Core Value: Multiplication
This is the fourth article in a series by our Lead Team, spotlighting the core values that define Global Gates—Prioritization, Migration, Multiplication, Catalyzation, and Collaboration.
Multiplication: A Spiritual Endeavor
“Last words are usually the most important words.” As a pastor, I found this saying to be true time and again, often observed in a hospital room, as a family gathered by the bedside of a loved one. As death drew near, the conversation inevitably turned from casual conversation to “last words” – “I’m so proud of you”, “Take care of your mother” and “Always remember I love you” were frequent phrases. Words that reflected more than the mind, words that reflected the heart – the most important words of all. In a post-resurrection appearance to His disciples Jesus spoke “last words” before He ascended to the right hand of the Father. He gave a God-sized mandate from His heart to the church, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19).
At Global Gates we take such a mandate seriously. That’s why the vision statement that drives our organization reads, “reaching the ends of the earth through global gateway cities.” We believe that transforming nations and spreading the gospel to every corner of the world flows from vibrant, Christ-centered relationships that multiply disciples, churches and leaders. By investing deeply in our foreign-born neighbors, and empowering them to reach their own communities, we catalyze an organic, locally-led expansion of God’s kingdom. Such an approach prioritizes indigenous leaders, leading to sustainable, exponential impact that goes beyond what western missionaries can achieve alone.
As an organization we implement a “full-circle strategy” as we prayerfully seek to share the gospel, make disciples and plant churches both domestically and in the countries of origin for unreached peoples. We utilize tools such as “Four Fields” to make disciples in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations. We employ non-residential missionary models as Global Gates’ missionaries work toward and pray for the Holy Spirit to launch disciple-making movements and church planting movements in second and third cities of diaspora engagement.
Global Gates unapologetically strives to rapidly multiply disciples, churches and leaders because we know:
1) the task is great – over 3.4 billion people globally live in unreached people groups with little to no access to the gospel. Global Gates personnel, some eighty plus in number, will never reach the nations alone. We need non-western disciples sharing the gospel, making -disciples and planting churches.
2) non-western missionaries, who know experientially the culture, language and religious beliefs of their unreached people group, can be more effective than western missionaries. They know intimately the “language of life” of the people group. Their relationships run deep among family and friends in the immigrant communities of the US and “back home” in their countries of origin. The relational trust necessary to open a door for the gospel is already established aiding in the spread of the gospel and the multiplication of disciples.
This core value of multiplication leads us to embrace our affinity-based strategy, where Global Gates’ missionaries are released and encouraged to seek their people group wherever they may be found in significant concentrations among diaspora populations. Launching ministry among our people groups in second and third cities is a daunting challenge but when successful, yields multiplication among disciples, churches and leaders. A missionary may reside in New York, but utilizing a non-residential missionary model can have tremendous impact in multiplying disciples, churches and leaders among their people group in Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.
One final thought on Global Gates’ core value of multiplication. To embrace the rapid multiplication of disciples, churches and leaders we at Global Gates must understand and embrace the spiritual nature of the task.
Multiplication will not be achieved through missiological intellect, creative strategies, abundant resources or human efforts. The multiplication of disciples, churches and leaders is a spiritual endeavor and can only be achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who convicts of sin, it is the Spirit who draws one to faith in Christ, it is the Spirit who gifts the new believer for ministry and it is the Spirit who produces spiritual maturity in the life of the convert.
As an organization and as individual missionaries, we at Global Gates are completely dependent upon the presence, power and work of the Holy Spirit as we prayerfully seek the multiplication of disciples, churches and leaders among unreached peoples.
While we are totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit, we are aided in our mission by thousands of Great Commission partners – churches, individuals, organizations and foundations. To each, we say “Thank you” for partnering with us to “reach the ends of the earth through global gateway cities.”
