Jesus commands us“Behold... lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” John 4:35 (NKJV) “...open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

John 4:35 (NIV)

Profile of the Harvest

World Population 6.5 BillionNon-Christian 4.02 BillionSaved / Day 112,000Die / Day 140,000Born / Day 365,000More Unsaved / Day 113,000

The Harvest Engaged In The Book of Acts

Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted [Peter’s] message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

Acts 2:47 “And the LORD added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Acts 4:4 “But many who heared the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”

Acts 5:14 “... more and more men and women believed in the LORD and were added to their number.”

Acts 6:1 “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing...”

Acts 6:7 “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” “...the number of disciples multiplied greatly...” Acts 6:7 ( KJV)

Acts 9:31 “[The church] was strengthened by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the LORD.”

Acts 11:21 “The LORD’s hand was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the LORD.”

The Harvest Engaged Today“Look at the nations and watch, and be utterly amazed.

For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5

India * In Madhya Pradesh State a Church Planting Movement produces 4,000 new churches in less than seven years. (2011 update: Before the year ended, 4,000 churches were planted, 1,000,000 plus baptized).

For more than a hundred years, the Bhodjpuri-speaking peoples was regarded as the “graveyard of missions and missionaries”.

A Church Planting Movement started 16 years ago now results in more than 40,000 new churches and some 2 million new believers.

Prayer meetings are now held in 3 mosques and 45 Muslim Imams are now baptized church planters.

China * In China more than 35,000 believers are baptized every day.

In Yanyin Province, a Church Planting Movement results in 130,000 new churches and more than 2 million baptized believers in just ten years

*David Garrison, Church Planting Movements, (International Missions Board, Southern Baptist Convention 1999)

The Big Drift in History

1) The Last Supper (30 A.D.)

2) Early House Church (1st – 3rd Centuries A.D.)

3) Early Basilica (4th Century A.D.)

4) Roman Catholic (5th Century to Present)

5) Protestant Church (16th Century to Present)

6) Modern Evangelical and Pentecostal Church (16th Century to Present)

Modern Church Planting Movements in Asia Today

What kind of churches? P.O.U.C.H churches.P: Participative Bible study and worship groups.

Every member a contributor (1 Cor 14:26) Every member reproducingThe leader is a facilitator.

O: Obedience to Scripture by members and group is the sole measure of success.

Bible as Authority, not a leaderBible says take the Gospel to every personMeasure of obedience: Fruitfulness.

U : Unpaid and multiple lay or bivocational church leaders

Pay would limit pool of potential leaders.Pay would slow down multiplication.No seminaries.

C : Cell groups or small independent churches of 10-15 members are usual.Simple churches or small congregations. Simple and replicable.Intimate setting for effective accountability.Keeps leadership task doable.A true spiritual family with a high sense of mutual concern.

H : Houses or storefronts are typical meeting places.No expense frees resource for outreach.Encourages witness to family and friends.

Why a church of 2,000 has less impact than 200 churches of 10 MEGACHURCH

(2,000 member congregation)SIMPLE/ORGANIC CHURCH NETWORK(200 churches w/ 10 members each=2,000)

Attractional (“come”)Grows by addition, goal is to increase church attendance.

Missional (“go”)Grows by multiplication. Churches remain small but gives birth to churches that gives birth to birthing churches.

Structure

Size cannot double in 6 months Can double in 6 months

“Going to church” emphasis “Being church” emphasisChurch is who we are 24 hrs/day, 7 days/weekEvery house/family is a center of prayer, evangelism, discipleship, healing and missions.

Reproduction

Membership role

Clergy, Minister’s burden Participative, every-member functioning

Leadership

Finances 80+ of resources spent on producing the best Sunday services

80+ of finances can be used for missions instead