The Church That Multiplies

The next several days I am going to be sharing information from The Church That Multiplies by Joel Comiskey. Many have asked how viable “small group” ministry can be for growing a church. I believe that small groups, or what we will call “Community Groups”, are the best and most practical building blocks for a healthy ministry. I challenge you to take the time to read these emails each day. My hope is that you will be encouraged, equipped, and excited about the ministry of Jesus through and among us.
(Comiskey will refer to small groups as “cell groups”, we will call them Community Groups- all are synonymous)
Every time I visit countries such as Korea, Brazil, Africa, Asia, or Latin America, I go away encouraged and amazed at the health and vibrancy of the church. The so-called mission field revives my spirit because of the amazing work God is doing. The atmosphere in North America, on the other hand, has become increasingly skeptical and post-Christian. It’s a harder mission field than many of the overseas locations where the huge cell churches are found. This book is an attempt to understand the secular, western culture and then to build a cell church strategy based on that difference.
Cell-based churches are flourishing overseas. While North American churches marvel at the incredible growth overseas, the immediate question is, “Will the same thing work here?” North Ameri ca is simply a different animal, and those ministering in North America understand the unique cultural differences. One pastor asks, “The cell model traces its lineage back to Cho’s church in Korea (the largest protestant evangelical church in the world). How much of the effectiveness of the model is attributed to the Korean culture and how much is actually transferable between cultures?” North American leaders aren’t even asking the same questions as their cell-based overseas counterparts. The western, post-Christian reality is so different, and the needs so distinct, that the questions are different. Questions for overseas churches include, “How can we reap the harvest? What model will do a better job of managing growth? What care structure will work best to disciple the multitudes?” Questions for those living in North America include, “How do I get someone to come to my cell group? How do I find people willing to enter into the training track and become a future cell group leader? How do I motivate my people to submit to their leaders? How can I promote the cell vision?”
Those ministering in North America and in the western world face unique cultural challenges that need to be understood. Will McRaney, a North American church-growth leader says, “The challenge before the church and the individual Christian is to exegete not only our message, but also our culture to ensure that our traditions do not hinder our understanding and communication of our message.” Those who implement the following principles will have to work hard. There is no magical cure. Yet the cell church, better than any other strategy, provides a built-in health mechanism as churches reach out to those without Christ.
Cell Church in its simplest form is a strategic approach that emphasizes both cell and celebration (worship service) on an equal basis. In the cell church, cell is the church and celebration is the church. Every worshipper is encouraged to attend both weekly cell group and weekly celebration service. Most people know what celebration looks like. Worshippers gather to hear the Word preached, worship the living God, and participate in the sacraments (e.g., the Lord’s Supper and baptism). But what is the cell? More tomorrow….

Pastor Bryan