San Diego Church

When most church leaders hear about the amazing growth in the MCI church in Colombia they immediately want to know the details of the G12 strategy. But the G12 is more than a strategy for growth. It is a fully developed vision for discipleship, nurture and mission. It sets the pattern for church life in the 21st Century.

For years many churches in the United States have placed a high value on intercession, spiritual gifts, spiritual warfare, church growth, evangelism, missions, care for the poor, training and mobilization. All these things are central to the G12 vision. And they can only be effectively expressed through Life Cells. This is because the dynamic life of the church takes place in the Life Cells.

The vision of many pastors is for mobilization. This is all about winning, equipping and releasing the body of Christ into the ministry. The church is called to the service of Jesus - not just full-time ministers! A church's size is secondary to this goal of effective mobilization, but there can be no doubt that those who move forward in this vision are set for explosive growth.

The key to the success of the G12 is not just the strategy, but the values that uphold the Vision. We cannot think that we will be successful simply by adopting the Bogota strategy. We must rise to the challenge spiritually, take on new levels of the Holy Spirit's anointing and, above all, embrace all the values that lie beneath the surface.

Jesus said, "Make disciples" (See Matthew 28:19-20). He did not just tell us to evangelize or to get converts. People who accept the gospel and believe must be discipled. They must be taught, shaped and formed into the image of Jesus. The Church often falls short of full obedience in this respect. Many people who make decisions to become Christians are never truly discipled in the paths of Christ. This must change, and we must all place full obedience to Jesus' command on the highest level of our agenda as people and as a church.

Life Cells are small groups of people who gather together weekly in order to disciple each other and reach out to those who don't know Christ. We must learn to love the Life Cells. They are where the blessing of growth takes place. Life Cells are the only way of fulfilling the New Testament mandate we have as believers to be disciples and to disciple others. That's where you receive the personal ministry you need and where you find and fulfill your ministry in the body of Christ.

The name 'G12' stands for 'the government of 12' which emphasizes the leadership development aspect of the vision. Every Christian is a potential leader. We are all called to serve Jesus and to lead others to Him. Those who are leading Life Cells are discipled in groups of 12 (like the 12 disciples of Jesus). Therefore everyone who ministers is also ministered to in this vision. That means there is proper accountability in all things.

This is one of the most exciting aspects of the vision. Jesus' purpose for you is fruitfulness. He wants you to be successful in your life. He calls you to to 'be fruitful and multiply.' The growth that comes through the G12 Vision is not through transferring members from the other churches. It comes through the Life Cells as the members reach out to their family, neighbors and friends. This means everyone must develop a passion for the lost and reach them uncompromisingly for Christ.

Something wonderful happens when God's people are mobilized. The 'super star syndrome' disappears and the work is done by all. The real heroes in this vision are the members of the church--not a handful of its 'super-anointed' leaders. This way God can really get the glory. Signs, wonders, miracles and mighty deeds happen throughout the whole church, and everyone has a part to play.

As you can see the vision is a comprehensive one. And it takes time for a church to fully implement it. It involves introducing new initiatives and creative innovation in every area of church and personal life. It will bring unrecognizable transformation to the way we think about church fellowship and to the way we do things. The cost will be high. But the rewards will be worth it.

WIN -- A person comes TO the cross

CONSOLIDATE -- A person gets delivered by going THROUGH the cross

DISCIPLE -- A person becomes a disciple by getting ON the cross and laying down his selfish desires

SEND -- A person TAKES UP his cross and begins to carry it