As an engineering student, Samuel* was actively involved with Cru’s ministry in India. He was trained in evangelism and discipleship, and started a growing prayer group on his campus. And he didn’t give up his passion for Christ and His kingdom after graduation.
Now, while working in an educational organization, Samuel seeks to mobilize graduate students. At a special program he organized, 83 graduate students got the vision to expand God’s kingdom in the workplace. Since then, 15-20 graduates gather regularly to pray for our ministry.
They are trusting God and working together to:
- Gather every young Christian graduate in their city.
- Cast vision to develop leaders in the workplace.
- Reach the villages through social events and outreaches.
- Financially support Cru staff members.
The life of someone like Samuel illustrates the principles of engaging in the “right activities” with the “right people” and pointing them toward the “right outcomes.” This is some of what I explain when local staff members around the world ask me, “What are the most strategic things for me to focus on in ministry?” Let me elaborate:
“Engage in the right activities, with the right people and point them to the right outcomes”
Right Activities
From the early days of our ministry up to today, the right activities involve winning, building, and sending. As Bill Bright often said, “The Great Commission cannot be fully accomplished apart from spiritual multiplication.”
Yes, spiritual addition is important. For example, I had such a chance just three weeks ago in a meeting of 125 lawyers. Some very likely didn’t know the Lord personally. So, I shared how they could. That was spiritual addition.
However, even more significant was that I was modeling for the many Christians who were there how they could share their testimony and present the gospel. One Christian lawyer came up to me afterward and said, “After watching and listening to you, I realized I need to do that as well.” That was the beginning of multiplication.
Right People
But it doesn’t end with engaging in the right activities. As much as possible, we need to involve the right people – those most available and most likely to multiply. These people are “Christ-centered multiplying disciples,” like Samuel.
As Jesus taught in the parable of the sower and the soils, only one of the soils “produces a crop of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times what was sown” (Matthew 13, Mark 4 and Luke 8). The “good soil” hears the word and accepts it, and the result is multiplied far beyond what was sown. The “good soil” also has a noble and good heart that retains and perseveres in what it hears from God. These qualities all reflect “Christ-centeredness.”
As we minister, we certainly should sow abundantly and give all people opportunities to grow and minister. But we should not, over time, invest ourselves “equally” in discipling, simply trying to fill our schedules with follow-up and discipleship appointments.
We will see more fruit over time, if we look for the “good soil” and give special effort to build those people up in the Lord, while motivating, training and supporting them in ministry. We should particularly pour into the lives of those who demonstrate they intend to pass things on to others (2 Timothy 2:2).
Right Outcomes
If we are engaged in the “right activities” with the “right people,” is there anything else we should focus on? Yes! We should point those people toward the “right outcomes.” It is all too easy to settle for teaching our disciples to do follow-up and teach Bible studies and fall short of exhorting them to launch spiritual movements. Good follow-up and Bible study are a part of that – but not all of it.
Movement-building starts with a clear picture of the “right outcomes”: spiritual multiplication. In other words, we need to model for and teach our disciples that we want to see the process of spiritual ministry and multiplication continue, generation after generation.
That is not necessarily easy. After all, it is gratifying to hear people say they were blessed by what we have taught them. This is not a bad thing unless their “appreciation” is where it ends. Don’t we really want people to see what we do as within their grasp? So, after a training session with “good soil” disciples, we should want to hear, “What you shared just now was great, and I think I could share that if you just give me your notes.”
Samuel is an example of just such a person. To be most strategic in your ministry, look for “Samuels,” who involve others in ministry – and in movement-building. Prayerfully rely on the Lord to help you focus on the right activities, right people and right outcomes.
*name changed for security
