Multiplying Churches

The Local Church is the only HOPE For the world!

The creation of new bodies of believers is implicitly understood as a normal expression of New Testament Missiology.

Percent of US Population Attending Church Source: The American Church in Crisis, David T. Olson

Churches Opened and Closed Each Year Sources: The American Church in Crisis by David T. Olson and Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird Current Churches Opened3,660 Churches Closed Net Gain Percentage Growth Population Growth Churches Needed

Churches Opened and Closed Each Year Sources: The American Church in Crisis by David T. Olson and Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird Current Churches Opened3,660 Churches Closed3,200 Net Gain Percentage Growth Population Growth Churches Needed

Churches Opened and Closed Each Year Sources: The American Church in Crisis by David T. Olson and Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird Current Churches Opened3,660 Churches Closed3,200 Net Gain460 Percentage Growth Population Growth Churches Needed

Churches Opened and Closed Each Year Sources: The American Church in Crisis by David T. Olson and Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird Current Churches Opened3,660 Churches Closed3,200 Net Gain460 Percentage Growth0.15% Population Growth Churches Needed

Churches Opened and Closed Each Year Sources: The American Church in Crisis by David T. Olson and Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird Current Churches Opened3,660 Churches Closed3,200 Net Gain460 Percentage Growth0.15% Population Growth1.21% Churches Needed

Churches Opened and Closed Each Year Sources: The American Church in Crisis by David T. Olson and Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird Current Churches Opened3,660 Churches Closed3,200 Net Gain460 Percentage Growth0.15% Population Growth1.21% Churches Needed3,880

Churches Opened and Closed Each Year Sources: The American Church in Crisis by David T. Olson and Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird Current Churches Opened3,6604,009 Churches Closed3,2003,707 Net Gain Percentage Growth0.15%0.09% Population Growth1.21%0.98% Churches Needed3,8803,205

Churches Opened and Closed Each Year Sources: The American Church in Crisis by David T. Olson and Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird Current Churches Opened3,6604,0094,000 Churches Closed3,2003,7073,500 Net Gain Percentage Growth0.15%0.09%0.15% Population Growth1.21%0.98% Churches Needed3,8803,2053,131

Growth Rates for Evangelical Churches by Age Source: The American Church in Crisis, David T. Olson

Why do you think the Church is in this present crisis?

Why multiply rather than just plant? Because Jesus ’ goal was not a single healthy church, but a movement.

Church multiplication (planting) is an effective evangelistic methodology. Church multiplication necessitates an outward focus. Church multiplication is the natural result of a growing, healthy church. Jesus had no desire for one healthy church, but his vision was a movement of churches

What are barriers to multiplying churches?

Two Barriers to Church Multiplication 1. Fear of loss. Loss of… Members Money Mud (parts of the community) Momentum It is NOT a resource issue, it is an issue of the heart! ”

The Heart of the Matter It is not the size of the church that matters, but the size of the church ’ s HEART that makes all the difference!

2. Corporate selfishness-it is all about us. Church Multiplication is a spiritual decision of a local church to put the needs of a desperate world before self- preservation.

How can we keep up? Churches plant churches not Denominations or Conferences. Why? Churches plant churches not Denominations or Conferences. Why? 1. Don ’ t have the resources 2. Don ’ t have the right leadership pipeline 3. Don ’ t have the contextual relationships.

Denominations Conferences Churches

Big Question: HOW? Three typical ways: Hive off Internships Intentional small group development Permission Giving.

Now What? Pray for God ’ s spirit and presence Cast vision for a movement Identify those God may be calling Study your community Schedule training Promote missional communities - (TKP) Pick your twelve.

25 What it takes to start a movement. “ Want to ” Vision Knowledge Passion “ Want to ” Vision Knowledge Passion Desire

26 What it takes to start a movement. “ Want to ” Vision Knowledge Passion “ Want to ” Vision Knowledge Passion Resources Desire “ How to ” Personnel Training Finances “ How to ” Personnel Training Finances

27 What it takes to start a movement. “ Want to ” Vision Knowledge Passion “ Want to ” Vision Knowledge Passion Resources Climate Desire “ How to ” Personnel Training Finances “ How to ” Personnel Training Finances “ Get to ” Interdependence Strategy Harmony “ Get to ” Interdependence Strategy Harmony

3. 3. The right climate A positive and prevailing attitude, held by a majority of pastors and lay leaders that church multiplication is our goal.

29 What it takes to start a movement. “ Want to ” Vision Knowledge Passion “ Want to ” Vision Knowledge Passion Resources Climate Desire “ How to ” Personnel Training Finances “ How to ” Personnel Training Finances Effective Church Planting Movement “ Get to ” Interdependence Strategy Harmony “ Get to ” Interdependence Strategy Harmony Frustration Fruitlessness Futility

Movements are never clean, safe, or predictable. They must be dangerous to be effective. They are always unsafe, messy and risky. Movements are never clean, safe, or predictable. They must be dangerous to be effective. They are always unsafe, messy and risky.

Where are you in the Circles?