Vision Frame Draft

The Church Multiplication Team for the Forest Lakes District has worked with me to develop the following vision frame based on a process outlined by Will Mancini in Church Unique. This frame will become the basis for future development goals. Because this is a draft your feedback is welcome and desired.

MISSION

• We exist to glorify God by multiplying transformational churches among all people. 

VALUES 

• Gospel Centered: We embrace the Gospel as the power of God to save and transform lives and communities. 
• Prayerful Dependence: We are a Spirit-filled people who pray continually, depending on God to lead and guide.   
• Collaborative Community: We support one another as a community of leaders and churches.  
• Creative Culture: We encourage innovation and creativity in order to better display God’s transcendent glory to the world. 
• United Family: We unite in Christ as an increasingly diverse people from every race, ethnicity, age, status & community. 
• Multiplication Driven: We are committed to multiply at every level... disciples, leaders, churches and networks.  

STRATEGY

• Recruit: We invite, develop and mobilize new generations of pastors, planters and leaders.
• Assess: We help potential planters to identify and affirm their readiness, gifts and calling.
• Train and Coach: We provide the resources and accountability for planters to flourish.
• Establish: We guide planters to produce healthy and well-ordered lives, marriages, leadership and communities. 
• Network: We equip disciples, pastors and churches to multiply themselves as a family.

MARKS OF SUCCESS

Every Planter Is… 

• Well prepared for planting  
• Well supported and loved 
• Multiplying at every level

Guide to the House Church Movement

Here is a simple e-book on the house church movement by Roger Thorman. In it Thorman shares his experience with house churches and then goes on to layout a case for why multiplying house churches is a viable and effective means for church planting and disciple making.



(HT: Simple Church Revolution)

How to Create a Spark for Multiplication

What does it look like to have a multiplication minded church? I highly recommend the e-book Spark by Todd Wilson as an important book for pastors and painters that answers this question with clarity. I believe the e-book is free when you register at the Exponential website by following this link.

A Multiplication Movement

Is a multiplication movement possible? Ed Stetzer thinks it is, but believes it will take some intentional steps on the part of movement leaders. He's a quote from the first of several articles on the subject.

To lead a Church Multiplication Movement, you need movement leaders. Find a persuasive leader and others with a passion for multiplication. A plan and a strategy can help, but people follow leaders. Having the right person leading is vital to move a movement toward multiplication. The movement will never happen unless key pastors are modeling sacrifice and calling others to the same.

Resources on Multi-Site

One of the growing phenomena in church multiplication over the last 20+ years has been multi-site. According to Wikipedia, in 1990 there were 10 multi-site churches and in 2012 there are more than 5,000 in North America alone. If you are interested in learning more about how to multi-site, here are a few of the more prominent resources you may find helpful.

The Multi-Site Church Revolution

A Multi-Site Church Road Trip

Multi-Site Churches

7 Ways to Keep Missional Communities from Multiplying

Want to assure yourself that your missional communities never multiply? Seth McBee gives us seven ways to assure that's the case. To make the point painfully obvious, avoid these common pitfalls and it will lead your church and smaller communities toward healthy multiplication.

1. Never ask anyone to step up and lead
2. Don’t have a unified context for mission
3. Do not have a written vision and plan to make disciples
4. Don’t interact with unbelievers
5. Keep it an event instead of a rhythm
6. Teach at the meetings like a professional
7. Don’t talk about multiplication or the Spirit

For the whole article click here.

We Multiply Churches Website Online

Today I worked on stripping down our district planting website to the bare bones and began the rebuilding process. I am looking forward to this site growing to become front door resource for people interested in planting within the district and churches learning how better to participate in the cause of church multiplication. Stay tuned for ongoing updates at www.wemultiplychurches.org.

National Multiplication Director Announced

Jeff Sorvik was just announced the new national Director of Church Multiplication for the Evangelical Free Church of America. Looking forward to working with you Jeff!

Healthy Churches Reproduce

Some good food for thought from the book Viral Churches,

The healthiest churches are those who reproduce, according to a national research project called FACT2008. Among Protestant congregations surveyed, those whose leadership spent the most time recruiting and training other leaders were the healthiest. Similar results came from leaders who promoted a clear vision and emphasized evangelism. The massive survey factored in results from more than 2,000 randomly selected Protestant congregations.

From the book Viral Churches by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird.