CHURCH PLANTING:

THE MULTIPLICATION
CYCLE
This section takes the ideas of church planting
stages and church planting roles and joins
them together to give a “big-picture” showing
how these things fit together.
People who plant one church realise that this is
not enough - they want to plant more and to
be strategically involved in extending the
Kingdom of God.
They will look for people to partner with in
making disciples.
The Church Multiplication Cycle realises this
activity will continue until the Lord Jesus comes
again. The following diagram shows the cycle.
The cycle begins at the midnight
Pre-Entry
position - 12 O’Clock Learner
Team & Strategy
- beginning as pre-entry Development
learners
- Team & strategy development
- Language learning
- Preparation
 Pre-Entry
- Trips to the location Learner
Team & Strategy
- Vision Development

- Employment
- Housing
- Developing prayer partners
 Pre-Entry
- Trips to the location Learner
Team & Strategy
- Vision Development

- Employment
- Housing Entry
Explorer
- Developing prayer partners Connect with
the people
 Entry - Arrive and Gospel
learn
Explorer - Sights, smells and sounds
Evangelist
Connect with Make
- A new level of disciples
the people through
experience! evangelism
 Entry Gospel
Explorer Evangelist
Connect with Make disciples
the people through evangelism
 - As soon a possible!
- This can take days,
Gospel months, years or even a
Discipleship
Evangelist
lifetime Teacher
Make disciples
Teach disciples
- It is God who brings
through
- short
growth - we have to be term
evangelism
faithful and obedient 1 Cor
3:5-6
 Gospel
Discipleship
Evangelist
Teacher
Make disciples
Teach disciples
through
- short term
evangelism
 Gospel
Discipleship
Evangelist
Teacher
Make disciples
Teach disciples
through
- short term
evangelism
 Gospel This Discipleship
is when
Evangelist leadership
Teacher
Make disciples
Teach disciples
development /
through
- short term
evangelism training starts
Discipleship Discipleship
Teacher Teacher
Teach disciples Baptise new
- short term disciples
Discipleship Discipleship
Teacher Teacher
Teach disciples Baptise new
- short term disciples
 Church
Discipleship Teacher
Teacher Lead disciples
Baptise new to identify
disciples as a church
Long term
discipleship
 Church
Discipleship Teacher
Teacher Lead disciples
Baptise new to identify
disciples as a church
Long term
discipleship
 Discipleship and Church stages
- Are usually the longest
- Are most of the activities of the cycle
- Teacher, mentor, developer, partner are
all roles taken during these stages
- This is about fulfilling the Great
Commission, not simply about
doing evangelism
 Church
Teacher Church
Lead disciples Developer
to identify Help the church to
as a church appoint elders
Long term (pastors)
discipleship
 Church
Teacher Church
Lead disciples Developer
to identify Help the church to
as a church appoint elders
Long term (pastors)
discipleship
 - Takes place before the
cycle can be Church
repeated
Church
Menor/Partner
- Work can be continued in
Developer
Repeat the process
Help the church to the church
with the church
appoint elders - Or, a new work is started,
Continue equipping
(pastors) ideally with co-labourers
shepherds from
the planted church
 Church
Church
Menor/Partner
Developer
Repeat the process
Help the church to
with the church
appoint elders
Continue equipping
(pastors)
shepherds
 Church
Pre-entry
Menor/Partner
Learner
Repeat the process
Team &
with the church
Strategy
Continue equipping
Development
shepherds
 Church
Pre-entry
Menor/Partner
Learner
Repeat the process
Team &
with the church
Strategy
Continue equipping
Development
shepherds
- All work takes place
whilst looking to “do
yourself out of a job”
- Removing the original CP team
to leave only local people
- This is always in the minds and
hearts of the CP team
Question: If our team is to begin another
work elsewhere, does this mean that a
church-planting team has to move from
location to location every time a church is
planted?
Answer: Not necessarily.
The CP team might move on to another
entirely new area.
The CP team might also look to start a new
work within the same geographical area of
the initial work. E.g. In a large city it is
possible to start new churches in a wide
range of areas within the city as a whole.
SUMMARY

• The Church Multiplication Cycle notes that

the process of making disciples and planting
churches will continue until the Lord’s return.
 • The Cycle is not a straight line,
transitions on the field are not so obvious /
clear.
• The Cycle shows the connections
between the stages, roles and primary tasks
of the team.
 • The team will be involved in many
activities at any time; knowing their main
task for each role will give them focus and
direction.
The End