Encounter with God: Principles
The four key
concepts are worked out on a local level through
nine core principles. Because of our biblical
belief that God is using and blessing the local
church, it is essential that there be an operational
strategy with the individual churches participating
with us. This is not to imply that we run the local
church, but rather that we have uncovered eight
specific principles which, when acted upon by the
local congregations, greatly assist the
establishment of strong, nationally led, reproducing
churches.
Unrelenting Prayer
Nothing happens until people pray.
Taking vision and needs to God has been the basis of
the "Encounter With God" program. It started with
home prayer meetings in the first church and has
continued to be a vital part of every church. Many
churches meet for early morning prayer during the
week and often all night in prayer vigils.
Team Ministry
From the outset the entire
"Encounter With God" movement has been a team
ministry. Each church is pastored by a ministry
team. A senior pastor will have a team of one or
more assistants who share in the pulpit ministry, as
well as the rest of the ministry of the church.
Thus, the church is built around the ministry, not
around a personality.
Strategic Location
All of the churches that are built
using the "Encounter With God" strategy are located
on principal avenues, visible to the masses passing
by every day. They are located carefully on primary
bus lines and traffic routes of the city so that
they are well known, easily found, accessible and
have an impact on the city. This is important in
places where the evangelical church has had poor
visibility and little exposure. That such properties
are becoming available to evangelical churches is
testimony that this is God’s time!
Attractive Facilities
It has been said over the years in
many countries that you cannot mix classes of people
in the same church, and that you cannot get upper
class people to come to an evangelical church. These
assumptions have been proven false. The reason
people thought this was that too often the
evangelical church was in a poor location with
inadequate facilities and was totally unattractive
to middle and upper class people. Once an attractive
building on a principal avenue has been provided,
middle and even upper class people enthusiastically
attend the services.
In buying property and constructing
highly visible buildings, CMI helps national
believers do the one thing they cannot do for
themselves. With runaway inflation and chaotic
political and financial conditions, it is impossible
for an evangelical church to pay cash, or obtain a
bank loan, for property or buildings. They can and
do evangelize, disciple, and teach. They are also
completely self-supporting with regard to their
operational budgets and provide financial support
for the expansion of the program.
Momentum Evangelism
Picture a small congregation having
a one or two week evangelistic campaign every month
until (and after) the building is filled. Each month
a different evangelist will hold evangelistic
services in the local church. Those who were saved
the previous month bring their friends, relatives,
and acquaintances this month, those that are saved
this month are added to the ranks in bringing others
next month. As this proceeds month after month, the
momentum picks up and the congregation experiences
explosive growth. The momentum builds to the point
where, even at other services—usually dedicated to
teaching and worship—many respond to an invitation
to receive Christ simply because they came prepared
to make that commitment through the faithful witness
of others.
Discipleship of New Believers
A critical component is a
multi-level discipleship program that takes new
converts through to maturity. A Bible Academy
(discipleship program) grounds new converts in the
basic truths of God’s Word. Some go on to prepare
themselves for leadership in the church. Bible study
cell groups meet in homes. Theological Education by
Extension is available for those who want to
continue their study.
Preparation of Future Leaders
The future of any work is the
preparation of its future pastors and leaders. A
Bible Institute helps prepare men and women for
full-time ministry. It consists of evening classes
three nights a week for six years. They live in
their own environment and must be active in and
recommended by their local church. Most pastors in
the "Encounter With God" churches today were
developed into leaders through this means.
It is interesting to note that when
the "Encounter With God" program started in 1973,
there was no pastors available in Peru to pastor a
middle class church. The first pastor came from
Argentina. Today in Peru the more than churches
produced out of this program are all pastored by
nationals, and all of the major leadership roles in
the movement are now occupied by nationals!
Missionaries still serve as teachers in the Bible
Institute and a few as assistant pastors, but none
are serving as senior pastors.
Cultivate a Missionary Vision
Encounter churches no longer see
themselves as just recipients of the gospel, rather
as responsible agents to evangelize the lost around
them. Instead of continuing to grow bigger and
bigger, they see the need to multiply by starting
other churches. When Church Ministries International
assists a church in building its sanctuary, this is
the only sanctuary that congregation ever builds.
The goal is that each church will start new churches
as it multiplies and spreads out across its nation,
the continent, and the world.
Teach Financial Stewardship
Each church makes a commitment that
from now until the Lord returns, it will put at
least 20% of its gross income into a revolving fund
to build other churches. By the time we reach our
final goal of multiple churches in every capital
city, these churches will be generating their own
resources from which to continue their efforts to
win their nation to Christ. This comes only with
stewardship teaching.
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