T Net
T Net
T Net
T-NET
"The Training Network for Disciplemaking Churches"
Returning the Church to its Disciplemaking Roots Worldwide
Table of Contents
Introduction.....................................................................................2 T-Net Purpose and Vision...............................................................4 What Impact Sounds Like...............................................................5 What Educators Have Said.............................................................6 The Process.....................................................................................6 The Definition of Disciplemaking..................................................7 Important Disciplemaking and Theological Principles...................7 Fundamental T-Net Training Principles.........................................9 Most Frequently Asked Questions..................................................10 T-NET Doctrinal Statement............................................................12 T-NET Meeting Schedule...............................................................13 Cost Chart.......................................................................................14
HOW DOES T-NET WORK? 1. T-Net is a Coaching process for teams of church leaders. 2. In this process, 3 to 30 churches each bring teams of 3 to 50 leaders to a T-Net center to be coached. These T-Net centers usually meet in a local church or in a seminary. 3. The church teams come to eight meetings at the center. These meetings are held approximately every four months, so the entire process is about 28 months long. Meeting one lasts 3 days(Thursday night -Saturday). Meetings 2-8 are held on Saturdays from 9:00-5:30. 4. In each meeting, the T-Net trainer, (usually a pastor who has successfully implemented the process in his church, or a T-Net staff member) teaches the leaders principles which they can uniquely tailor and apply in their church to become more effective and intentional in disciplemaking. Then the trainer coaches these leaders to overcome barriers to applying the principles from past meetings as well as coaching them to make effective plans to carry out the new principles they have just learned. In addition, the trainer coaches the pastors at least twice between meetings. 5. This proven process, which trains a team over time with accountability, has resulted in leading over 500 churches to be more intentional and effective in disciplemaking.
HOW DOES T-NET DIFFER FROM OTHER TRAINING APPROACHES? In contrast to most other training approaches, T-Net: 1. Trains in a process over time rather than simply offering two or three one-time seminars. 1. Teaches principles which can be uniquely tailored to each church rather than teaching a method that was used by one pastor or church and usually isnt transferable. 2. Trains leaders to lead their churches through change, instead of just telling them what changes they need to make. 3. Trains leaders to use their whole church to make disciples, instead of how just one or more individuals can make disciples. 4. Trains leaders to first define the disciple, and then create programming to make that kind of disciple.
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I dont know of anyone who has written more, worked more, and created more tools for helping churches make disciples than Bill Hull. His lifes mission is to help return the church to its disciple making roots. Go with him on a journey that could transform your ministry.
Dr. John Maxwell, President Injoy Ministries
Leadership is passed on from one leader to others. It is modeled . . . T-Net uses an approach which trains a team of leaders in your church over a long period of time. It is not just a seminar, but a training process to equip and coach leaders until your church has an ever expanding team of disciplemakers.
Dr. Howard Hendricks, Dallas Theological Seminary
Our Purpose
T-NET International exists to return the church to its disciplemaking roots worldwide.
Our Vision
T-NET Internationals leadership team is committed to multiplying this passion for impact wherever God is at work, people are receptive, and technology permits.
A number of years ago, during a personal struggle with pastoral expectations, I picked up Bill Hulls book, Disciplemaking Pastor. His analogy of the pastor as the player/coach of the church both liberated and energized me.!
Bruce Eberline, Senior Pastor, South Park Church, Park Ridge, IL
It isnt easy and it isnt quick. Dont get started in T-NET if you want a quick fix to produce mature disciples. The good news is that it is possible for churches to build mature disciples today. At Winnetka Bible Church, we are well into the second year, and just starting our first set of eight core disciplemaking groups. It was frustrating to wait over a whole year to start groups, but the wisdom of that recommendation is clear now.
Bill Sisterson, Pastor of Administration, Winnetka Bible Church, Winnetka, IL
T-NET has helped us make needed changes that have resulted in growth in numbers and commitment.
Steve Montgomery, Household of Faith, Garland, TX
I heartily recommend T-NET to pastors and leaders who want to get serious about working with Christ to fulfill the Great Commission in their congregations.
Bill Himmel, Senior Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church, Pearland, TX
I have seen more change with unity in the past two years than in the six years preceding.
Mike Fisher, Senior Pastor, Grace Bible Church, Dallas, TX
T-NET has been helpful.... providing the strategy and structure in which a disciplemaking church can develop.
Dan Heringer, Philippe Sterling, Co-Pastors, North Lake Church, Coppell, TX
It has helped our church to refocus on what Christ and the New Testament church were all about, making disciples of our Lord.
Dave Blackmore, Pastor, Faith Evangelical Free Church, Round Rock, TX
God has used you and the ministry of T-NET in a very significant way in our church... The principles we have learned in T-NET have been tremendous and are making an impact.
Kurt Edwards, Senior Pastor, Lake Murry Evangelical Free Church, LaMesa, CA
I dont know where I would be in ministry if God hadnt given me this opportunity. I know we wouldnt have been on the way to the quality ministry God is leading us to.
Monte Vigh, Senior Pastor, Merritt Fellowship Baptist Church, Merritt, B.C. Canada
Dr. John W. Reed, Senior Professor of Pastoral Ministries, Emeritus, Dallas Theological Seminary
The Process
A network of training centers has been organized and equipped throughout North America, under the guidance of T-NET personnel. Parallel training is in process world-wide. Interest is often generated by direct mail and personal invitation to a LEADERSHIP BRIEFING (breakfast or lunch meeting) and the INTENTIONAL DISCIPLEMAKING WORKSHOP (one day meeting presenting overview of the process). The result is interdenominational participation (more than 40 different denominations to date) with 3-30 churches per site. Each church brings a team of people to be prepared to lead in church-o-centric disciplemaking. The focus is on the eight meeting training process and the coaching relationship with an experienced T-Net trainer. The result is a dynamic
increase in overall church effectiveness with a renewed vision to develop fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Total investment in the process and supporting materials during the last seven years exceeds 3 million dollars.
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3. A church must properly and clearly identify the role of the pastor, the people, and the disciplemaking process. 4. The priesthood of every believer. Each person is a called minister of the Gospel and is empowered and gifted to fulfill Gods will for their life and their church. 5. Multiplication is both a principle and a method for increasing the impact and outreach of a congregation. 6. Apprenticeship is critical to leadership development; i.e., the church creates a system that chooses potential leaders, trains them, tests them and then deploys them. 7. Leaders should be selected by character and by gifts, in that order. 8. Philosophical purity must be maintained at the leadership level. 9. Accountability serves as a catalyst to obedience. 10. Decentralization of ministry is possible through small groups. 11. Evangelism is a catalyst to the practice of the spiritual disciplines. E. We believe that change is vital to any congregations ability to be renewed and reformed. But before change can occur, values must be adjusted or clarified so that people see the need for change. We believe high commitment is for the normal Christian life and that it can be built and managed. A high commitment environment is possible within the contemporary evangelical church. We believe the pastors primary role is to prepare people for the work of ministry by being an instructor in the Christian life, teaching people to obey. This is much more than simply dispensing great truths, no matter how eloquent one might be. Preaching is the first and most important step in making disciples in the local church, but only the first step. H. We believe that the training phases modeled by Christ are a helpful paradigm for understanding how to assist people on their spiritual journeys. While we dont see the phases as the purpose of the Gospels or a true Systematic Theology, we do see them as an insightful truth modeled by Jesus. Those phases are Come and See, Come and Follow me, Come and Be with Me, and Remain in Me. These are outlined in the book New Century Disciplemaking by Bill Hull.
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We are committed to multiplication of our training through partnerships with denominations, networks, and mission organizations around the globe. We realize others carry the same vision, and we know there are kindred spirit-filled fellow leaders who care as deeply as we do about the renewal and rescue of the church.
A balanced approach of centralized training and on site application. Churches write their own script by customizing disciplemaking principles to their own congregation and culture. Process rather than event oriented training. Training of leadership teams, not just pastors.
5. If we are a meta church or a cell based church, can T-NET help us? The answer is YES. Again, we are conceptual and we have cell based churches and meta churches in T-NET. These are issues of principle and concept, each church writes their own script and adapts it to their ministry and to their needs. So, again, there is not a pre-packaged plan for each church. That is something each church develops on their own. As a result, any type of church can be helped through the T-NET process. 6. What proof do you have that T-NET works? We conduct follow-up surveys of every church completing the training process. We also monitor and receive ongoing feedback from T-NET participants. (See What Impact Sounds Like - page 4) 7. How many churches drop out and why? Approximately ten percent of the churches that enter the T-NET process drop out at some time during the process. The reasons that a church leaves may vary: philosophical differences, financial problems, key team members not being able to continue due to personal reasons, improper team selection, or other issues not related to T-Net. 8. Why is it important for a church to bring a team of people? The team approach greatly enhances a churchs ability to maximize spiritual impact. It provides a support base of key people in the church, an interactive team for helping determine direction, and ready-made facilitators to implement strategy. 9. What is your doctrinal position? Where do you stand on.....? T-NETs focus is on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Our non-negotiable beliefs are that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, that salvation is by faith alone and totally independent of man's good works, and that the Great Commandment and the Great Commission are central to the purpose of the church. As long as your group agrees with these basic tenets, we can work together. We believe that it is the responsibility of the denominations and churches that come to us to deal with issues and traditions beyond these basic areas of the faith. T-Net's complete doctrinal statement is included on the following page.
CURRICULUM MODULE
Pastors/Staff (only): Principles to make you more effective in coaching your church.
M1- Exegesis of Great Commission M2 Christs Training Phases M3 - Spiritual Disciplines M4 - Definition of Disciple M5 - Principles of Infrastructure M6 - Disciplemaking Infrastructure M7 - Revival, Reformation, Repentance M8 - Leading Your Church Through Change I
Meeting includes Thursday , 6:30 - 9:30 PM, Friday, 8:00 AM-6:00 PM, and Saturday, 8:00 AM-6:00 PM Twenty hours of leadership training! In the past, the cost for this meeting has been $185 per person. This price structure is still available. However, our experience has shown that those who bring the most leaders do the best in the transformation process. Therefore, in an effort to maximize ministry to your church, we now offer you a new way to increase your impact: photocopy your own notes and bring the team members you need.
Sunday Attendance Pay For <50 <100 <150 <200 2 3 4 5 Bring Up to 10 Up to 15 Up to 20 Up to 25 Total cost $370 $555 $740 $925 Sunday Attendance Pay For Bring Total cost <300 6 Up to 30 $1110 <400 7 Up to 35 $1295 >400 9 All you like $1665
A pre-training session precedes meeting one (for pastors and staff members only) to give more in-depth training to those who will act as coaches in each church. This meeting (Wed. 8:30-5:30 and Thu. 8:30-4:30) costs $100 per participant and includes manuscript versions of several meetings).
Commitment Two - One Year Four Meetings Establishing The Foundation of a Disciplemaking Church
Meetings are Saturday only from 9:00 AM-5:30 PM During this one-year of training you may bring your original team or enlarge your team size. Originally, cost was $126 per person per meeting. This price structure is still available. However, to optimize ministry to your church, we now allow you to photocopy your own notes and offer the following new payment plan, encouraging you to spread the cost over 16 months, (the time from meeting 1 until the end of meeting 5):
Sunday Attendance <50 <100 <150 <200 Bring Up to 10 Up to 15 Up to 20 Up to 25 Total cost $63/mo $95/mo $126/mo $158/mo Sunday Attendance <300 <400 >400 Bring Total cost Up to 30 $189/mo Up to 35 $221/mo All you like $284/mo
Commitment Three - One Year Three Meetings Maximizing and Multiplying Disciplemaking in Your Church
Meetings are Saturday only from 9:00 AM-5:30 PM These meetings are paid for in the same way as Meetings 2-5. The payments are identical and are also spread over 12 months (the time from meeting 5 until the end of meeting 8). The old payment schedule ($126 per person per meeting) is still available. In General: Churches will be invoiced for meeting one, and payment is due two weeks before this meeting. Churches will be invoiced monthly for the rest of the process for as long as they continue. If, for any reason, your church has problems with payments, please call us. We will never let money stand in the way of ministry! A church may choose to drop out of the process at any time by giving T-Net one months notice. Thank you for your commitment to intentional, whole-church disciplemaking.