Partnering in Church Multiplication

By Jeff O’Guin, Church Multiplication Committee Chair

Many in our Conference have heard about the Church Multiplication Movement. They are excited about what God is doing, and wonder how they might get involved. They just don’t feel called to plant a church. Churches are also asking what they might do to “get in the stream” of the move of God. Similarly, they don’t see how they could daughter a church plant. There are, however, many ways individuals and churches can be part of this Holy Spirit move of God.

Prayer: Everyone can pray! As the first of our Seven Guiding Values, it promotes the growth of our other values: healthy pastors, churches, church multiplication, shared life and mission, peacemaking and kingdom diversity. Using the “Monday Prayer Guide,” every third Monday you can strategically focuses on Church Multiplication. One to two times a month, we also e-mail out prayer requests on behalf of our planters. Call into the Conference office to begin receiving these requests.

Advocates: Individuals who bless and drive the Church Multiplication Movement. They see the value of church planting and have decided to personally help planters with critical support. Advocates agree to be personally involved in one or more of the following ways:

• Prayer: Advocates commit to pray over regular prayer updates regarding church multiplication.
• Giving: Advocates contribute regularly (monthly or annually) to the Life Changing Churches Fund, a regional hub, or a church-planting project.
• Volunteering: Advocates volunteer on a regional hub and/or national team.

Partner Churches: Energize the Church Multiplication Movement. They identify with and back the effort to start new churches. While they might not directly plant a church, they agree to participate with three action steps:

• Prayer: Receive regular church multiplication prayer updates and pray over the requests.
  Giving: Contribute regularly (monthly or annually) to the Life Changing Churches Fund, a regional hub, or a church planting project.
• Volunteering: Provide at least one volunteer to serve on a regional hub and/or the names of five individuals who would consider giving financially to the Church Multiplication Movement.
• Hubs: In concert with the Church Development Committee, Church Multiplication momentum will center around “Hubs” in each region of our conference. A “hub,” as “a center around which other things revolve or from which they radiate,” will bring together volunteers and staff who share a commitment to Church Multiplication and will facilitate Church Multiplication in their regions. Sometimes they will directly do the work. At other times they will facilitate the work being done by local pastors, churches, and other interested groups. We look to hub members to be regional resource people trained, supported, and sent by our national staff and teams to support our Regional Pastors.

National Team: We are in the beginning phases of developing a National Team. This team will supplement and support the work of the National Committee. We envision a team of about 12 people to oversee our annual networking conference, “The Nineveh Project,” to be a link to our assessors, and to coordinate training programs from hub to hub. Meeting 4-6 times per year to foster the Church Multiplication Movement, this team would work in concert with the Church Development committee and be a support to regional pastors and churches.

Now is the time for the individuals and churches to rise up and say, “Let’s partner with what God is currently doing in our Conference.” Momentum grows as you and your church “get in the stream.” Your time, talent and treasure are needed at this critical moment in history. Don’t delay, get involved!