The first goal of this project was to assess the current discipleship practices among young adult small group leaders at Kairos/BBC using the DMDS.7 The DMDS provided a clear assessment of the discipleship practices amongst our group leaders. In particular, I concentrated on their biblical and theological foundational knowledge, as well as their current discipleship practices.
The DMDS provides clear assessments of biblical and theological foundations for the group leaders. Categories such as the lordship of Christ, Bible engagement, salvation, sin, and other related biblical and theological concepts as they pertain to a disciple. Table 1 shows the results of the pre-training survey for biblical and theological foundations.
The DMDS pre-training survey revealed that leaders were solid in their biblical and theological foundations. On a six-point scale, the group averaged a 5.8 of 6. The data painted a picture that the leaders were overall confident in key biblical and theological categories. The DMDS pre-training survey served its purpose in developing and arranging content of the Kairos DMD Training Handbook. The training concentrated more on ministry practice rather than common core biblical and theological matters. Tables 2 and 3 consists of the DMDS pre-training survey concerning questions related to gospel conversations and going.
7 Sixteen participants completed the DMDS during the pre-test survey and 16 completed DMDS during the post-test survey.
Table 1. DMDS pre-training survey of biblical and theological foundations Biblical and Theological
Foundations Strongly
Disagree Disagree Somewhat
Disagree Agree
Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree 6. I want to please and
honor Jesus in all that I do in my life.
0 0 0 0 1 15
7. I am confident that I am a follower of Jesus Christ
0 0 0 1 0 15
8. I know that salvation is found in Christ alone.
0 0 0 0 1 15
10. The Holy Spirit is at work in every believer teaching, convicting, of sin and guiding him/her into a life of righteousness.
0 0 0 1 3 12
11. The Bible is the written Word of God and is totally accurate in all that it teaches.
0 0 0 0 2 14
12. I believe a believer needs to be daily involved in Bible reading and/or studying the Bible.
0 0 0 0 1 15
Table 2. DMDS pre-training survey of gospel conversations Biblical and Theological
Foundations Strongly
Disagree Disagree Somewhat
Disagree Agree
Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree 21. I believe that I
should share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people who do not know Christ personally.
0 0 0 1 7 8
22. I know how to articulate the Gospel in a concise way.
0 0 1 3 7 5
23. I regularly have gospel conversations with those who do not know Christ personally.
0 2 2 7 4 1
24. I am intentional in developing
relationships with non- Christians with hope of sharing Christ with them.
0 0 6 4 6 0
Table 3. DMDS pre-training survey of “going”
Biblical and Theological
Foundations Strongly
Disagree Disagree Somewhat
Disagree Agree
Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree 25. I believe God
wants me to serve my neighbors in my community.
0 0 0 3 4 9
26. I have participated or will participate in a mission project or mission journey with my small group this or next year.
0 2 6 5 3 0
27. I support mission endeavors by investing my time, talents, spiritual gifts, and financial resources.
0 0 1 5 8 2
Regarding questions that emphasized gospel conversations and “going,” the DMDS pre-training survey revealed that the leaders held a high theological conviction of sharing the gospel. However, it also demonstrated that the leaders did not possess
confidence in sharing the gospel. The same can be said concerning the serving or “going”
component of the DMD Strategy. The leaders held a high biblical and theological conviction of serving but lacked a certain degree of competency in serving.
Another area of interest that the DMDS pre-training survey evaluated was disciple-making. Some categories of particular interest included leadership development and group dynamics in ministry. The leadership development results demonstrated that the leaders lacked ministry competency in reproducing leadership and group multiplication.
Half of the leaders displayed some confidence in how to choose a group apprentice along with sharing vision and strategy to multiply their respective groups. Concerning group proxemics, the survey also revealed that leaders had a high value in transparent space ministry. This was critical in developing and arranging the content for maximum
understanding amongst the leaders. The training needed to include teaching leaders with transparent space. Table 4 and 5 consist of the results from the DMDS pre-training
Table 4. DMDS pre-training survey of multiplication Disciple-Making Strongly
Disagree Disagree Somewhat
Disagree Agree
Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree 34. I know how to
articulate spiritual multiplication to another believer.
0 0 2 7 3 4
39. I know what to look for in pursuing someone to disciple.
0 0 3 5 2 6
41. I understand and can explain to my small group how to reproduce leadership.
0 0 4 7 3 2
42. I understand and can explain to my small group how to multiply our group.
0 0 3 5 4 4
Table 5. DMDS pre-training survey of group proxemics Disciple-Making Strongly
Disagree Disagree Somewhat
Disagree Agree
Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree 48. I believe the most
effective ministry occurs in groups of over 100 people in attendance.
0 5 5 5 1 0
49. I believe the most effective ministry occurs in groups over 15-50 people in attendance.
0 5 7 3 1 0
50. I believe the most effective ministry occurs in groups of over 4-12 in
attendance.
0 0 1 5 7 3
51. I believe the most effective ministry occurs in groups fewer than 3 people in attendance.
0 0 0 4 3 9
Both leadership development and group proxemics were of interest in assessing the impact the training would have toward reproducing leaders and multiplying groups.
The data also helped raise awareness of possible areas of improvement with the group leaders for future discipleship trainings through following ministry year.