It is true that a big part of swarming is using free and openly-available tools. And there are many leadership development curriculum available for free, particularly to those in non-Western countries. What’s more, there are often ministries with the funding to come and teach you how to implement the program, or even implement it for you.
So why not use these? Often they are very good programs! Theologically sound, etc.
Here are a few reasons that spring to mind.
1. They will not be a precise custom fit to your situation. Since they are, after all, one-size-fits-all. they might be slightly customized, but they are not designed with you and those you are training in mind.
2. Your situation will change – and then you will have to change the curriculum again. If you can, if you have the capacity to. You might not be able to change it; you might have to go back to the curriculum owners.
3. If it works for you, it may not work for the 2nd or 3rd or 4th generation of leaders that are trained as a result of your ministry.
4. A Western training program is not contextualized to your unique situation.
5. A Western training program might have onerous requirements not needed in your situation.
6. A Western training program might not meet your security requirements.
7. Many (most?) Western training programs use only on instructional teaching and focus mostly on the competencies of leadership, with little emphasis on community, character, calling or Christ.
What other reasons spring to your mind?
