The Church of Christ is ordained for continuous and unending growth. As it is written, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it“, that is, the gates of hell shall not be to stop it from advancing / growing until the end of time.
However, it is by wisdom that a house
is built and by understanding it is
established. Pro 24:3-4.
Therefore wisdom is key to
sustaining the growth of the Church
as indicated severally in the early
church. Divinely inspired strategies
are crucial to sustaining church
growth.
As it is written, “And as they went
through the cities, they delivered
them the decrees for to keep, that
were ordained of the apostles and
elders which were at Jerusalem. And
so were the churches established in
the faith, and increased in number
daily.” Acts 16:4-5.
From the above scripture, we see the
amazing effect of the Church Growth
Policy of the early church “and so
were the churches established in the
faith and increased in number daily
” It is obvious from the outcome
that the decrees referred to were
Church Growth Decrees. They reasoned
out well defined strategies in the
Holy Ghost and the church continued
to erupt in growth.
In the light of the above, our
church growth mandate as a
Commission is built on the following
scriptural pillars:
PREAMBLE
- We believe that soul winning is a Divine Mandate for all believers and it is most profitable to personally engage in it – John15:1-2/John 4:35-36
- We believe that every member of the body of Christ has a part to play in the growth of the local church – Eph. 4:16
- We believe that passion for souls is what stirs the zeal for soul winning Rom. 9:1-3
- We believe that a godly lifestyle is a requirement for effective soul winning – John 15:1-4.
- We believe that God is glorified when we bear much fruit and most profitably when our fruits abide – John 15:8/16
- We believe that God expects us to bear fruit annually, that is, making Yearly returns on harvest of souls – Luke 13:6-9
- We believe that multitudes are still in the ‘Valley of Decision’ around every believer, longing for rescue – Joel 3:14
- We believe that the field is white unto harvest all around us. – John 4:34-35
- We believe that the breakthrough testimonies of the saints is a vital force for drawing multitudes into the kingdom – Zech. 8:20-23
THE HOLY GHOST FACTOR
- We believe that the Holy Ghost is the Lord of the harvest – Matt. 9:36- 38/ Acts 2:1-3/ 37-41/ Acts 4:4/ Acts 5:14/ Acts 6:1-7/ Acts 13:44
- We believe that the “wind from the Lord which is the Holy Spirit is still in the business of drafting multitudes into the kingdom today. Num. 11:31
- We believe that when the Holy Spirit hisses, men shall come with speed swiftly – Is. 5:26
- We believe that the Holy Spirit is the one that convicts sinners unto repentance –John 16:9-11 / Acts 2:37
- We believe that we must engage the ministry of the Holy Spirit through prayers for salvation of souls – Acts 2:37-38
- We believe that we must engage in prayers for the Holy Ghost to give us utterance towards effective soul winning – Matt. 10:19-20 / Col.4:2-4.
- We believe that the Holy Spirit can destroy all hindrances standing against the salvation of any soul we reach out to – Isa. 59:19 / Acts 13:9-1.2
- We believe in the ministry of signs and wonders in drawing multitudes to Christ – John 4:48 / Acts 9:31-35
THE PRAYER-REACH FACTOR
- We believe in the Prayer-Reach principle that is, praying to harvest the souls of the lost for Christ. – Ps. 2:8 / Ezek. 36:37
- We believe that praying for the salvation of souls is every believer’s responsibility with attendant benefits. –John 15:16 / John 4:35:36 / Eph. 6:8
- We believe that going through the labour room of prayer is a requirement for birthing souls into the kingdom – ls. 66:7-8 / Gal. 4:19
- We believe in prayer and fasting as a vital spiritual force for boosting church growth – Matt. 16:18 /Matt. 17:21.
- We believe that when we pray according to God’s will He hears and answers us – 1 Jn 5:14
- We believe that prayer is a spiritual force by which souIs get saved. – Gal. 4:19
- We believe in targeting specific individuals and families in prayers for the salvation of their souls. –Acts 16:30-31
- We believe that praying in the Holy Ghost enhances the effectiveness of our prayers for salvation of souls – Rom. 8:26 / Jude 20
- We believe that praying for the lost, commits God’s integrity to save them because it is His will that all men should be saved – Ps. 89:34 / 2 Peter 3:9
- We believe that prayer and intercession is a covenant requirement for explosive church growth – Ezek. 36:37 / Psa. 2:8
- We believe that praying for breakthroughs one for another is one of the ways to drawing many to Christ- Eph. 6:18 / Zech. 8:20-23
- We believe that the more we pray for others, the more answers we get to our own prayers – Matt. 6:5-6 / Col.4:12
THE DISCIPLESHIP FACTOR
- We believe in the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ – Matt. 28:18-20 / Matt. 24:14
- We believe that making disciples of men is the most effective way to commanding healthy church growth – Matt. 28:19-20
- We believe that when it becomes our “meat to do His will and finish His works” in reaching out to the lost like Christ, discipling men and women for the kingdom will become a way of life – John 4:31-34
- We believe that every Christian must strive to be an example of believers in order to be effective in discipling men for Christ. – Tim. 4:12.
- We believe that teaching the principles of scriptures is the most effective way to making disciples of men – Acts 10:41-44 / Acts 2:41-42
- We believe that no one ever lacks what he shares, we only lack what we keep – Prov. 11:24-25 / Acts 20:35
- We believe that the more we sow/share the Word, the more we flow in revelation – 1Peter 1:23 / Gal. 6:7-8
- We believe that every believer owes God at least ONE ‘properly discipled’ and ‘church-planted’ soul every year. However, there is no limit to how many souls one can disciple in a year: because, ‘he that sows sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully’, ‘everyone shall be rewarded according to his own labour’ – Luke 13:6-9 / 2Cor. 9:6-7 / 1 Cor.3:8
THE ANGELIC MINISTRY FACTOR
THE ANDREW PRINCIPLE
THE PASTORAL LEADERSHIP FACTOR
In conclusion, we believe that soul winning is the heart beat of God and it is big time kingdom business – Luke 2:49 / Matt. 6:33 / John 4:35-36
The blessings that accrue include the following among others:
Jesus is Lord!