of bringing to light this theme of Kingdom growth throughout history and how we can see this same pattern of movement today. Addison takes different movement principles from what we see in scripture and makes it very practical on how we can apply these same principles today. Overall, this book was not only full of great stories of how God has moved in the past but has been very helpful in practice.

[Graham Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like how Steve emphasizes the importance of Identity, pointing to the example of Jesus’ 40 days in the dessert to prelude his ministry. There, his identity was tested and solidified. Identity in the Word, the Spirit, and the mission are crucial to any movement. Also, the case study examples of why movements declined and decayed were harrowing. Another humbling thing was the realization that Jesus’ opinion of what a church is is the only opinion that matters. In Revelation, He warned the church of Ephesus that if they did not repent, he would remove their lamp stand. They would cease to be His church.

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal read on principal growth dynamics within multiplying ministries. Addison writes with lucidity as he probes the five levels of a team/organization’s life cycle (i.e., birth, growth, maturity, decline and decay).

Each of the key indicators used to discern a ministry’s life cycle status (i.e., identity, Spirit, Word, adaptive methods, etc.) is carefully laid out and a prominent model from church history is offered as an illustrative case study. The insights are thought provoking and the principles easily applicable.

Leaders will find themselves drawn to constructive critiques of their specific ministry dynamics, as well as, a fertile pondering on the vitality of their ministry model in light of the need to multiple disciples.

[Ronald J. Pauleus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the research and truth presented. I want to be a part of what God is doing in my community. I want to be used to lead or be a part of a movement of church planters.

“This is a book about aligning who we are (Identity) with the most effective ways (Strategy) to multiply faithful, loving, obedient disciples, and healthy reproducing churches everywhere.”

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Addison is a leading writer and practitioner when it comes to multiplying movements. Basically all of his books are about movements and this one in particular outlines the 5 stages or life-cycle of a movement (birth, growth, maturity, decline, decay), addressing issues like why movements die out, how to prevent decay when you’re in decline, and how to see a movement restart the life-cycle via rebirth if it does sadly decay. As a movement leader and practitioner myself, I find Addison’s work not only helpful but inspiring as his books are filled with examples and stories not only from America, but all over the world, including places that are traditionally considered “hard soil.”

[Joseph Ebuen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timely for us and our ministry right now.
Pointed issues for ministries and movements to consider- I appreciated how Addison talked about how movements start and then what are the causes for movements flattening out and then inching toward decline.
Great points for what we must do to keep movements focused on abiding in Christ and coming back to what drew us to these movements in the first place.

[Brian Hargett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Historical Case Studies

The historical case studies for each stage of rise and fall are worth the price of the book. May our lessons from the past fertilize the fruitfulness of our future.

[Christian Åkerhielm · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and captivating analysis!

Many descriptions of historic events to learn from and to be inspired by. Book can definitely serve as basis for healthy discussions within movements today.

[J. Delton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very useful look into how the Good News of Jesus has spread throughout history and what it takes for that to continue. May the Church have the courage to humbly do what it takes for that to happen.

[van cochrane · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent read

Excellent from start with contextual examples to finish what, why and how to partner with God in His Plan to bring His kingdom to earth.

[Andy Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

loved the review of different movements.

[Brian Michael Stegner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, actually going to re-read and implement elements presented

[Pen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's just too much to say, really. If you are in anyway interested in how God can use you to make His name known in greater ways READ THIS BOOK!