Ed Stetzer and The Rise and Fall of Movements
Ed Stetzer
My one-on-one with Ed Stetzer on The Rise and Fall of Movements:
Ed: What’s the story behind The Rise and Fall of Movements?
Steve: I’ve been studying movements for over 30 years. I soon noticed that dynamic movements have certain characteristics. I also noticed that movements don’t stand still. Movements rise and they fall and they can be turned around.
I wanted to write a book that explains the characteristics of movements that multiply and how they change over the course of the typical lifecycle. An understanding of the characteristics and the lifecycle provides a framework for action.
There are many studies of organizations and social movements that identify a typical lifecycle. They prompted me to search the Scriptures and church history to see if I could find the same patterns. I did.
The real challenge was to discover how God was at work at each stage of development and how we contribute to both the rise and fall of movements.
Ed: What is the movement lifecycle, and why is it important?
