“I don’t know when and how I was born. I don’t even know who my parents were. By the time I was old enough to understand, I was in the streets of Kampala, Uganda, being taken care of by fellow street kids. I don’t know how I survived the dirt, hunger, coldness, disease, and danger! I don’t even know how a stranger named Rev. Kefa Ssempangi decided to take me off the streets. All I know is that this Good Samaritan gave me more than shelter, food, and clothing.”
Richard Sempa
I met Richard during the fourth gathering of the Lausanne Congress at a breakout session. His background is much like that of many in Uganda, yet his path is filled with hope for the future. You can find more about his story here. Today, he enjoys a lovely family life with his wife Stella and their children: Robin (12), Ronah (10), Randy (7), and Reagan (5).
In 2004, Richard established the Africa Life Youth Foundation. Their vision includes mobile Bible training, child sponsorship, youth camps, student outreach ministry, pro-life initiatives, and church planting. At present, they have successfully planted three churches and aim to establish two new churches each year by reproducing existing ones – click here for more information. Church multiplication is a strategic approach to ensure that more and better disciples are developed.
Here are two statistics that highlight the situation in Uganda:
Christianity is on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia Pacific (Global Christianity).
Uganda is ranked #5 for having one of the youngest populations globally, with a median age of 16.9 years.
Richard and I are set to launch a coach training program in January 2026, which will train 5 leaders in Christian coaching, enabling them to train others, including leaders from similar organizations. Our shared objective is for disciples to create more disciples, extending into the third and fourth generations. Ultimately, the churches that train church planters will have leaders available to coach their church planters. The coach training process we are implementing will reflect what InFocus is doing in Project Congo – CLICK HERE.
Multiplication differs from addition, and it is certainly distinct from reproduction. Multiplication speeds up the process of making disciples and planting churches. Focusing on multiplying disciples emphasizes the essentials for a disciple-making movement, while multiplying churches concentrates on the essentials for a church planting movement, where coaching plays a strategic role.
One example of multiplying disciples is known as a 3-Thirds Group. There are certainly other models, but the key ingredients for this model are simplicity and reproducibility. In my experience with the 3-Thirds Group process, I’ve observed a few significant characteristics:
Disciples understand the value of community.
Disciples appreciate the strength of Scripture.
Disciples honor the act of confessing sin.
Disciples build resilience through repentance.
Disciples engage by sharing their experiences with others.
These are fundamental aspects of disciplemaking that Jesus demonstrated with His followers, and they are what we aim to focus on in our coach training for Disciplemaking Movements (DMM) & Church Planting Movements (CPM) in Uganda.
Reflection Questions for a Reproducible Disciplemaking Process:
How purposefully are you assisting others in navigating the 5 points mentioned above?
Can you depict your process on a napkin?
Can you describe your process in under 5 minutes?
If you’re interested in a straightforward discipleship group format:
I read Viral – Hearing God’s Voice in a Global Pandemic…and Beyond by Neil Cole and thought it was worth sharing with you. With all the available content available today, it is difficult to discern what is worth reading and what isn’t. I would definitely put Neil Cole’s book, “Viral,” on the “should read” list. I don’t use the term “must read” because it is overused and loses its meaning, but you should read this book.
In the 6th chapter, the author outlines 8 principles that catalyze Jesus’ movements. Each is critical IF you aspire to participate in some way in a multiplication movement that multiplies Jesus followers, disciple-making communities, and churches. I know other authors have distilled their lists, but I found Cole’s list gets to the root issues of a movement. Here is the list, which I am going to attempt to summarize in my language so that it might cause you to prayerfully consider them, read about them, and most importantly, implement them.
Let’s get started:
Self-Directed Learning
All too often, church leaders and structure can get in the way of what the Holy Spirit is saying to a person on the individual level. Sermons can be great sources of information along with small group curriculum, but the most powerful type of learning is that which comes from within the disciple of Jesus. When we were raising our children, I realized that when they grasped for topics that truly interested them, they were inspired to learn more. In this way, providing opportunities for Jesus followers to self-select where they need to grow can be the most powerful learning they will encounter on the spiritual journey. This more individual approach will shape the culture of any community.
Learning in Community
Over the last year, I’ve stepped away from the more common approach to training leaders in Christian coaching, which is to work individually, one trainer per one leader, To a more group-oriented approach. Instead of 1-1, I broadened my scope to 1-3 leaders. I did this primarily out of the realization that I was working cross-culturally in a context that was more communal. Makes total sense given my background in small groups, but it never clicked until this last year in the way I train. What I discovered is a more powerful dynamic. It goes along with the idea that what you learn together will make you grow faster.
Simple and Replicable Methods
It is frustrating when we raise the bar so high for people to find and follow Jesus that you need a college degree to navigate the maze. In fact, what many leaders deem as simple is actually complex to the average person. I’ve written on this topic if you are interested – READ MORE HERE.
Letting The Bible Speak for Itself
This is especially problematic with the inundation of content from Christian communicators. Much of it is good, but some of it is not so good. The challenge is when we ask people to read the Bible and let it speak – they lack the ability or skill to listen and hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to them.
Empowering all God’s People in a Lateral Leadership Model
This is especially challenging in our culture of celebrity. We all have gifts and abilities God wants to use. And you may or may not reach the status of “celebrity,” but the seeds of a gospel movement are planted inside of you and every Jesus follower. The question is, “What are you and I going to do about it?” This is not to say that there exist leaders of leaders. No, but the more people can imagine their part in a gospel movement, the flatter the organization will become. And the more agile that organization, or another way of saying that is: the more the power is “distributed” to the first-time follower of Jesus, the more they can share in the movement.
Obedience-Oriented
It is said that everything rises and falls on leadership. More elementary than that, in a Jesus movement, everything rises and falls on obedience. You only need to read the words of Matthew 28:20a, “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” It is easy to rely on other apparatuses in ministry. However, the catalyst for multiplication rises and falls on obedience!
Use of Filters
I believe this one will rub some the wrong way because it might go against the grain of best practices for pastoral care, but in the ministry of training and equipping disciple makers, it is important to focus. Cole uses the word “filter” as the process of prioritizing people of peace, or receptive individuals to the gospel, who are gatekeepers. I like the way he casts the vision to move with those who are leaning into Jesus and hold the keys to a group of people that they influence. Here are some of the examples he uses:
Culturally Transferable and Globally Applicable Methods
Principles are just that. They work regardless of culture. They are not model-specific. One example of a principle borrowed from science is gravity. When I mountain bike and take a fall, I 100% of the time will hit the ground. I go down, not up. In disciple-making, the need to confess sin is essential for growth. Further, a change in behavior, or repentance, is essential to reinforce the change.
High-Impact Viral Ministry Reflection Questions
Are you building dependent followers or self-directed disciples? What is the evidence that the people you train are capable of teaching themselves and others?
How can we transform our current learning spaces into vibrant, irresistible communities that naturally draw people in and propel them toward deeper knowledge and action?
If you had to cut 50% of your ministry activities tomorrow, what would you eliminate to focus exclusively on what directly reproduces mature disciples?
What are the subtle ways we might be editing, complicating, or talking over the pure voice of Scripture, preventing its direct, unvarnished impact?
What specific actions are you taking to make discipleship the universal expectation (the “bar”) for everyone, while simultaneously making leadership accessible and shared among many?
What is the missing invitation or challenge that could move people from simply knowing the truth to actually experiencing the joy and transformation of obeying it?
Beyond good intentions, what is your measurable strategy for identifying and focusing your time and resources on the “people of peace” who will accelerate your mission?
If someone observed your team for a week, what core, non-negotiable principles would they easily identify as the actual, lived “DNA” that governs every decision and action?
A couple felt a strong calling to plant a church in a rapidly growing community. They did all the right things: visiting the location, prayer-walking the streets, and sharing their vision with trusted mentors at their home church. When it was time, they took the next crucial step: engaging in a thorough assessment process, including the behavioral interview, which is the gold standard for most church planting networks.
The insights they gained were powerful. The assessment clearly affirmed their incredible relational capacity and knack for casting a compelling vision. But—and this is key—it also gently highlighted an area for growth: being more intentional about building robust disciple-making ministries.
Armed with this clear-eyed understanding and the full support of their sending church, they launched in August 2022. Fast forward three years, and their church is thriving! They’ve appointed elders, are financially self-sustaining, and have cultivated a vibrant community where over 80% of adults are actively engaged in disciple-making groups.
This kind of rapid, healthy growth isn’t just luck; it’s the direct result of a well-equipped couple who understood their strengths and proactively addressed their growth areas before launch.
It’s a Launchpad, Not a Hurdle
Think of a church planter assessment as your personal compass. Its main goal is to pinpoint a planter’s unique strengths and surface the areas where they might need a little extra coaching or support to truly flourish.
If you’re an aspiring church planter, a lead pastor in a sending church, or a network leader, you know how important it is to be a good steward of your resources—time, money, and people. What if you could increase your accuracy for identifying successful planters with reliable, granular data? The great news is that church planter assessments have come a long way.
Why Investing in a Strong Assessment is Valuable
When we look at organizations outside the church, we see powerful data:
As much as 80% of employee turnover is due to bad hiring decisions (according to The Harvard Business Review).
It’s estimated that a “bad hire” can cost an organization up to five times their annual salary (SHRM Study).
We are investing in eternal work. The stakes couldn’t be higher. A comprehensive assessment is an investment in the long-term health and sustainability of the planter, their family, and the church they’re called to start.
Consider Adding a Trait Assessment to Your Process
Most church planting networks rely on the Behavioral Interview—a tried-and-true method that helps assessors create a comprehensive profile. We wholeheartedly support this method, and we believe a powerful combination is to pair it with a Trait Assessment.
1. Behavioral Interview: Getting to Know the Real Planter
A behavioral interview dives into in-depth conversations about the planter’s past experiences. Assessors explore specific real-life situations—how the leader approached them, the decisions they made, and how they navigated the relationships involved. Past behavior is often the best indicator of future performance. This process can predict both areas of success and areas that might become a stumbling block without focused attention.
2. Trait Assessment: People Gravitate to Activities They Enjoy
When we talk about traits, we’re talking about those built-in, natural bents you came into the world with—the unique ways your brain and body are wired. They are often aptitudes you didn’t learn in a class but are a part of who you are.
For instance, maybe you’ve always been great at connecting with people, effortlessly relating while at the grocery store or pumping gas. Or perhaps you’re more introverted and thrive in solitude, finding that spending time with a crowd drains your emotional battery. These are your raw, natural inclinations.
The great news? With focused coaching and support, the traits that support these behaviors can be developed! The Harrison Assessment is a reliable tool we use that looks at 125 traits and filters them through the essential church planter competencies to rate the level of enjoyment a planter will experience in various tasks. Enjoyment Performance Theory suggests that when a person enjoys 75% or more of what they do, they will be three times more productive. (You can read more about the Harrison Assessment, HERE).
The Benefit of Two Assessments
The behavioral assessment is based on the ratings of the assessors, while the trait assessment is a self-assessment conducted by the planter. Combined, they formulate a comprehensive picture of the church planter’s potential to plant a healthy, reproducible church. Anecdotally, the results are impressively consistent, with the data from both assessments supporting each other and giving us great confidence in the path forward.
Partnership between InFocus & Thrive Church Planting
Since 2020, I’ve had the joy of collaborating with Micah Dodson of Thrive Church Planting on Leadership Collectives, Discipleship Collectives, and coach training. Now, we are working together to provide comprehensive church planter assessments.
It’s About Flourishing as a Human
In a recent conversation with a former assessment client, Micah was reminded of the deep power and influence of a robust assessment. The planter was calling to share his excitement over the recent grand opening of their church plant: stories of baptisms, a growing leadership team, and strong attendance.
While celebrating all of those wins, the planter reminded Micah of an assessment recommendation he had received a year prior.
Humbly, he opened up: “Remember that invitation to put away my phone and laptop on evenings and days off?”
Micah recalled, “Yes, how has that been going?”
The planter explained, “It has been so impactful to my family. In fact, over the summer, we spent more time together having fun than any summer prior.”
Micah was so encouraged. The contribution the assessment had made wasn’t just about his church’s health; it was about his family’s health, his personal health, and his belief that he could plant a church and flourish as a human and a child of God. Please let us know if you are interested in learning more about the assessment process we use – CLICK HERE to find a time to speak with Gary that fits your schedule. We’d love to partner with you in helping planters thrive.
I’ve been wrestling with a crucial question in the modern church:
“Are we equipping people to hear God, or just telling them what He said?” It’s a real frustration to see a void of training dedicated to helping people listen to and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. While teaching Scripture, memorizing the words of Jesus, and consuming content through sermons and books are vital, imagine the world-changing impact if we poured a comparable amount of energy into the practice of listening to God and actually obeying Him. This longing for impact leads me to focus on the gift of prophecy and its essential role in the life of the church.
It surfaces a crucial question: What is the primary function of the prophetic gift in our missional context today?
The Key Function: Equipping Listeners
The role of the prophet, as outlined in Ephesians 4:11-12, has a two-fold function. The typical role is to discern the times and understand what needs to be done, exemplified by court prophets like Nathan. However, the second and often overlooked function is to equip people to hear, listen, and discern the voice of God.
This function is essential for true growth and multiplication. In the Old Testament, there were schools to train promising prophets, where experienced prophets like Samuel modeled, taught, and coached apprentices like Nathan. Their primary duty was to train the young apprentice prophets on how to listen and respond to God. The goal of the prophetic function is to serve as a conduit of God’s voice, AND in turn, train others to hear and respond to God for themselves. It is so vital for those with the gift of prophecy to empower the saints for the work of ministry, leading to exponential spiritual growth.
This brings up another important question: What are the characteristics of a prophetic leader?
Characteristics of a Prophetic Leader
When discussing the “five-fold ministry,” missional and church planting leaders offer a perspective on the prophetic gift that highlights key characteristics:
The “Disturber” or “Questioner”: Prophetic leaders are the ones who challenge the status quo and speak truth. They ask the difficult questions that expose hypocrisy, call for repentance, and push the community to align with God’s will. Their function is to create “holy discontent” that leads to growth and change.
Focus on Hearing God and Guiding Obedience: Prophetic leaders cultivate a culture of God-centeredness through practices like listening prayer. Their speech is often “forth-telling” (declaring God’s truth for a specific time and situation) and “foretelling” (predicting the future), encouraging responsive obedience.
Foundational and Restored Gift: Prophetic leaders emphasize the ongoing need for the gift as foundational for the church, strengthening ministry, and bringing Christ’s followers into unity. They also stress the importance of testing any prophetic message against the Bible to ensure it is genuine.
Equipper of the Saints: Prophetic leaders are as noted in the Ephesians 4:11-12 text – to equip and empower the saints for the work of ministry. The goal is to move the church from dependency on one voice to a community where everyone can hear and respond to God.
In essence, prophetic leaders are not mysterious, isolated figures – but a critical and sometimes uncomfortable part of a healthy, functioning church. They are the ones who help the church stay on mission by constantly questioning whether its current practices and culture are truly aligned with God’s heart.
Here are some works by leading missional thinkers on this topic:
Neil Cole:Primal Fire: Reigniting the Church with the Five Gifts of Jesus. In this book, Cole explores the five equipping gifts, with a focus on how the church can reactivate all five to become a more vibrant and effective movement.
Paul Ford:Mobilizing Spiritual Gifts focuses on helping churches and individuals identify and use their spiritual gifts for ministry. The author shares his perspective on the prophetic gift as a vital component for building up the body of Christ, and he provides resources for leaders to help their congregations discover and deploy these gifts.
Alan Hirsch:The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church. This foundational work introduces Hirsch’s influential APEST framework and its significance for the modern church. He specifically identifies the prophet’s role as the “disturber” who challenges the status quo and helps the church return to its missional roots.
A Few Questions for Reflection
I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
How does this description of the “prophet” gift resonate with you?
What concerns or questions does this kind of ministry bring to mind for you?
As you think about your own ministry, who comes to mind when you think of people with this gift?
Will You Stand with Us in Prayer?
We truly believe that consistent, heartfelt prayer is the seed that grows eternal fruit, and we’d be honored if you would stand with us.
We invite you to join the InFocus Prayer Team—a special community of friends committed to lifting up our work in regular prayer. This isn’t just a mailing list; it’s a dedicated partnership. As Jesus promised in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” We know the power of unified prayer, and we need yours!
Each week, we’ll send you a brief, focused update with specific prayer requests that reflect the most current and critical needs of the people we serve. You’ll get to pray with insight and with purpose.
Your prayers are a powerful force, and they truly make a difference in this vital work. If you feel called to link arms with us and become a prayer partner, it’s easy to join—just click HERE.
Remember the mission ofInFocus – to come alongside leaders to multiply disciples, cultivate leaders, & plant churches
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