4.3 ACOP Global Mission’s Strategy

[VICTOR]

The difference is that, one disciples a soul to be added in the kingdom of God and then goes to find another soul to be discipled, while the other disciples a soul who will become a discipler of other souls, who will also become a discipler of other disciplers.

The later is a preferred approach because it multiplies, rather than just add. We should train disciplers who will train disciplers, who will also train more disciplers.

[Charla]

The “addition strategy” is a one at a time approach that does bring people into the kingdom but slowly. Those new believers are not equipped or encouraged to be disciple makers so the Gospel does not get passed on. The “multiplication strategy” is exponential in it’s growth as you make disciples who make disciples who make disciples… New believers are commissioned to share the Gospel and the Gospel spreads!

[ECO]

According to this logic, we don’t count ourselves successful as disciple-makers unless there are multiple generations of believers flowing from the person whom we led to the Lord. This is the essence of disciple-making movements, which is very popular in modern missiology. It is fantastic in theory, but very rarely the standard for success in a North American ministry context. Why do you think this is so?

[Micah]

I think the biggest reason why is because it is incredibly difficult for a movement to be established. It requires high buy-in and people that are sold out for Jesus, setting aside their dignity and image to further the mission of Jesus. I also think that our individualistic and comfortable culture affects this, as we see a handful of people doing full-time missions work and think “they’re doing it, why would I need to do it?”

I also think our standard of success is often sustainability. This is not bad. However, it can slow down movements if we are set on sustainability alone, preventing us from passing trust and leadership to new disciples in order for them to make disciples; we like to invite people into a steady church rather than send them out to make disciples.

[Jenn]

By looking to disciple a “discipler”, you are exponentially increasing the gospel. Like a pyramid scheme but in a good way lol! If all of us could share the gospel and make four people into a “discipler”, so many more people could be reached for the kingdom.

[Karry (Karen)]

Multiplication is far better as many times Jesus says go into the nations – well we are not one person – but if we can make disciplers – by equipping people – far more people can be reached – just giving a person the tools so right where they are at they can reach more communities in their area – And being from that area that will have an understanding of the needs of the people and maybe how better to reach the lost in that area.