Vital Churches Multiply
We spend a lot of time talking about revitalization and working with hundreds of churches nationwide that are stuck, plateaued, or declining. We've seen churches turn around and begin to see people find and follow Jesus through the local church's ministry.
We desire to see every church in Canada grow by fulfilling the Great Commission.
But do we just want churches to get bigger and bigger?
No.
Every growing church needs to think about multiplying. This is how we quadruple our impact. A church that grows needs to be multiplying in three ways:
Multiplying Disciples: A vital church multiplies disciples. Its end goal isn't to have more attendees but more God-fearing, Jesus-loving, mission-driven disciples. A vital church will have pathways for discipleship with a clearly defined idea of what a fully devoted follower of Jesus looks like. A disciple of Jesus matures into a disciple maker. If all we have is a growing number of believers who act like babies, we probably aren't as vitalized as we think we are.
Multiplying Ministries: Whether that's multiple services, multiple small groups, or multiple age ministries, a vital church multiplies ministries. This can be hard when we all want to stay together, but the truth is that growth will not continue if we try to contain it. We need to release that growth and multiply our services. You would be surprised to see what happens when you do. You begin to think bigger and take bigger risks. It no longer becomes about you and your own group; it causes you to release control and see what God can do.
Multiplying Churches: Healthy churches plant healthy churches. Vital churches should look for ways to plant churches in areas that need healthy churches. Raising up leaders and developing strategies to plant is a key way to expand the kingdom. Church plants don't need to all look the same. They can start as a ministry in another town and then grow from there. Sometimes, a leader in your church can minister to people who don't attend your church; what actions can be taken there? Microchurches are great opportunities for starting something. Ask yourself, where does there need to be an access point to the gospel in my world? And then begin to work from there.
A multiplication mindset is not a "come and gather" mindset; it's a "empower and release" mindset. It sees the people who are a part of your church as ministers with a God-given destiny and seeks to steward the resources to expand the Kingdom of God in the region in which we are placed. Vital churches aren't trying to be mega-churches but trying to make a mega-impact. Multiplying disciples, ministries, and church communities will impact our world more than we could ever imagine.
For more inspiration on multiplication, visit Multiply Network.
Jeremiah works as an Effectiveness Coach with the ABNWT District of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever sent his church on: making disciples.