Visionary leaders gather leaders

Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him… (Acts 16:1-3).

Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing” (Acts 15:36).

• Outcome: Network of church planters

• Key Person: Missional Leader

• How to Give: Give toward travel and communication for the missional leader identified by Multiply regional leadership

• How to Pray: Pray for new leaders to emerge and rise up all over the country

• How to Go: Go serve the missional leader with your expertise in support of their endeavors (e.g. business, community development, church-planting)

• How to Partner: Partner by working alongside the missional leader in all their pursuits, handling the finances and assisting in the operations; use the mission strategy map to share their strategy with supporters; work under the Multiply regional leader

Description:

Growing churches plant churches. The natural result of empowering leaders in the congregation is that some will become church planters. Visionary, Apostolic, missional national leaders keep planting churches in new areas. This stage is complete when there is a network of new church plants under a leader or leadership team. Previous stages continue, but the direction and strategy come from the missional leader and we will come alongside to assist.

Biblical Foundation:

The New Testament portrays visionary leaders inviting others to come alongside them in the work of the church. Jesus is the prime example when he appointed twelve apostles who he sends out to proclaim the gospel with authority, but more importantly, are called to be with him (Mark 3:14-15). Barnabas comes alongside both Paul and John Mark and is able to see the potential in them that others were unable to recognize (Acts 9:27; 15:37). Paul always traveled with others, beginning initially with colleagues like Barnabas and Silas, and then inviting younger people to join him, such as Timothy and Titus, whom he mentored as he would a son (Acts 16:1-3; 2 Tim. 1:2). Paul’s letters list a whole range of co-workers, both men and women, who he served alongside and gathered around himself.

Paul and his co-workers proclaimed the gospel in new contexts, returned to see how these new churches were doing, and appointed new leaders to provide oversight in the various cities where churches were growing (Titus 1:5). Instead of doing everything himself, Paul often sent his co-workers on his behalf to visit churches and communicate his concern or care. At the heart of Paul’s work with others was the development of a shared vision, not only in what they taught in the churches (1 Tim. 6:20; Titus 3:8), but also how Paul’s co-workers themselves related to the churches (1 Tim. 4:11-16; 2 Tim. 2:15).

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