As many of you know, I often talk about how I long to see the multiplication of churches, networks, and movements.

Over the years I have found that fellowship and connection with others brings revelation. So, when my friend who partners with us in VCI in the Netherlands, Joa Ephraim, reminded me that “before we see multiplication we need addition”, it was a fantastic insight to me. I feel it’s a missing link to multiplication. Since he mentioned it, I’ve been thinking about how true and encouraging this statement is.

It’s true! Abraham experienced addition before HE OR HIS DESCENDANTS SAW the promise of descendants as many as the stars in the sky and as many as the sand on the seashore. In fact, Abraham and Sarah never saw the reality of the promise physically; yet Abraham saw it in his spirit and welcomed the promise in.

It’s also what I am seeing and it’s the reality in Europe, as well as in other places, as well as in the business world.

It’s encouraging because multiplication doesn’t always happen straight away. I want to see multiplication now!!! I want to see multiplication sooner than later.

So for me it hit home, and I know we are on the right path. We need addition before we see multiplication. Joa explained it this way: 1 x 1 = 1 x 1 = 1.  BUT 1 + 1 = 2.  2 x 2 = 4.

The challenge is: addition looks good, even wonderful, (most things that multiply begin with addition), yet it could stop us from the great of multiplying. For example, we add bigger church buildings, larger numbers, better tech gear, lights and computers, more staff, more services… etc. Which is fantastic. What I’m saying is, we need addition, but don’t stop there. Allow addition to lead you into the arena of multiplication. Multiplication is church planting that is divinely out of control…networks that plant networks, that form movements that plant new movements.

I have said that we have addition in the Vision Churches network; by the end of 2020, I believe we will begin to see multiplication. Now I realize that we needaddition before we realize multiplication. Multiplication for me is a new church starting or joining us at least every month. Plus, one or two new networks beginning every 6 months or so. Of course by the time we get to 2021, multiplication will look different again.

I wonder what multiplication is for you?  Be encouraged, it begins with addition.