Tim Sellick, sharing his 35-year church-planting experience, emphasized the importance of personal investment in relationships with non-Christians for church growth. He introduced fellow church leaders, Sergio and Beatrice from El Paso, and Rob from Arizona, who echoed the necessity of defining a clear vision and understanding the community. Their approach to growth focuses on reaching "new fish," not just transferring members from other congregations. They highlighted strategies such as creating awareness in the local community and creating low-barrier engagement opportunities for newcomers to serve and connect. They shared personal anecdotes to illustrate the impact of these strategies on individual lives. The speakers stressed the need to prioritize personal health and joy in ministry to sustain growth efforts. For pastors looking to implement these learnings, key application points include: investing personally in relationships with non-Christians, tailoring church activities to serve and attract the local community specifically, offering newcomers immediate opportunities to engage in service, and being proactive in personal self-care to avoid burnout, all while maintaining a joy that reflects the church's mission and vision. These practices can help build a congregation focused on disciple-making, which could potentially lead to church multiplication.

Title: 2024 Exponential Global Conference: Oneighty - The Return to Disciple Making

Subtitle 1: Defining and Experiencing Growth Through Discipleship

1. Growth is about adding non-believers, not transferring members

   • True church growth is converting non-church goers into disciples of Christ
   • “Growth for us isn’t swapping fish, it’s fishing for new fish.”
   • Focus on reaching the non-churched and non-Christians as the primary mission
   • Application: Prioritize outreach and evangelism in church activities to cultivate genuine growth

2. Importance of personal discipleship in leadership

   • Leaders must be actively evangelizing and discipling in their communities
   • Church planters and leaders should model this personal investment in others
   • “You focus on those you’re trying to reach, not those you’re trying to keep.”
   • Application: Train and encourage church leaders to maintain personal relationships with non-believers

Subtitle 2: Multiplication Through Community Engagement and Discipleship

1. Becoming an expert in your community for effective outreach

   • Clearly defined vision centered on reaching 'the one' lost individual
   • “Our vision needs to align to the heartbeat of heaven, the heartbeat of God.”
   • Understand the profile of 'the one' in your context to tailor ministry efforts
   • Application: Develop programs and initiatives that resonate with the demographics of your target community

2. Continuous efforts to create community awareness

   • Intentional actions to stay visible and relevant within the community
   • Utilize strategies like social media and local partnerships effectively
   • Practical generosity and service can open doors for discipleship
   • Application: Consistently find and act on opportunities to serve and impact the local community

3. Providing engagement and active participation for newcomers

   • Create avenues for non-believers to contribute and feel a sense of belonging
   • Encourage participation that leads to discipleship opportunities
   • “You have to create low barriers of entry for them.”
   • Application: Design church roles and teams where non-believers can be involved and move toward faith

Subtitle 3: Sustaining Growth and Multiplication Through Resilience

1. Embrace the challenge of loss for the sake of discipleship

   • Accepting that leadership and growth may involve losing some members
   • Find peace in this loss as part of the process of disciple-making
   • “We need to be good with disappointing others.”
   • Application: Prepare church members for the realities of growth and focus on the larger mission

2. Prioritize leadership health to maintain a disciple-making focus

   • Leaders must take care of their own spiritual and emotional health
   • Prevent burnout by setting personal boundaries and seeking support
   • Cultivate joy in ministry as a way to inspire and energize others
   • Application: Encourage self-care among leadership to stay focused on the disciple-making mission

Remember:

• Discipleship is not just the mission of church leaders but of every believer.
• Implementation in churches should reflect disciple-making as the prevailing cultural value.

• The Crossing Church (planted by Tim Sellick) - http://www.crossingchurch.org/
• Soval's Church (started by Sergio and Beatrice)
• Living Branch Church (planted by Rob)
• Stadia (church planting organization where Tim Sellick works post-church launch) - https://stadiachurchplanting.org/
• Luke 15 (Biblical reference for the parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin, and Son)
• Alpha (a program for introducing people to the basics of the Christian faith) - https://alpha.org/
• Exponential (conference where the session took place) - https://exponential.org/
• Church Planter's Toolkit by Bob Logan (resource mentioned in context of church planting knowledge)
• M Rhythm (mentioned as a momentum and awareness activity in church planting) - Specific details or a link not provided, considered as a general church growth strategy concept.
• Awana (a ministry mentioned in the context of church programs) - https://www.awana.org/

Please note that not all resources were provided with explicit links or complete information; some are mentioned in passing or in context that suggests familiarity with the resource rather than as a direct recommendation.

• Question 1: How can we better define 'growth' in our congregations to ensure that it aligns with our goal of making disciples who make disciples?
  • Context: Consider discussing the different types of growth (numerical, spiritual, missional) and which type aligns most closely with disciple-making. Reflect on your current definition and how it might need to change.
• Question 2: What are some effective methods to become 'experts on our community' in a way that enhances our disciple-making efforts?
  • Context: Delve into understanding the demographics, cultural nuances, and the needs of the community your church serves. Share experiences where knowledge of the community has helped or hindered disciple-making.
• Question 3: In what ways can we foster a church culture that celebrates and prioritizes 'the one' over 'the ninety-nine' while still equipping disciples?
  • Context: Focus the conversation on practical steps to shift the church's focus from internal affairs to reaching out to non-believers, and how this can facilitate disciple-making among the congregation.
• Question 4: How can we create 'awareness early, often, and always' about our disciple-making mission, both within our church and in our broader community?
  • Context: Share strategies for keeping the mission of making disciples at the forefront of church activities and communications, as well as embedding this mission into the identity of the church in the community.
• Question 5: What practical 'on ramps' can we develop to ensure new believers or seekers become actively engaged in the disciple-making process?
  • Context: Brainstorm entry points and pathways that can help those new to the faith or the church community to quickly find their place in the mission of disciple-making, such as mentoring programs or service opportunities.