Be Fruitful and Multiply
by John Kimball, CCCC Director of Church Development
There are several outcomes we desire to see from our LifeFlow process. We desire to see pastors come alive as they “fit and flourish” in leading the flock according to their Divine design. We desire to see church leadership move away from simply administering the affairs of the church organization and begin to lead the flock in effectively reaching the harvest for Christ. We desire to see each of our Seven Guiding Values become a reality in the life and ministry of the church body. And as all these things build, we expect to see the congregation begin to multiply: multiplying more and better disciples, multiplying more and better leaders, and out of these multiplying more and better churches. The Scripture describes the Church of Jesus Christ as an organism — and healthy organisms reproduce.
Presently in the CCCC, church multiplication is a stated priority — a reality for some, but only yet a wonderful dream for most. We can look back over the last decade and see the fingerprints of God as He sovereignly began producing the fruit of this “wonderful dream” right before our eyes. Based upon what we are seeing, upon the values we proclaim, and on the tactical ministry decisions we are making, I can say that most (if not all) of the CCCC leadership now expects healthy church multiplication to become the norm — not just a wonderful exception. It takes time; but it also takes purposeful action on the part of every congregation. Church multiplication is not something that big churches do; it’s something that faithful churches do.
The LifeFlow process is very specifically designed to bring about substantive changes in the life and ministry of our participating pastors and churches. Its primary purpose is NOT to help people get along or to grow the numbers (i.e., attendance, budget, etc.) in your congregation, even though these things likely will happen. LifeFlow is designed to help any church — pastor, leadership and congregation — to build on strengths, to identify areas of lack, and to apply a strong, biblical ecclesiology to their ministry together to more faithfully and effectively extend the rule and reign of King Jesus throughout their community. And as this happens, multiplication will be a primary fruit.
LifeFlow, specifically, may not be the answer for every congregation. That said, purposeful action toward its outcomes is non-negotiable for any body proclaiming faithful obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord and Master. He commissioned the church to make disciples of all people groups (ethne), and instructed us to not only lead them into radical allegiance to Him through baptism, but also to teach them to obey everything He commanded. It’s an issue of Christ’s lordship — and this is the very heart of the LifeFlow process.
Take some time to prayerfully review the fruit of your church — your fruit as a pastor, your fruit as a leadership team, the fruit displayed by you as a member of your congregation. If these are not yet where they need to be, then LifeFlow may be a huge blessing to you as you passionately pursue making more and better disciples, leaders and churches for Christ.
