- International YWAMer

Principles for the Multiplication of Believers

by Tim Heathcote

Thirty-nine men, new disciples of Isa Al Masih (Jesus the Messiah) lined up along the banks of an African river waiting to be baptised. In the same region, sheiks and Imams and other community leaders have come to faith. Muslim-background believers are studying the Injil (New Testament) with friends in their local mosques. Violent men committed to the persecution of believers meet Isa in dreams and begin to follow Him.

Story after story from an African church planter who was teaching on a School of Frontier Mission (SOFM) in southern Europe inspired and encouraged YWAM students who are learning how to be effective at church planting in a cross-cultural environment. The teacher (who is not a YWAMer) has been church planting for ten years in North and West Africa – home to many of the world’s least-reached people groups.

“Our vision was to see 10,000 churches planted in a decade,” he said. “We had no strategy or specific methodology. After four years we had seen 220 churches planted. This was unheard of, but not what we wanted”. At this point in 2005, his network of church planters retreated to evaluate their success and to consider new ideas. Through outside coaching they were exposed to some key church planting principles. They revised their mission and vision, and returned afresh to the task.

In the following year, some 400 churches were started; the next year saw 900 planted, then 1400, and then 1600. Suddenly a dynamic church planting movement was spreading across their region of Africa, with four churches beginning every day.

It is clear that behind these incredible stories of multiplication lies God’s sovereignty. No one can humanly engineer such a church – planting movement. No one thing could guarantee success and many labour for years using the same techniques and see no fruit. However, there are several key principles that are being taught in YWAM FM training schools like this one that any YWAM initiative could apply in their efforts to see more people come to faith, especially among those who have no culture of Christianity. Here are some of them:

There is a strong emphasis on the need to make disciples rather than converts. The aim is not to convert people to a new set of religious practices. Conversion is about beliefs; discipleship is about obedience. Neither is it necessary to only disciple those who have already made a commitment of faith. Instead, spiritually hungry people are being discipled towards faith.

People are coming to faith through discovery-based Bible studies. In these studies, church planters facilitate more than teach. The emphasis is on seekers discovering for themselves what the Bible says, rather than simply being taught it. As they read, or hear stories read, and then discuss and question, they discover truth personally, learning to hear, respond and obey.

Followers are being taught obedience, not knowledge. As they study scripture, they are encouraged to apply what they’re learning. As people follow the little they know – even before they fully believe – more is revealed to them. The emphasis is not ‘what have you been taught?’ or even ‘what have you learned?’ but ‘what have you obeyed?’

Outreach is not an optional extra. In places seeing movements of churches planted, people growing in understanding of Jesus are encouraged to consider who else might appreciate learning these new things and to share their discoveries with them. Often participants begin leading Bible studies with their friends and relatives; this often happens before participants come to full faith. As they share, they reinforce what they are learning, and grow in their own walk.

Finally, prayer is playing a central part in all such movements. Often there is corporate, sustained prayer for many months before people begin sharing their faith in particular tribes or villages. For example, miracles and dreams are central to many Muslim people who are coming to faith in Jesus and much prayer is focused on seeking the Holy Spirit to move like this, supernaturally opening closed and resistant areas.

If our aim is for the whole world to have the opportunity to experience the life Jesus offers, we have to work out how to make disciples the way He did – What do you think of these principles? What principles are you finding helpful? Join the conversation at www.internationalywamer.org

Recommended Reading :

From Seed to Fruit (edited by Dudley Woodberry) and Where There Was No Church (edited by EJ Martin). Brand new editions of each explore the practices God is blessing today in places where He is raising up groups of Jesus followers among Muslims. Available at www.worldchristian.com