Another way that we can launch new churches and equip people to do this is through the use of leadership cells.
In missions, leadership cells are often used with temporary groups or temporary audiences, for example, nomads, seasonal workers, migrant workers, students, or soldiers. People who tend to only be in a certain place for a limited period of time.
So in those areas a leadership cell can be used to equip those people to do work as they move on. So in church planting, we can use leadership cells to equip people to start new churches.
In this diagram, the leadership cell is indicated by a circle. This is intentional because it’s not a church but it looks like a church. It functions like a church. The main difference being that it only exists for a limited period of time.
So let’s say the leadership cell meets for three months. So for three months, it will look like a church. But at the conclusion of those three months, the members in the group (represented by the x’s) will then go out either in pairs — which is preferable if that’s an option — or singly.
They will go out and then they will launch churches. The small circle in the big circle is the facilitator or the trainer in the group. He or she will then mentor those people who go out to launch these new churches. So after those three months, they scatter and start new churches.
One alternative is instead of starting new churches they might start new leadership cells. That can happen you know for two or three generations even and then in the final generation the people go out and they start churches.
This might occur, for example, if you have a large number of Christians that you want to train. You’ll get them in groups of usually 12 or less. Train one group of them and then each of those can go out and train up to 12 others. In short order you can impact or equip a large number of people.
So if you’ve got a large number of Christians that you’re wanting to equip to do this kind of church planting, you might consider the leadership cell as a good way to accomplish that purpose.
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More Multiplication Concepts
This concept is part of the “Multiplication Concepts” series by Curtis Sergeant. Consider working through the entire series and challenging someone you know to do it with you. See an entire list of the concepts in the article titled “Multiplication Concepts”.
This same concept is taught in the Zúme Training course using video animation and is translated into 40 languages. This concept is taught in session 8 called “Leadership Cells”.
Zúme Training is an on-line and in-life learning experience designed for small groups who follow Jesus to learn how to obey His Great Commission and make disciples who multiply.
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