4.3 ACOP Global Mission’s Strategy

[Aidan]

Both an addition model and multiplication model of missions are used by God, but my conviction is that the multiplication model is the one that most resembles the NT church. The advantages of an addition model are sustainable growth, close relationship/mentorship, and a growing momentum over time. The disadvantages are that growth is slower, and the growth is often limited or capped by the one leading the church or mission. Conversely, a multiplication model allows for rapid growth and widespread impact. The disadvantages are that there is less central sustainability and less mentorship/relationship. However, the sending culture of ACOP and of the early church is the only way to reach the thousands of people groups who have no access to the Gospel. An established church can afford to grow its numbers slowly, but the unreached world does not have the luxury of an established church. Missions must be multiplicative if we are going to fulfill the Great Commission.

[Melissa Smyth]

Addition strategy gets people out there and does help spread the gospel, but it is limited because it relies on the person going. Multiplication is so much more effective as it only relies on the person going to start and train a few people to share the gospel and then spread to their communities and friends, and families!

[Celestine]

Addition vs. Multiplication Strategy

The “addition strategy” focuses on adding people to existing churches or missions, whereas the “multiplication strategy” aims to reproduce and establish new churches, ministries, or leaders, creating a multiplying effect.

Preferred Strategy: Multiplication

The multiplication strategy is often preferred because it:

1. *Empowers local leadership*: By establishing new churches and training local leaders, the ministry can become self-sustaining and more effective.

2. *Reaches a broader audience*: Multiplication allows the Gospel to penetrate new communities and demographics, expanding the ministry’s impact.

3. *Ensures long-term sustainability*: By reproducing and establishing new ministries, the multiplication strategy can lead to a more enduring and widespread impact.

Overall, the multiplication strategy aligns with biblical principles of sowing seeds and trusting God for growth, allowing the ministry to flourish and spread more effectively.

[Zach]

The main difference between the addition verses multiplication strategies for mission are that the multiplication strategy allows for faster exponential growth. The addition strategy is slower, dependent upon one person reaching many, and is shorted-sightedly focused on making a certain type of insularly focused disciple. The multiplication strategy on the other hand is focused on making disciples who make disciples, equipping and empowering new disciples to make new disciples. This makes reaching the lost something that can happen organically, the Gospel can spread within the indigenous people of any area, not dependent upon continued outside input and the restrictions and limitations that sometimes go with that outside dependency. This makes the multiplication strategy much more effective, but also by its essence necessitates an “equipping for sending” discipleship pedagogy that is more in keeping with the ideals of Eph. 4:11 ministry.