Osama Bin Laden and Church Multiplication Movements

One day we Americans turn on the television to find out that Osama Bin Laden is dead. The U.S. President announces that the most wanted terrorist in the world has been double-tapped by a team of highly skilled Navy Seals during a secret raid. That’s so freakin awesome but how did this happen?

For more than 10 years of the war on terror, the U.S. government, with ALL the resources of the greatest military at its disposal, could not achieve one of its primary objectives – to capture or kill the head of a terrorist organization. And seemingly overnight it’s done by a small, mobile, focused and responsive group of no-name individuals – individuals who risked everything to see the vision come to fruition.

One day we Christians in the west pick up a book to find out that millions of people have been recently baptized and tens of thousands of new churches have been started. Missions agencies announce that over the last decade or so entire regions and population segments have been reached by a team of highly passionate strategy coordinators. That’s so freakin awesome but how did this happen?

For more than 70 years of the modern era of missions, the western Church, with ALL the resources of the richest organizations at its disposal, could not achieve one of its primary purposes – to make disciples of all nations and exponentially multiply the universal Church of Jesus. And seemingly overnight it’s done by a small, mobile, and focused group of no-name individuals who were highly responsive to the Holy Spirit – individuals who risked everything to see the vision come to fruition.

Church Multiplication Movements have always been started by small groups of individuals who have vision to make disciples. They choose not to make a name for themselves. They model obedience to Jesus despite the risks. For those of us who are church planters and want to see multiplication happen, our most essential value is to remain small, healthy, quick, and responsive to the Father’s voice while equipping others to do the same.

Jesus said it Himself that, “God’s kingdom is like a seed thrown on a field by a man who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The seed sprouts and grows – he has no idea how it happens. The earth does it all without his help…When the grain is fully formed, he reaps – harvest time!” Mark 4:26-29