Ministry Multiplication


By Glen Weber, Conference Coordinator, and Randy Bloom, Central District Superintendent
The theme for this year’s conferences is based on 2 Timothy 2:2: “What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.” Sessions: · Setting your mission for multiplication · Be fruitful and multiply · Multiplying ministry to kids · Jesus’ strategy for multiplication · Starting new faith communities · Legal & accounting workshop · Several worship sessions

ealthy churches multiply," Dan Rogers, Superintendent of U.S. Ministers, told over 160 people gathered in Portland, OR, from across the Northwestern United States. Five states were represented from northern California to Alaska. Harry and Tina Sullivan, from the United Kingdom, also attended.

The theme for this year’s regional conferences is "Ministry Multiplication," with emphasis on various aspects of multiplication—outreach, Generations Ministry, church planting and children’s ministry.

Dan Rogers reminded us of the principles that have been taught about the Great Commission and Great Commandment in regional conferences over the past few years. After sparking our memories, Dan taught us about Jesus’ strategy for multiplication. Jesus built up the disciples on a strong foundation of worship, word, fellowship and prayer. He then equipped those disciples—taking them with him and eventually sending them out. We were given guidelines for appointing, training, equipping and multiplying leaders.

On the opening evening, President Joe Tkach gave an encouraging message on the biblical teaching from Genesis and throughout the Bible on the importance of "being fruitful and multiplying." We were reminded that "the degree to which you understand and live love is the degree to which you fulfill your life’s purpose." Jesus wants us to love the lost and introduce them to Jesus.

Generations Ministry was represented by Northwest District Superintendent Ken Williams. He emphasized the importance of creating an environment where the younger generations are transformed by Jesus’ life-changing love. Generations Ministries provides tools to help us create environments where the Spirit does his work in making young disciples for Christ. In such environments, Jesus’ love is expressed and experienced. In future conferences, the Generations Ministry session will be presented by Ted Johnston, GM director, or someone he appoints.

Dan Rogers provided two sessions on "Jesus’ Multiplication Strategies" followed by Randy Bloom’s sessions on Multiplication—Church Planting. Dan focused on our need to follow Jesus’ example in multiplying workers and leaders. Dan provided tools to use in our local congregations to equip workers and multiply shepherd leaders. Randy showed how the Holy Spirit is leading us to equip new ministry teams so we can follow his lead in planting new churches.

This year we are also pleased to have a representative from Gospel Light Publishers at each of the conferences. They will provide a workshop on how to have an effective children’s ministry. Marla Baritt, western representative for Gospel Light, was the presenter in Portland. Workshop evaluations made many suggestions that Marla be a keynote speaker next year. Only half the attendees were able to be in Marla’s workshop.

Bernie Schnippert provided a workshop covering legal and accounting issues. He gave us important information for making our congregations function smoothly—and legally. Bernie is a competent legal counselor, but his sense of humor and relaxed style provide color and interest to legal matters.

Following the Portland Regional Conference, Randy Bloom, assisted by Ken Williams, provided an additional session called "New Church Essentials." This continued the "Multiplication" theme, and over 40 people attended. The workshop introduced key elements for preparing to start a new church. In order to start new churches that will start new churches, it is essential that the core spiritual values of mission, evangelism and multiplication are clearly imbedded in the "DNA" of any new church.

Team leadership, culturally relevant worship services and ministries, deep faith and a loving commitment to people and hard work are essential to successfully starting and "growing" a new church. In addition, a committed relationship with a coach is essential for anyone planting a church. This workshop will be conducted at all regional conference sites.

The Embassy Suites Hotel in Portland was again a beautiful venue for our equipping conference, especially since the entire hotel had been renovated just three weeks before our conference.

Several members who attended the conference expressed gratitude for the spiritual tools and clarity of the teaching that will enable us to follow Jesus’ example of "Multiplication" of ministries. We went home truly inspired with the teaching and tools we had been presented!