Multiplying disciple-makers begins with prayer and sharing one’s faith
with others. A perfect example of making disciples is Nick’s story. Nick is
from an island in the South Pacific where the people follow an animistic
religion in which the name means to worship the unseen, only one god:
“Nick came to faith in Jesus and wanted his people to believe in the true God as well.
When his uncle died, he was buried in both the traditional and the Christian way. After
examining pig and chicken hearts, the shaman declared there would be a death in the family
within the next two to three months. But two years passed and no one died, no one even
became sick!
“The people realized they had been deceived and decided to follow Jesus, read the Bible,
and tell others about him. So, Nick’s desire to see his family come to Jesus was realized.
Now, Nick visits the most remote villages to evangelize. He uses the story of his uncle to
teach the people that Jesus is the one true God. Nick and his coworkers have seen 332
people come to the Lord.”
Multiplying churches of disciples means growing together, then starting new
groups. An incredible example of multiplying communities comes from our part-
ners in South Asia. In the past 30 years, these partners have planted more than
3,400 worshiping communities, including some that meet in church buildings,
others in homes, and still more under trees! More than 147,000 people worship
in these communities of faith. These partners also have reached out into other
countries.
Multiplying missionary movements begins with the traditional model of
a missions organization sending missionaries to other countries. For more
than a century, OMS has sent missionaries to other nations to evangelize
and disciple, establish churches, and train those disciples to train others to
continue the work of the kingdom through sending their members globally
to share the Good News.
Charles Cowman’s vision far surpassed that of most modern missionaries.
I think he would rejoice with us in witnessing OMS-related national churches, like the
Evangelical Church of India (ECI), begin their own missionary movements. To date,
the Indian Missionary Movement of the ECI has sent out nearly 1,200 cross-cultural
missionaries to 19 of the 29 different states within India, representing multiple lan-
guages and cultures and very little Gospel witness. Churches and individuals within
India support these missionaries.
Multiplying leaders has taken on many different forms, including formal
training in Bible colleges and seminaries, as well as more informal church
multiplication training for lay leaders in churches, homes, or retreat centers
worldwide.
Training is being done openly in many places. In others, it must be con-
ducted carefully in secret. In one limited-access country in Asia, the trainer
and his team traveled from the north to the most southern tip, from the ocean
to each border, to train more than 1,000 people last year. These men of God trained
believers of denominations, of independent churches, and in tribal groups. To date,
thousands have been trained to share their faith and start more than 550 worshiping
groups. This nation also saw more than 12,000 decisions for Christ and nearly 1,000
baptisms last year. God is on the move!
In these days, multiplying disciple-makers, churches, missionary movements, and
leaders is the focus of OMS. Through this emphasis, God’s kingdom is expanding
globally. The legacy, which began with the Cowmans in Japan, continues to impact
the world daily.
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