12 Principles of Church Multiplication

This description of church multiplication principles is not meant to be a biblical exposition. ECC workers and denominational leaders are encouraged to do as the Bereans did and examine the Scriptures to see if these things are true.

A. Fervent Prayer

The power for the life and ministry of church planters comes from fellowship with the Lord in prayer. God’s power and grace flow in response to the prayers of His people. Leaders must demonstrate reliance on God through prayer in public and in private. This is essential in the formation of new disciples of Jesus, as well as new leaders, and new churches. When members of multiplying churches hear testimonies and gain personal experience, they discover for themselves that God answers the prayers of His children. The ECC national coordinator is responsible for recruiting, organizing and training local volunteer prayer champions. These prayer champions will develop prayer warriors to pray for church multiplication and support the trainers and church planters in prayer.

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC MEXICO—Pray for wisdom in the selection of a new coordinator and how best to use the resources of ECC. Praise God for the multiplication of house churches and many who are coming to Jesus.
ECC MOZAMBIQUE—Pray for harmony in the lives of the church planters and their wives. Ask the Lord to send more workers into the harvest field.
 

RECRUITMENT—The list of opportunities with eXtreme Walk for 2010 and 2011 is out, and the need for more laborers for this vital ministry is long. Ask God to raise up individuals who desire to be directly involved in planting churches around the world. 

Pray for Heidi Walton and her ministry to individuals and families who are currently involved in the long-term application process with OMS.
 

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO—Pray that the church planters/pastors will persevere in their calling and people will respond to the proclamation of the Good News that Jesus is alive, loves all and to Him is due to the glory of His kingdom growth in DRC.
ECC ESTONIA—Pray for more house churches and a deeper walk with the Lord in all existing churches. Pray for health and safety of all workers and wisdom in guiding the work.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Continue to pray for Dean Davis in Ecuador, Rich and Anita Yoder in Mexico and for Dave and Marilyn Graffenberger in Haiti, ministering to and encouraging ECC workers in those countries. Pray for Bob Warren and Randy Spacht, holding an ECC seminar in Japan.
 

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST— ECC ECUADOR AIEF—Ask for more house churches and for a deeper walk with the Lord in all existing churches. Pray for the health and safety of all leaders and wisdom in guiding the work.
ECC IVORY COAST—Continue to pray for true commitment to church multiplication by the Village Church Planting pastors and to the establishment of second- to fifth-generation churches.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Uplift Dean Davis, traveling in Ecuador, and Rich and Anita Yoder, traveling in Mexico for training and encouraging the ECC teams.
 

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC—Pray for the proper training materials to be allowed into the country and that this material will be used to effectively to train workers.
ECC EAST ASIA—Pray for safety of the workers and wisdom for the leaders in spreading the Good News and moving people into a deeper relationship with Father.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Continue to pray for Willie Hochhalter in Ecuador until October 12, visiting and encouraging ECC teams. Dave Graffenberger and five others are traveling to India to continue training in the Village Church Planting strategy. Pray especially for Franz Bense and his wife, from South Africa, who will be training the group in teaching “The Bible as One Story.”
 

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC BURUNDI—Pray for volunteer church planters to have assurance of a call from God to enroll for training and church planting in the Village Church Planting project.
ECC COLOMBIA/CONFRA—COLOMBIA—Ask God to strengthen the existing trainers and give them a heart for evangelism and for planting house churches that multiply. Praise God for the great results of the bivocational workers reaching out to city neighborhoods.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Lift up Rich and Anita Yoder, vacationing in Wisconsin. Pray for time of refreshment and a fresh touch of wisdom and encouragement as they return to running the everyday operations of ECC.
 

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC BURKINO FASO—Pray for all involved in the Village Church Planting project to grasp the project vision and for receptive hearts to receive the Gospel message.
ECC CARIBBEAN—Praise the Lord for the many who are coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Pray for strength and wisdom for the leaders and safety in travel.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Pray for Mike and Pat Dragon vacationing in Colorado and also attending a stewardship conference there. Pray for a time of refreshment as well as openness to new ideas.

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST— ECC BENIN--Pray for the team discipling and training new believers to share their faith with their neighbors. Praise God for the increase in church plants from 132 in March to 159 at end June, with a membership of 7,980.
ECC CENTRAL ASIA—Ask God to motivate and encourage the spiritual leaders in the existing churches. Pray for the physical needs of the workers and believers. Many are suffering and trying to live on very little. Pray for discernment and wisdom in dealing with several issues needing governmental approval and for the financial needs of the seminary.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Pray for José Bañales, traveling in Mozambique and encouraging ECC workers and Village Church Planting teams. Lift up Dave and Marilyn Graffenberger, in Haiti to assist the field and work with ECC workers and churches. Pray for strength and stamina, good recall of Creole language and acclamation into Haitian culture.

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC ANGOLA—Pray for a denominational partnership with the Brethren Church that will contribute toward the rapid expansion of church multiplication through the establishment of second- to seventh- generation church plants. Pray for the country coordinator to be strengthened and encouraged as he oversees the Village Church Planting project.
ECC BRAZIL—Pray for the ECC teams that are operating and those that are forming to have strength and guidance in their ministry. Pray for unity of spirit and vision between ECC and the national church. Pray for Pastor Israel, traveling monthly to train, encourage and supervise the various ECC groups.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Pray for Dean Davis, traveling from September 5-23 in Ireland, Spain and Africa to share the vision of church multiplication and to encourage workers. Pray for safety in travel, health and strength as his knee was swollen before leaving, making it difficult to walk and get around. Pray also for Rich Yoder, traveling in Colombia to meet and encourage workers.

U. S. Northwest Regional Directors and ECC Shepherds

Bob and Suzanne Warren serve with OMS International as Northwest regional directors and as shepherds/trainers in Japan and South Korea for Every Community for Christ, OMS’ evangelism and church-planting ministry. Their call in the Northwest is to build a group of “world changers for Jesus” who desire to pray, give and go to reach the nations for Christ. Their international responsibilities involve training national workers in principles to build healthy, multiplying churches that will reach Japan and Korea with the Gospel. Bob and Suzanne’s most recent assignment was serving as interim president at an OMS-related seminary in Central Asia.

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC MOZAMBIQUE—Pray for wisdom and grace for ECC coordinator, Juka Fernando, dealing with workers on accountability issues. Pray also for more workers to work in the ripe harvest field.
ECC SOUTH ASIA—Pray for the new construction projects for training and ministry. Ask that God will supply the resources and safety of workers.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Pray for the ECC team members that are attending the church multiplication training at OMS headquarters to have a clear understanding of the material and a strong desire to implement this training.
 

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC MEXICO—Pray for the continued transition of the ECC team and for God to guide and direct their efforts and resources as they plan and work.
ECC SOUTH KOREA—Pray that new ECC team members will have opportunities to clearly and boldly share the Gospel and that God will empower them to minister to the needs of the people they contact.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Willie Hochhalter is traveling in the Caribbean. Ask Father for travel safety and good communication. Pray also that He will use Willie as encouragement to all the workers.

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC EAST AFRICA—Ask for church planters and believers to remain steadfast in their faith in the midst of being persecuted. Pray for the safe transition of the country coordinator from South Africa into this country. Pray that he will know God’s presence and guidance in the days ahead.
ECC MALAYSIA—Pray that the ECC workers will have strength to resist the attacks of the enemy and that they will find hungry hearts and persons of peace as they minister.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Mike and Pat Dragon are traveling in Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma for donor meetings. Pray that they will effectively convey the work of ECC and be an encouragement to all they meet.

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO—Pray for safety for workers and their families and for God’s wisdom in all decisions of workers and leaders that His will must prevail.
ECC EASTERN EUROPE—Pray for God to provide lay leadership to be trained to lead house churches.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Ask for wisdom and understanding as the international teams plan and prepare for upcoming meetings with partners and ECC workers around the world.

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC IVORY COAST—Pray for continued favor with the government. Pray for the health of Matthew’s wife, and praise the Lord for the continued growth in multiplication of churches. Pray that the discipleship of new believers will help them grow in their faith.
ECC EAST ASIA—Pray for the safety of workers and wisdom for leaders in spreading the Gospel. Pray for favor from the government and a lessening of restrictions for workers.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Pray for Willie and Joani Hochhalter, in Colombia to meet with and encourage the ECC teams. Uplift Joel Silverman, Folmer Strunk, and Billy Campbell in Myanmar. Ask for good translation and understanding to do further church multiplication training for the ECC workers and the MEHC.

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC COLOMBIA—Pray for the evangelism and discipleship efforts of the church multiplication teams working in the prisons and throughout Colombia. Pray that as they multiply and grow deeper in their relationship with the Lord they will impact their families and their communities for Christ.
ECC CONGO—Pray that all the new believers who are coming to Jesus will be discipled and will grow in their faith. Pray for protection of the workers in areas of darkness and for open and receptive hearts to the Gospel.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Pray for Bill Kidwell who is in the Ukraine for ECC training meetings. Uplift Dave Graffenberger, Roger Kruse and Billy Campbell who are in India and are involved in training the new Village Church Planting trainers.

Pastors Fabian and Sergio will travel to Rwanda and Burundi with Tom and Susan Stiles for a Village Church Planting course. They will travel to many villages to learn how God has used this strategy to start churches in rural areas. Ask the Lord for good health and safety and understanding of the VCP course.

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC CENTRAL ASIA—Ask Father for spiritual leaders to motivate and encourage existing churches. Pray for wisdom for the leadership in dealing with many complicated issues revolving around government approvals and financial needs of the seminary.
ECC CHAD—Pray for peace in the country and for protection and health of the ECC workers, many of whom are experiencing disease, which is hampering their work for the Gospel.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Pray for Rich Yoder, traveling in Colombia for meetings. Dave Graffenberger, Roger Kruse and Billy Campbell are in India, meeting and planning with the Village Church Planting coordinators.

EVERY COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST—ECC BURUNDI—Pray for new believers, experiencing hardships with family and friends, to stand firm in their new found faith. Also, pray for the health of John’s father.
ECC CAMEROON—Pray for wisdom and leadership skills in training intercessors and for strength and encouragement for the leadership to implement the training methods they have learned.
ECC INTERNATIONAL TEAM—Pray for Willie Hochhalter, traveling in the Caribbean. Ask for divine appointments and for God tol use Willie to train and encourage the workers.

Event: Church Planting Movements Seminar
When: August 3-14, 2010
Where: OMS International, Greenwood, IN
Host: Every Community for Christ (ECC)

ECC is hosting a Church Planting Movements Seminar the first two weeks of August. The speakers for this event are world renowned trainers Bill Smith and Bill Fudge. They have worked together for nearly 20 years. This training will provide:

• A greater perspective on church multiplication.
• Biblical insights into church multiplication
• Understanding of how to apply church multiplication principles
• Case studies of church multiplication in multiple cultures
• The opportunity to develop a master plan for church multiplication
• Interaction with men and women passionately committed to the Great Commission

For more information please contact Gretchen Stephens at gstephens@omisinternational.org