The People Movement Theory

In the book, “Understanding Church Growth”, by Donald A. McGavran, in chapter seventeen, the author focus on people movements as the initial penetration of the gospel into homogeneous units. Despite its importance, the concept of people movements is relatively new and needs precise definition. In this chapter, the author define "people movement", and explains what a people movement is not.
The term 'people movement" is used exclusively in a third sense. A people movement is a tribe or caste, a clan or lineage, or a tightly knit segment of any society (McGavran, 222). This chapter examines how these groups move to Christianity, however, they continue to hold on to their customs and their core identity. For example, the american Jews movement to Christianity take place, but they continue to hold on to their custom of not eating pork, or not marrying outside of the their community. This acceptance resemble what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19 - 23: “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.” The author also discuss what people movement is not. It is not large numbers becoming Christians, although it can be. Many people group consist of a series of small groups coming to decision (Mcgavan, 222). Recently, a people moement started in my church. A white