Making the Shift: Lessons from the Frontline of a Disciple-Making Movement
When we first launched Multiply Movements, we had no idea what the journey ahead would hold. We began with five small churches and a deep conviction that God was calling us to multiply disciples and churches across our region. Three years later, that number has grown to more than fifty.
Multiply Movements isn’t a denomination or a network in the traditional sense. We see ourselves as a training, launch, and support system for disciple makers and disciple-making churches, whether in the form of micro churches or established congregations. Our role is to equip, coach, and walk alongside everyday people as they step into Jesus’ call to make disciples who make disciples.
It sounds like rapid growth, and in some ways it has been, but the reality is far more complex. There have been deep joys and painful losses, breakthroughs and mistakes, clarity and confusion. Along the way, we have had to rethink much of what we once assumed about “church.”
What has become clear is that disciple-making movements don’t happen by accident. They require both courage and a willingness to change. Here’s some of what we have learned so far.
The Early Challenges
In the beginning, we quickly realised that not everyone wanted to follow this vision. Some people preferred more traditional forms of church, and many walked away. That was painful. At times, it felt like we were shrinking instead of growing.
But as we refined our message and simplified our approach, something shifted. We began to connect with more and more people who shared our passion for generational discipleship and who resonated with simple, reproducible forms of church such as micro churches.
Another challenge has been learning how to communicate and lead well in a decentralised movement. When churches aren’t gathering in one central building each week, questions arise: How do we train leaders? How do we coach them effectively? How often do we gather face-to-face, and when do we scatter? These questions pushed us to experiment, fail, and adjust.
What We’ve Learned
Looking back at our first three years, we can identify several key lessons that have shaped where we go from here.
1. Coaching changes everything.
We discovered that leaders who received ongoing coaching and training became far more intentional. They kept their groups focused on mission, overcame obstacles with encouragement, and were strategic about raising new leaders and planting new churches. Increased support directly led to new disciples and the longevity of micro churches.
2. Focus on the willing.
At first, we spent a lot of time trying to convince reluctant people to come with us. Eventually, we learned to release those who weren’t ready and invest in those who were. With limited time and energy, we now prioritise action-takers who are hungry to obey Jesus and multiply.
3. Keep gatherings simple and reproducible.
We simplified our larger gatherings by meeting monthly in regional park hubs. These times of worship, community, and outreach have been easy to multiply and easy to join—without adding extra burdens to leaders or families.
4. MAWLing raises leaders.
“Model, Assist, Watch, Launch” (MAWL) has become an invaluable process for developing new leaders. We are now very intentional that every micro church leader is MAWLing with an emerging leader so multiplication can continue.
5. Start with relationships.
We’ve seen the greatest fruit come from relational evangelism through people’s existing oikos (networks of family, friends, colleagues, and neighbours). When disciples reach their own circles, new groups form naturally and momentum builds.
The Ongoing Challenges
Of course, we are still learning and we face some real challenges.
Training enough coaches. As more churches and leaders emerge, we don’t yet have enough trained coaches to walk with them all. Multiplying coaches has become one of our most urgent priorities.
Expanding beyond our region. The movement is growing locally, but we are asking big questions about how to see this spread to other regions without losing simplicity or DNA.
Healthy rhythms. We want leaders to thrive in disciple-making without burning out. Finding sustainable rhythms that balance family, mission, and rest remains an ongoing wrestle.
The Heart of the Movement
Through it all, our heart has remained steady: we long to see the priesthood of all believers activated. Disciple-making is not the job of a select few leaders, it’s the call of every follower of Jesus.
We are not interested in transfer growth or bigger events. Our desire is generational growth: disciples who make disciples, churches that plant churches, leaders who raise leaders. Just as Paul described in 2 Timothy 2:2, we are dreaming of four and five generations of disciples, and we are beginning to see the first glimpses of it.
An Invitation to Shift
If there is one thing we’ve learned, it’s that movements are built on shifts; shifts from decisions to disciples, from addition to multiplication, from programs to relationships, from complexity to simplicity.
Our story is still being written, but one thing is clear: Jesus is faithful to build His church when His people commit to making disciples who make disciples.
Rachel McInnes
Alongside her husband Tim, Rachel is the Co-Founder of Multiply Movements, an organisation committed to catalyzing disciple-making and church planting movements. With a rich background in planting churches, launching ministry schools, and building networks, Rachel brings over a decade of frontline experience to her work—particularly in the context of micro churches and decentralized missional communities. Her passion lies in equipping and empowering others.