What can be better than adding members to our congregations? We ask this question somewhat tongue in cheek, as one of the greatest joys of a Christian walk is seeing someone new come to faith.
And yet, wouldn’t it be amazing to see genuine growth, not merely by addition, but by multiplication?
The following is taken from the mission statement of our partner ministry in Pakistan:
Our ultimate goal is to create a multiplying movement of disciples who actively disciple others in their communities.
What does it mean to create a multiplying movement of disciples? Consider the following recent ministry updates from our Saraiki broadcast in Pakistan. The first one comes to us directly from our partner:
One of the seekers who expressed about being blessed through our Saraiki program wrote to us, “Jesus is the author of my salvation and the founder of my faith.” We were really encouraged by such a remark from a Muslim background listener. Thus, we are planning to organize a Bible study group with “H” and people in his circle.
We can see the DNA of multiplying disciples being implanted. Not only are seekers like H being discipled through studying the Word of God, but their networks – the friends and family of H —are being brought in, early in the process, to participate in the seeker Bible studies.
We are reminded of the Apostle Matthew, who, after being called to discipleship, invited the Lord to his house, where “there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them” (Luke 5:29).
Here is another update from the same ministry partner in Pakistan:
A new believer from a Saraiki Muslim background, Shahzad, decided to follow Christ last year. He is now sharing the Word of God with his family by leading a Bible study group. Shahzad shared, “I love listening to the program in my mother tongue. The story of Elijah and Elisha was truly marvelous and strengthened my faith.”
This is the next step in the process of catalyzing multiplying movements of disciples. Shahzad, like the Apostle Matthew, is engaging his family in Bible study. Shahzad, having received the Good News through our radio program, is in turn applying what he has learned and engaging his network. He is doing this on his own accord, separate and apart from our Pakistan ministry partners.
What would it take for there to be a “multiplying movement of disciples who actively disciple others in their communities” as stated in the ministry vision statement? If some of Shahzad’s family members eventually form their own Bible study groups, perhaps with their friends and coworkers, that would be a third generation of disciples being multiplied.
There have been reports from other parts of the world of 10 or even 12 generations of multiplying disciples – flames of revival being birthed.
Our partner shares the following update:
With your kind partnership, we’ve been producing a 15-minute Saraiki language program, which has been published and shared on social media. Since the beginning of this year, we’ve gained a regular audience of 2,500 listeners. Initially, we covered stories of the prophets from the Old Testament. Currently, we are recording and sharing programs on Christian ethics, focusing on topics such as the basics of Christian ethics, the character of God, the importance of holiness for God’s people, witnessing through ethical living, and the role of the Bible in shaping Christian ethics.
We are grateful for this bold vision from Pakistan to create multiplying movements of disciples. May it come to pass!