Why Healthy Leaders Are Key in DMM

In the book, Transformational Discipleship, authors Geiger, Kelley, and Nation emphasize that real transformation begins with spiritually healthy leaders. In a Disciple Making Movement (DMM) context, the health of the leader isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. Because DMMs are decentralized, rapidly multiplying, and obedience-driven, the DNA of the leader gets passed down into every generation of disciples.

In this context, those we often refer to as DMM “leaders” are more fittingly described as disciple makers. They lead with clarity, intentionality, and a strategic focus on multiplying obedient disciples. Rather than relying heavily on preaching or traditional teaching models, they often function as coaches and facilitators—guiding others through a discovery-based learning process that empowers personal encounter with Scripture and shared accountability.

This kind of leadership carries weight not just in method, but in character. The transformation others experience often begins in the life of a submitted, obedient, and faithful leader—one who models the very life they are calling others into. It’s not a “do as I say” form of leadership, but a “follow me as I follow Christ” way of life, where authenticity, integrity, and imitation drive lasting change.

Becoming this kind of leader, however, rarely follows a traditional ministry pathway. More often, the journey is marked by seasons of rejection, hiddenness, and a holy dissatisfaction with business-as-usual church life—experiences that refine the heart, deepen dependence on God, and prepare a leader to carry the kind of spiritual authority that fuels real movements.

1. They Model the Message 

DMM is not built on charisma or polished presentations, but on lives that are transformed and obedient. Healthy leaders walk the talk. They become the message before they ever speak it. Healthy leaders walk in intimacy with Jesus, consistent obedience, servant-hearted humility, and mission-driven urgency. Their transformed life sets the tone for others as they become the living example others imitate. 

“You teach what you know, but you reproduce who you are.” —Howard Hendricks

2. They Trust Deeply in God and His Word 

At their core, healthy leaders trust that God will be faithful to His Word. They plant seeds of truth, call people to obey, and trust the Spirit to cause the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6–7). Their confidence is not in eloquence, numbers or events but in the slow, deep work of God through obedience.

Because of this:

• They obey quickly and consistently.

• They don’t manipulate outcomes.

• They lead from a posture of trust, not control.
  
  

3. They Embrace Humility Over Glory 

A true DMM leader willingly lays down the glories of traditional ministry—the platform, the title, the applause and the salary—for the sake of forming, empowering, and releasing others. They find joy not in being known, but in seeing others raised up and released. They recognize that the mission of Jesus is too important to be limited by one person’s influence.

Healthy leaders are not threatened by the success of others—they rejoice in it. They choose:

• Obscurity over visibility

• Multiplication over retention

• Empowerment over centralization

This humility mirrors Jesus, who poured into others and said, “You will do even greater things” (John 14:12).

4. They Work Themselves Out of a Job 

Healthy DMM leaders are catalysts—not permanent fixtures. They introduce the vision, model the practices, and embed the movement’s DNA (like obedience-based discipleship, simplicity, prayer, and multiplication). But then they quickly hand over leadership as they intentionally release leadership to others, while providing coaching to the new leaders. 

Their ongoing role is to:

• Coach and support

• Guard the vision and values

• Provide gentle accountability

• Stay relationally invested, not institutionally in control

They know they are not the vine, just a branch helping others connect to Jesus (John 15).

5. They Empower, Not Control

Unhealthy leaders gather followers; healthy leaders raise up leaders. In DMM, reproduction only happens when people are trusted, equipped, and released early. They create space for others to fail forward while modeling accountability, encouragement, and grace. They also empower others with responsibility and authority—coaching along the way rather than clinging to control. They don’t wait for perfection before release. This requires emotional maturity and a heart secure in God’s approval.

6. They Sustain the Movement by Guarding the DNA

Even after handing off leadership, healthy leaders play a vital behind-the-scenes role: As leaders emerge, the role of the DMM leader shifts to guarding the DNA. They coach leaders across generations to stay faithful to:

• The authority of Scripture

• Obedience to Jesus

• Simplicity and reproducibility

• Prayer and Spirit-dependence

• Multiplying disciples and churches

Their presence is light but intentional, without re-centralizing authority.

7. They Are Often Forged in the Fire of Traditional Church Resistance

This is a critical and often overlooked truth: Healthy DMM leaders are rarely formed in the spotlight of traditional church models.

In many institutional settings, the traits essential to DMM leadership are actively suppressed:

• Limelight culture overshadows hidden obedience.

• Over-responsibility disables multiplication.

• Fear of releasing others delays empowerment.

• Complex systems make reproducibility impossible.
  
  

These leaders often experience:

• Anonymity—being overlooked or ignored.

• Suppression—their burden for the harvest misunderstood.

• Distrust—seen as threats rather than gifts.
  
  

Yet this very resistance becomes the crucible God uses to forge apostolic hunger and resilience. Because they cannot find the models they long for, these leaders turn directly to God, His Word, and the promptings of the Spirit. In this secret place, often in the wilderness, God births a new kind of leader—unimpressed by platforms, uninterested in titles, and deeply aligned with the mission of Jesus.

Summary

Healthy DMM leaders:

• Live what they teach with integrity and consistency.

• Trust God deeply, knowing He causes the growth.

• Lay down personal glory to raise up others.

• Catalyze and then coach, working themselves out of a job.

• Empower others freely, refusing to control.

• Guard the DNA so the movement stays true to Jesus.

• Are often forged in rejection and isolation

They emerge not from the stages of traditional ministry but from the margins—refined by obscurity, motivated by hunger, and sent by God. Movements are fueled by unlikely leaders formed in unlikely places, carrying the fire of God’s mission because they sought Him when no one else could show them the way.