Ministry & Church Multiplication

THE HEALTHY MULTIPLICATION PROCESS

WHO?

Every living thing is created to multiply. Likewise, we as Christians in churches and ministries endeavor to see growth and multiplication to advance the Good News of the Gospel of Peace. The following information provides you an overview of a valid healthy process towards multiplication!

WHAT?

Organisms like apple trees that are healthy multiply. As an example, the fruit of an apple is not another apple tree, rather it is an orchard of apples trees! Likewise, we as individuals, comprising churches and ministries, are living organisms. When we develop the most healthy aspects in our lives, we multiply. That multiplication yields a harvest bigger than ourselves, growth that in quality and quantity.

This multiplication yields fruit of more Christians, abundant life, more churches, more ministries, and more discipleship venues to name a few. We’ll partner with you in launching ministries and enhancing ministries and churches.

Natural Church Development (NCD) is a "label for an approach to the Christian life - both on an individual and corporate level," according to author and researcher Christian A. Schwarz. It combines biblical principles with insights from the most extensive church health and growth research ever done. As of 2007, more than 45,000 churches have participated in NCD on one level or another. Since then multiplied thousands of others have engaged in the various processes involved, individually and corporately.

WHY?

Stated simply, the best efforts of human beings in to multiply others into the Kingdom of our Lord. Our processes in this journey of life need to be as healthy as possible so that we multiply the most and best we are capable of.

HOW? (THE PROCESS)

The Parable of the Growing Seed:
Mark 4:26-29
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

The NCD principles are useful only if they are put into practice. NCD is a process of development toward greater health and spiritual fulfillment. We should plant and water to the best of our ability!

CitiIMPACT recommends a five-step process for churches, coaches and networks to walk along NCD ministry. We can come alongside your church and/or movement to help you implement the process:

More Hands Make the Load Lighter Prepare
Diagnose
Plan
Implement
Evaluate

With our coaching and partnership, the NCD process becomes less of a burden, and more of a journey. As your NCD Coach, we are walking alongside you on the path toward increased health and growth.

What are some of the aspects that CitiIMPACT will walk with you through on your NCD journey?

There are eight areas that are investigated and can be enhanced in life, church and ministry. Each area needs to be at levels of quantitative and qualitative minimums for healthy development to occur. The thousands of participants globally have thus far yielded the fact that when all eight categories are at least measurable at the minimum levels, multiplication and sustainability occurs. And when all eight are not at the minimum level, multiplication does not occur and/or is not sustainable. One week plank in the bucket holding the water, so to speak, allows the process to be inhibited.

Here is a glimpse of those eight qualities: (notice the adjectives, they are important)

Empowering Leadership
Effective leadership begins with an intimate relationship with God, resulting in Christ-like character and a clear sense of God's calling for leader's lives. As this base of spiritual maturity increases, effective pastors and leaders multiply, guide, empower and equip disciples to realize their full potential in Christ and work together to accomplish God's vision.

Gift-Based Ministry
The Holy Spirit gives to every Christian spiritual gift(s) for the building of God's kingdom. Church leaders have the responsibility to help believers discover, develop and exercise their gifts in appropriate ministries so that the Body of Christ "grows and builds itself up in love."

Passionate Spirituality
Effective ministry flows out of a passionate spirituality. Spiritual intimacy leads to a strong conviction that God will act in powerful ways. A godly vision can only be accomplished through an optimistic faith which views obstacles as opportunities and turns defeats into victories.

Effective Structures
The Church is the living Body of Christ. Like all healthy organisms, it requires numerous systems which work together to fulfill its intended purpose. Each must be evaluated regularly to determine if it is still the best way to accomplish the intended purpose.

Inspiring Worship Services
Inspiring worship is a personal and corporate encounter with the living God. Both personal and corporate worship must be infused with the presence of God resulting in times of joyous exultation and times of quiet reverence. Inspiring worship is not driven by a particular style or ministry focus group, but rather the shared experience of God's awesome presence.

Holistic Small Groups
Holistic small groups are disciple-making communities which endeavor to reach the unchurched, meet individual needs, develop each person according to their God-given gifts and raise leaders to sustain the growth of the church. Like healthy body cells, holistic small groups are designed to grow and multiply.

Need-Oriented Evangelism
Need-oriented evangelism intentionally cultivates relationships with pre-Christian people so they can become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ who are actively participating within the life of the church and community. Using appropriate ministries and authentic relationships, believers can guide others into the family of God.

Loving Relationships
Loving relationships are the heart of a healthy, growing church. Jesus said people will know we are his disciples by our love. Practical demonstration of love builds authentic Christian community and brings others into God's kingdom.

WHAT MAKES THIS GROW?
Like people, churches grow all by themselves. CitiIMPACT uses NCD to indentify six principles, or growth forces, that are connected to this idea of "all by itself" growth. All six of these growth forces are woven into the adjectives of the eight Quality Characteristics.

Interdependence
Individual units are connected to each other in a larger system. Changes in one ministry will affect other ministries in the church and community.

Multiplication
Healthy organisms do not grow endlessly, but reproduce themselves.

Energy transformation
Momentum or energy already flowing, whether positive or negative, can be redirected to accomplish God's purposes.

Sustainability
Resources used should increase the capacity for on-going growth and development, as well as serve multiple purposes.

Symbiosis
Different ministries can cultivate cooperative relationships so the mutual benefit is greater than operating separately.

Fruitfulness
Each ministry needs to produce discernible results in line with its intended purpose.

WHERE?

This process is engaged first right at your place of church or ministry. There are many aspects that we coordinate as we walk beside you through internet forums, yet, mostly this process is face to face with relational authority between those involved.