Inside Church Planting Movements: What 25 Years of Assessments Reveal

“This fascinating book contributes to debates that focus on the question of CPMs reality. Having sat on the fence for years and imperiously granted a certain ‘phenomenological being’ to the reports of movements (including those emanating from my own country of birth), I found the author’s honest scrutiny of CPM’s reality, his evaluation of its critics/catalysts and his concise assessment of specific movements, refreshingly persuasive. The bonus for readers is in the author’s invitation to imagine a path ahead which includes giving them the tools for independent assessments. I commend this book unreservedly to both the critics and advocates.”  

—Dr. David Emmanuel Singh 
PhD Programme Director, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies
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“A vital contribution to global missiology, Dave Garrison brings clarity, depth, and credibility to the conversation around Church Planting Movements. Grounded in 25 years of firsthand assessments, this book is both a challenge and a gift to anyone serious about multiplying disciples and churches across the nations.”

 —Alan Hirsch 
Author of The Forgotten Ways, Founder of Movement Leaders Collective
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“Inside Church Planting Movements is a landmark contribution to the global missions conversation. Drawing from a rich archive of field research previously inaccessible to most, this book pulls back the curtain on one of the most discussed—and often misunderstood—phenomena of modern missions. With clarity, humility, and rigorous honesty, Garrison wrestles with the hard questions: Are Church Planting Movements real? Can we trust the reports? And how do we discern fact from fiction? This is essential reading for anyone serious about the Great Commission and eager to understand how God may be moving in our time.”

 —Wilson Geisler 
Research Director, International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention
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“Here he comes again! About twenty years ago, my friend David Garrison wrote a book Church Planting Movements that God used to inflame and influence the vision and practices of church planting movements worldwide. Now, in this groundbreaking research of 25 years, he takes us deep into the realities and contexts of church planting movements around the world and presents to the body of Christ a critical instrument that can be used to assess, learn and improve the quality of movements. I find this book not only a must read but also a must study, reflect and apply by every believer in Christ who is committed to see the advancement of God’s kingdom through church planting movements.” 

—Dr. Bekele Shanko
Founder & President, Global Alliance for Church Multiplication (GACX)
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“Only David Garrison could distill thousands of pages of reports into a compelling story! From the pioneer who launched it all in the 1990s, this book brings you up to date on the exciting world of movements that are making disciples of Jesus among all nations. Inside Church Planting Movements is the data-rich resource we’ve been waiting for.”

—Warrick Farah
Editor of Motus Dei: The Movement of God to Disciple the Nations
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“David Garrison’s Inside Church Planting Movements is a most honest look-in-the-mirror book that asks, “Are church planting movements really real?” Probing into 28 church movements with 25 years of solid qualitative and quantitative assessments, this book provides the critical insight into the depth and breadth, and the size and nature of church planting movements. Evidence demands a verdict! While confirming that real church planting movements exists—spanning continents from rural to urban areas, from the Buddhist to the Muslim to the Hindu world—this book also identifies the impediments that have derailed non-church planting movements. It also pinpoints the strategic adjustments that the “something-in-between” need to make to flourish into real church movements. Garnered from 25 years of hindsight, this book provides the insight and foresight needed for us to align with God’s heart to unleash future church planting movements among the least reached so that all may hear.”

—Dr. Mary Ho
International Executive Leader, All Nations International
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“I have been a student of David Garrison for over 25 years. His writings on church planting movements opened the door and set the agenda for a generation. In his latest work, Inside Church Planting Movements, teams of assessors gathered data to reveal the size and nature of these movements. Are church planting movements real? In eleven of the case studies, the evidence was undeniable. He examines twenty-eight assessments of church planting movements over twenty-five years — from India to Cuba, from Guatemala to the megacities of China. Garrison explains how the assessments were done and provides the tools to help researchers conduct their own. This is a book for those who want to go beyond the hype of movements to the reality of what it takes to multiply disciples and churches to the glory of God.”

—Steve Addison
Author of Acts and the Movement of God, Movements.net
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“For two and a half decades, I have been a student of, practitioner in and around, and an academic voice advocating for “wonder” at the kairos moments of God in drawing people to Himself through the work of disciple-makers and church planters. Much ink has been spilled during that time on both sides of the issues surrounding movements. Sometimes advocates have over-promised and under-delivered on strategies. At other times, skeptics have wielded their criticism as a weapon as if the movements described in the Book of Acts were an anomaly bound to the First Century with little relevance for the Church that was birthed therein. But I agree with A.W. Tozer that, “Anything God has ever done, he can do now. Anything God has ever done anywhere, he can do here. Anything God has ever done for anyone, he can do for you.” That sentiment has been, and remains, at the heart of David Garrison’s research and writing, ever since he coined the term “church planting movements” over two decades ago. And in his most recent book on the subject, Garrison charitably evaluates and responds to both advocates and critics alike. This book is not merely a rehashing of old material. Rather, it is an honest look at the past and a hopeful look into the future of movement missiology. If advocates and critics alike would take the time to objectively read this book, senseless quarrels might dissipate. May Christ be honored and all who are far from God be brought near through faith-fueled obedience.” 

— Dr. George Robinson
Retired Professor of Missions, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
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“Talk of church planting movements simultaneously exhilarates and frustrates the missions community. Reactions range as wide as, “All of this is amazing! We should all be learning from them and seeking God to do the same in our ministries” to, “We should distrust and ward people away from church planting movements because they’re deceptive and theologically weak!” But what’s really happening?  Why the polarization? Garrison’s “Inside Church Planting Movements” allows readers a peek into the most exhaustive set of church planting movement assessments ever assembled. Without such assessments, we could blindly accept or reject all these incredible claims. After reading this book, you’ll have presuppositions challenged, be encouraged by an organization’s exhaustive efforts for integrity and insight, and have blinders removed to see the range of what’s really happening in reported church planting movements.”

—Chris Clayman
Executive Director, Joshua Project
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“Garrison offers a timely and insightful evaluation of Church Planting Movements (CPMs), balancing honest critique with thoughtful analysis. His work not only affirms the remarkable ways God is at work through CPMs today, but also challenges readers to consider how we assess and engage in these movements moving forward. With clarity and conviction, Garrison charts a course that is both encouraging and constructive—offering a valuable resource for practitioners, missiologists, and church leaders alike.”

—Dr. Jay Moon
Professor of Church Planting and Evangelism, Asbury Theological Seminary
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“Veteran missiologist David Garrison provides an inspiring and reliable guide to honest and open methods of verification for Church Planting Movements (CPMs) among unreached peoples.  This important research strengthens the reality of Christianity as a truly global religion where the vast majority of Christians are in the Global South.”  

—Todd Johnson
Distinguished Professor of Mission and Global Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
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“David Garrison’s new book is a timely and valuable follow-up to his groundbreaking work on Church Planting Movements. I used the original in my classes at Liberty and Gateway, and I still refer to the 10 essentials in my teaching. This new volume continues that legacy—presenting data clearly, making insightful yet simple conclusions, and offering helpful assessment models. The categories—Confirmed CPMs, Non-CPMs, and those in between—are well presented and familiar. I especially appreciate the inclusion of diverse global players. This book is a fantastic resource for anyone teaching intercultural communication, evangelism, or missions. A truly helpful tool!”

—Dr. Eddie Pate
Senior Professor of Evangelism, Gateway Baptist Theological Seminary of the SBC
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“Inside Church Planting Movements is the book we have been waiting for—a must-read for those interested in contemporary movements of the Spirit! I do not often write such words about books based on research findings. However, quality research is the Church’s friend; and she has needed this friend over the past three decades. Skeptics and critics frequently stiff-armed any possibility of such healthy movements throughout the Majority World. Yet a handful of us knew in private what Garrison has now brought to the public: some reported movements were not movements at all; but many were indeed genuine—and even greater than what was recorded by missionaries! God has done and is doing some amazing things among the nations!”

—J.D. Payne
Chair of Christian Ministry, Samford University, Author of Discovering Church Planting
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“David Garrison’s latest book should help to silence the all too often vitriolic criticism of church planting movements and disciple making movements. With grace and precision, Garrison examines movements around the globe according to the extensive data from one of the world’s largest mission agencies, the IMB. Granted, while some of the data might be considered outdated it will no doubt cause critics to raise an unwarranted eyebrow. Nevertheless, Garrison’s analysis of movement assessments demonstrates the depth of desire for movements to be theologically orthodox and ecclesiologically healthy. They are not immune to problems and, as a credible academic researcher, Garrison openly acknowledges such. Even so, he encourages the next generation of movement leaders to be equally meticulous in their assessments and provides a robust roadmap to guide the future of such endeavors.”

—Michael T. Cooper, PhD
Ephesiology Master Classes, Kairos University, East West
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“If evaluating church growth at home can be challenging, how much more so in diverse and difficult-to-access cross-cultural contexts! Garrison’s well-informed overview of church movements helps us chart a course toward both faithfulness and fruitfulness in our Great Commission endeavors.”

—Steve Richardson
President, Pioneers USA
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“Have you heard that millions are coming to faith in Church Planting Movements (CPMs) and you are not convinced — but do not want to oppose God if these are happening? Or perhaps you are a movement practitioner who wants to be a more fruitful? This book with its careful analysis and practical tools can help.

As always, David asks the hard questions. His analysis of multiple movements on several continents is unflinching and provides evidence that 1) movements are real, far from perfect and yet consistent with biblical principles; 2) some movement reports are accurate (even low), some are not, some are mixed; and 3) audits provide hard data which can help teams make strategic adjustments. 

This book, in addition to others (including the very first book on CPMs) is but the latest key contribution David has made toward making disciples of all ethnê. The excellent chapter on pioneering “Coaches and Catalysts” appropriately includes him in the list but greatly understates how greatly he has impacted the continuing growth of CPMs globally.”

—Dr. Kent Parks
President and CEO, BEYOND

David Garrison is a veteran of 31 years with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. He served as Associate Vice President for Global Strategy, Regional Director for South Asia, and numerous other assignments in India, Egypt, Tunisia, and Central Asia. Garrison earned a PhD in historical theology from the University of Chicago. He is the author of numerous articles and books including “Church Planting Movements,” “A Wind in the House of Islam,” and “Inside Church Planting Movements.” His books have been translated into more than 20 languages around the world. 

David and his wife, Sonia, live in Colorado and are the parents of four grown children. Garrison continues to serve as Missiologist in Residence for Global Gates, a NYC-based ministry reaching the ends of the earth through global gateway cities. 

Preface

Includes a rationale for the book, sources of information, the desired outcomes for the book, and a note regarding security constraints

Part One: Movements, Critics, and Catalyst

1. What Are We Talking About?
   Defines Church Planting Movements and Disciple Making Movements and their contrast from Insider Movements
2. Why is this important?
   Explains why both Church Planting Movements and their assessment are important
3. The Critics Weigh In
   Explores some of the more common objections to Church Planting Movements
4. Catalysts and Coaches
   Identifies agencies pursuing movements missiology and the growing number of movement practitioners, and catalysts of movements
   

   Part Two: Movements and Their Assessments

5. The First Church Planting Movements
   Profiles the first four Church Planting Movements reported by missionaries of the International Mission Board between 2000 and 2005
6. Communist, Berber, and Tribal Movements
   Examines Church Planting Movements and their assessments that emerged in diverse and challenging contexts
7. Can Church Planting Movements Occur in Cities
   Explores five urban movement assessments, including the largest Church Planting Movement in IMB history
8. Yes, There Were Also Non-Movements
   Provides examples that were reported to be movements but subsequently proved to be something else
9. Muslim, Diaspora, and Hindu Movements
   A look at three additional movements that posed unique challenges for assessment
   

   Part Three: The Road Ahead

10. New Tools and Perspectives
    Explores new tools that are emerging for examining Church Planting Movements
11. Doing Your Own Assessment
    Equips the reader to conduct their own Church Planting Movement assessment by walking through each of the steps involved
12. Evidence that Demands a Verdict
    Answers the book’s fundamental questions, and derives lessons from the evidence produced by twenty-eight Church Planting Movement assessments
13. Where Do We Go From Here?
    Encourages readers to take up the challenge of catalyzing Church Planting Movements
    

    Appendices: Tools You Can Use

Appendix A: Refining Urban Assessments
An essay on the unique challenges of urban assessments and how to get them right

Appendix B: 2005 CPM Assessment Survey Instrument
The 2005 Church Planting Movement Assessment Guide developed by Dr. Jim Slack and the Global Research Department

Appendix C: 2022 CPM Assessment Survey Instrument
The 2022 Church Planting Movement Assessment process developed by Wilson Geisler and the IMB’s Global Research Department

Appendix D: Seven Stages of a CPM Continuum
The Church Planting Movement Assessment Guide Continuum, edited by Stan Parks and Dave Coles

Bibliography

Acknowledgments