Reflections from the So Cal Multiply Conference: More than a Model
For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been sharing an invitation to the So Cal Multiply Conference, and after spending time with Brian Johnson from KC Underground, I’m still processing the depth of what was shared.
Rather than a dry summary of points, I want to share the heart of what I took away. If you want the deep dive into the “how-to,” I highly recommend checking out their Missionary Pathway Toolkit. But for now, here are the five shifts that are currently rattling around in my soul:
1. The Banner Over Everything: Jesus is Lord
It sounds simple, right? But Brian challenged us to consider if everything—our strategies, our budgets, and our very lives—actually falls under the banner of “Jesus is Lord.” If He is truly the center, then the pressure is off of us to “perform” and back on us to simply obey.
My takeaway: The term “deconstruction” carries negative connotations in our Christian church and community conversations today. In a positive light, however, it is helpful to willingly offer our lives and ministries to Jesus so that He can strip away those aspects that are not under his lordship. This has been painful for me – but worth it!
2. The Disciple-Maker’s Rhythm
We often look for a “silver bullet” for church growth, but the pathway shared at the conference felt much more like a natural, living rhythm. It starts and ends with Extraordinary Prayer and Fasting.
From that place of spiritual intensity, we move through a beautiful progression:
Incarnational Mission: Being present where people actually live.
Planting the Gospel: Letting the Word take root in new soil.
The Church Emerges: Watching a spiritual family form naturally.
Multiplication: Doing it again, and again.
My takeaway: I love the simplicity; however, I don’t have a habit of practicing the first and most important rhythm of Extraordinary Prayer and Fasting, which explains a lot of things…
3. Redefining the “Ordinary.”
One of the most refreshing parts of the weekend was the language used to describe the work. We aren’t looking for “super-pastors”; we are looking for ordinary people.
The Disciple-Maker: Just an ordinary person who plants themselves in an unreached network to love people and share the Gospel.
The Microchurch: Not a “mini-service,” but an extended spiritual family (an oikos) of 10-25 people doing life together.
The Collective: This is the “connective tissue” that shares resources, governing elders, mission, and larger gatherings (sometimes).
Hub Team: A catalytic team that exists to equip, coach, and convene disciple-makers and MCs within a geographic area or affinity.
My takeaway: An upside-down triangle was the image used to illustrate the Disciple-Maker at the top and the Hub Team at the bottom. The purpose? The Hub Team supports the three layers above with the Disciple-Maker at the top on the front lines, working in the Harvest.
4. Getting the Flow Right
This was a “lightbulb moment” for me – one that I have heard and read about from Alan Hirsch, author of The Forgotten Ways, Reactivating Apostolic Movements, before, but it hit me differently at the conference. If we start with Ecclesiology (how we do church), we often end up stuck in tradition, but if we follow the proper flow, everything changes:
Christology (Who is Jesus?) → Missiology (What is He doing in the world?) → Ecclesiology (How should the church look to support that mission?)
My takeaway: When our view of Jesus is big enough, it dictates our mission, which then dictates what the church looks like.
5. The “Ecclesial Minimums.”
We often overcomplicate what it means to be “The Church.” Brian stripped it back to a simple Venn diagram. At the center is Jesus is Lord, and where these three circles overlap, the church exists:
Worship: Our devotion to God.
Community: Our devotion to one another.
Mission: Our devotion to the world.
My takeaway: this is a helpful tool to assess the health of a micro-church; ideally, each circle is in balance with the other – see image above. When one is larger than the others, the MC coach asks the MC leader, “How can you bring balance?”
A Question for the Road
As I look back on the weekend, one question keeps rising to the surface:
How well are we doing at seeing the church fill everything in every way? If the church isn’t just a building on the corner, but a people scattered into every neighborhood, hobby group, and workplace, the possibilities for multiplication are endless.
Multiplication Evaluation
Are you curious about multiplication? I received permission to synthesize this list from “Becoming a Level 5IVE Multiplying Church Field Guide” by Todd Wilson, Dave Ferguson, with Alan Hirsch. In addition, I created a simple evaluation for your use that is available here.
I’ve been sitting with a question lately that I can’t quite shake: Why should we seriously consider the micro-church as a genuine multiplication strategy?
Last week, I shared a list of metrics that, honestly, felt a bit jarring. When I look at the “11 cylinders” of a multiplying church, it’s tough to imagine a movement in the US right now that is firing on all of them. It’s a high bar, and it has me wondering if we need a different kind of vehicle to get there.
The Questions on My Heart
I’ve been leaning into the world of micro-churches (MCs), but I’m still wrestling with what’s “aspirational” versus what’s actually happening on the ground. I’d love to know which of these questions resonates with you:
The Reach: Are MCs actually connecting with the “unchurched,” or even the “never-been-churched”? Or are we just reshuffling the same deck?
The Depth: Are we seeing real spiritual DNA being passed down? I’m looking for that third, fourth, or even fifth generation of disciples.
The Reality: Is the “fruit” in these networks significantly different from what we see in our prevailing church models?
A Different Kind of Compass
To help frame this, I’ve been looking at the Kingdom Compass (synthesized from the Level 5IVE Multiplying Church Field Guide by Todd Wilson, Dave Ferguson, and Alan Hirsch).
If we want to be churches that truly multiply, the “North Star” looks a bit different. It’s less about hitting an internal attendance milestone and more about:
Prioritizing the “Send”: Celebrating when people leave their seats to start something new.
Investing First Fruits: Putting 10% of the budget toward planting, before the mortgage.
Planting over Property: Choosing to birth an autonomous church before buying land or launching a multi-site campus.
Self-Evaluation: I’ve put together a simple evaluation tool based on these metrics. [CLICK HERE to receive a copy] and see where your current rhythm lands.
Let’s Dream Together
If these questions are stirring something in you, I’d love to grab a coffee or, better yet, see you at Multiply So Cal on February 21st. It’s going to be a space to stop “managing” and start dreaming about what God wants to do in our region. Check out the details here!
What about you? When you look at these 11 metrics, which one feels the most challenging—or the most exciting—for your context?
Reality – very few churches in the United States multiply. Some reproduce (4%). More people add new people, but are not reproducing or multiplying (16%). Most have plateaued or are in decline (80%). However, internationally, the story is much different. You can read more here: Smaller (much SMALLER) Churches Prevail + Bigger (much BIGGER) Churches are Needed.
Why do I bring this up?
Recently, I was corresponding with a church multiplication network leader, and asked, “What metrics do you track to assess the health of your churches?” He responded – “I would like to have a conversation about this…” That triggered a little research on my part to curate content on church multiplication and make it accessible to my people (you). Prayerfully, I want to help you make sense out of the plethora of information that you are inundated with in podcasts, blogs, and conferences – or in conversation with peers.
I invite you to reflect on a list of practices that multiplying churches demonstrate, but don’t let this list overwhelm you. Multiplication isn’t about being “perfect”; it’s about being reproducible. It starts with a shift in the heart—moving from “How do I grow my church?” to “How do I grow the Kingdom?”
I received permission to synthesize this list from “Becoming a Level 5IVE Multiplying Church Field Guide” by Todd Wilson, Dave Ferguson, with Alan Hirsch. In addition, I created a simple evaluation for your use that is available here.
The Kingdom Compass
Multiplying churches…
Prioritize Residency: They always have interns or residents in the pipeline, specifically preparing them to be sent out within the year.
Shift the Focus: They care more about the birth of new churches than they do about hitting their next internal attendance milestone.
Invest “First Fruits”: They commit at least 10% of their budget to church planting and “tithe” on building funds to ensure the mission outpaces the mortgage.
Plant Before Property: They prioritize planting an autonomous church before they ever take on land or building debt.
Plant Before Multi-Site: They choose to send out an independent church before they launch a satellite campus of their own.
Work a Real Plan: They don’t just have a “vision” for doubling their planting; they have a concrete, actionable strategy to make it happen.
Send the Best: They release their first church planter before they have a massive staff, and they keep “sending” their leadership capacity away.
Issue the Public Call: They regularly stand before the congregation and ask people to leave their seats to join a planting team.
Celebrate the Send: They make church planting the “hero” of their stories, celebrating it publicly to inspire the whole body.
Challenge Sacrificial Giving: They call their members to give above and beyond their normal tithe, specifically to fund new works.
Collaborate with Networks: They don’t fly solo; they stay active in a church-planting network or denomination committed to multiplication.
If you missed it above, CLICK HERE for the self-evaluation for each practice of a multiplying church.
You are doing the hard work of a pioneer. Whether you are at a place where you can implement one of these or all eleven, your faithfulness is seen. Keep dreaming, keep sending, and keep leaning into the One who promised that He would build His church.
Dive deeper into the multiplication conversation!
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the multiplication conversation, there’s an upcoming gathering on February 21st called “Multiply So Cal” that I think you’ll really enjoy. It’s a perfect opportunity to dream and grow together. Check out the details here!
Bridging the Divide: How “Disciple-Making Cohorts” Can Open Doors for the Micro-Church Movement
I was having a conversation with a respected church leader the other day, and we were discussing the future of the church and various ministry models. As the conversation naturally drifted towards smaller, more intimate gatherings, I found myself using terms like “micro-church” and “house church.”
It was subtle at first, but then it became undeniable. I watched as a visible shift occurred in his demeanor. A flicker of skepticism, then a tightening around his eyes. The friendly, open conversation began to stiffen. It was a visceral response, almost as if an invisible wall had materialized between us. While he remained polite, his body language communicated a clear message: “This will not work here!”
It was a stark reminder of the ingrained biases many hold when it comes to the classic, traditional church model. For some, the terms “micro-church” or “house church” conjure images of something less-than, unorganized, or even (Dare I say it?) a bit rebellious. It’s a knee-jerk reaction, born from years of experience and a deep-seated commitment to what they know and believe works.
This experience got me thinking: how can we communicate the incredible value and biblical foundation of these smaller, more relational expressions of faith without immediately triggering that defensive response? How can we speak to those who are resistant or closed to the idea, without them shutting down before we’ve even had a chance to share the vision?
The answer, I believe, lies in our language.
Instead of terms that can evoke preconceived notions, what if we adopted language that emphasizes the core mission and value proposition of these gatherings? What if we shifted from “micro-church,” “house church,” “missional community,” or even “organic church” to something like “Disciple-Making Cohort”? I give my friend Dennis Bachman (Via Cordis, house church network leader) credit for the term.
Think about the implications of that term.
“Disciple-Making” immediately grounds the conversation in the Great Commission. It highlights the primary purpose of these gatherings: to make and mature followers of Jesus. It speaks to intentional growth, learning, and transformation. Ultimately, the fruit of a disciple is other disciples, making disciples – multiplication!
“Cohort” implies a dedicated group, a focused journey, and a sense of shared purpose. It sounds intentional, structured (even if organically so), and collaborative. It removes the ambiguity that “house church” might have for some, suggesting a casual gathering rather than a committed community. And avoids the negative connotation of “micro-churches” being ingrown, closed to outsiders, and just plain weird!
A “Disciple-Making cohort” immediately communicates intentionality, spiritual growth, and community. It focuses on the what and the why rather than the how or the where. It emphasizes the core biblical mandate of following Jesus and helping others do the same, which is something every church leader, regardless of their preferred model, can get behind.
This isn’t about abandoning our convictions or hiding what we do. It’s about strategic communication. It’s about finding common ground and building bridges of understanding. When we use language that resonates with the values and priorities of those we’re trying to reach, we open doors that might otherwise remain firmly shut.
Imagine starting a conversation about forming “Disciple-Making cohorts” with that church leader. The immediate visual isn’t a potentially unkempt living room, but rather a group of committed individuals earnestly pursuing spiritual growth together. The visceral response of “this will not work here!” is much less likely. Instead, it invites questions, curiosity, and perhaps even a shared vision for making disciples in a new and effective way.
As leaders involved in micro-church and house church movements, passion is evident. But sometimes, that passion needs to be tempered with strategic communication. Let’s consider how we can effectively share the transformative power of these smaller, nimble expressions of faith with those who currently see them through a lens of resistance.
Reflection Questions for Micro-Church/House Church Leaders:
What terms do you currently use to describe your ministry, and what perceptions might those terms evoke in someone unfamiliar or resistant to the concept?
How can you articulate the core mission and values of your “micro-church” in a way that resonates with the biblical mandates that traditional church leaders also uphold?
Beyond language, what are other potential biases or assumptions people might have about smaller church models? How can you proactively address these?
When you encounter resistance, how do you typically respond? What new approaches might you consider to maintain an open dialogue?
If you were to frame your ministry as “Disciple-Making Cohorts,” what practical implications or shifts might that require in your communication, vision casting, or even internal understanding?
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the micro-church conversation, there’s an upcoming gathering on February 21st that I think you’ll really enjoy. It’s a perfect opportunity to dream and grow together. Check out the details here!
Transitioning from doing everything yourself to working with a Virtual Assistant (VA) is a huge milestone, but it’s also a big shift in mindset. It’s not just about offloading work; it’s about building a partnership that gives you your life back.
I made the transition, and encourage you to do the same. It is frustrating to see church leaders, denominational executives, and missionaries exhausted because they are attempting to do everything themselves. In the long run, you will do only what you can and enjoy your ministry more and more.
Here is a deeper look at how to navigate that journey with a relational, collaborative approach.
1. Brainstorm Everything You Can Delegate
Start by looking at your day through a “relational” lens—what tasks are draining your energy and keeping you from being present with your clients or your family? Grab a notebook and do a total brain dump. Don’t worry about whether a VA can do it yet; just focus on what takes you away from your “Zone of Genius.”
Admin: Inbox management, scheduling meetings, and data entry.
Personal: Booking travel, researching for a gift, or organizing your personal calendar.
Marketing: Posting to social media, formatting newsletters, or basic graphic design.
The “Paper Trail”: Invoicing, following up on late payments, or organizing digital files.
2. Prioritize the List
Now that you have your list, look at it with a focus on immediate relief. You don’t want to overwhelm your new partner on day one. Pick the “Low-Hanging Fruit”—tasks that are repetitive, easy to explain, and take up a lot of your time.
By prioritizing tasks that give you back 2–3 hours a week immediately, you’ll feel the value of the relationship right away. This builds the confidence you need to eventually hand over the bigger, more complex projects.
3. Work Through the List and Train as Needed
This is where the relationship is truly built. Think of training not as a chore, but as an investment in your VA’s success. If they thrive, you thrive.
Record yourself: Use a tool like Loom to record your screen while you do the task. Explain why you do it a certain way, not just the how.
Create a Playbook: Encourage your VA to document these processes into Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Be Patient: Expect a learning curve. Your VA wants to do a great job for you, so give them the grace and the clear instructions they need to get there.
4. Introduce Essential Tools
To work effectively as a team, you need a “shared brain.” Using the right tools keeps everyone on the same page without you having to micromanage.
For Relationship Management: A tool likeLess Annoying CRM is perfect for this. It’s simple and collaborative, allowing your VA to update contact notes, track leads, and set follow-up reminders so no one falls through the cracks.
For Daily Action: UseTodoist to track progress. You can assign tasks to your VA, set due dates, and see when things are completed in real-time. It eliminates the “Did you get to that yet?” emails and keeps the energy focused on moving forward.
5. Communicate Regularly and Celebrate Often
The secret sauce to a long-term VA relationship is high-touch communication. Since you aren’t in the same office, you have to intentionally create “water cooler” moments.
The Weekly Sync: Spend 15–30 minutes on a video call once a week. Talk about what’s working, what’s confusing, and what’s coming up on the horizon.
Celebrate the Wins: When they catch a mistake you made or finish a project ahead of schedule, tell them! A simple “I couldn’t have done this launch without you” goes a long way.
Make it Personal: Ask about their life. When you treat your VA as a valued team member rather than just a “service,” they become personally invested in your business success.
Ready to stop “managing” and start leading?
Reading about delegation is the easy part; actually letting go is where the magic (and the growth) happens. To help you move from theory to action, I’ve put together a quick “Pulse Check.” Use these seven questions to audit your current workload and identify exactly where your Virtual Assistant can step in to buy back your time. Grab a coffee, be honest with yourself, and let’s find your missing five hours this week.
The Delegation Discovery: 7 Questions for a Better Partnership
The Energy Audit: Which recurring task on my plate consistently drains my creative energy or makes me procrastinate?
The Value Exchange: If I handed off five hours of administrative work this week, what high-level project or personal priority would I dedicate that time to?
The Bottleneck Check: Am I holding onto a task because I’m the only one who can do it, or simply because I haven’t taken the time to teach someone else how?
The Trust Factor: What is one small, low-risk task I can hand over today to begin building a “trust muscle” with my VA?
The Clarity Test: If I were to record a 2-minute video of this task, could a stranger complete it successfully, or is the process still living mostly in my head?
The Communication Gap: When was the last time I gave my VA specific feedback—not just on a mistake, but on something they are doing exceptionally well?
The Big Picture: One year from now, what does my ideal workday look like, and which responsibilities need to be fully offloaded to make that a reality?
Take 10 minutes this Friday to answer these. If you find yourself stuck on #5, it’s time to hit ‘Record’ on your next task! If you would like a worksheet with these questions – CLICK HERE:
Reflecting on my recent involvement with a micro-church, or house church, network, and comparing it to the prevalent church model in the West, I recognize how different these two models are when examined through the framework of ATTRACTIONAL and MISSIONAL/INCARNATIONAL terminology (micro-church or house church).
The Great Divorce: Why We Struggle to Blend
Many leaders attempt to “bolt-on” missional living as an additional program. This approach often fails because the “operating system” of an attractional church is designed for gathering, whereas the missional life is oriented towards scattering. A congregation can certainly lean towards the other model, but the idea of being fully attractional AND missional presents a significant challenge.
The Attractional Model serves as a “Cathedral”—a stunning environment for seekers to experience the sacred.
The Missional Model functions as a “Network”—a decentralized movement of disciples engaging in the marketplace, gathering in homes, or in third spaces.
When you attempt to integrate both within the same structure, your staff may experience burnout, and your congregation may become perplexed. Whether you find yourself in the chaotic middle of a church plant or at the helm of an established congregation, the pressure to select a “side” is unyielding. Should you prioritize the Sunday experience—the lights, the band, and the clear message that attracts people? Or should you concentrate on the community—the gradual, incarnational effort of living among the people?
Here is a perspective on how the two models can complement one another. I do not aim to assert that one method is better than the other—merely that they are different! However, in this context, different is beneficial, as both approaches are necessary.
Attractional – Come & see what Jesus is doing
The Attractional model represents how most churches operate in the Western world: Sunday morning worship is designed to draw in those distant from God while nurturing the faith of believers. Corporate activities are focused on the church campus. Small groups, age-specific programs, and the mobilization of individuals based on their spiritual gifts and interests help integrate people into the church community. Below, this is illustrated in the orange zone.
Nonconformist – Unable to find a space that fits them
On the left side in the green zone lies the Nonconformist group. These individuals typically do not connect with what occurs during the corporate attractional gatherings in many churches. Why is this the case? There are numerous reasons. I recall inviting my friend Santos to my church during college. It was a classic example of what I refer to as the attractional church. He wasn’t particularly impressed. He didn’t dislike it; he simply didn’t connect with it. I can think of more extreme examples, but the reality is that Nonconformists do not see people like themselves represented, and I’m not primarily referring to race or ethnicity, which leads them to feel that their needs are not prioritized within the gathered community.
Missional – Community for the sake of others
On the right side of the bell curve are those I describe as individuals on a mission together for the benefit of others. The shared mission and incarnational approach drive this group to transition from the attractional church to newer forms such as micro-churches. The arrow signifies the dynamic flow of the mission.
If multiplication is your vision, then take this into account!
Micro-Church Networks are flexible.
I witnessed this a few months back at the house church I attended. A couple in the community had a tree fall in their backyard due to heavy rainfall. That morning, the church shifted from its usual location to assist the family in clearing the debris and then held the church gathering in their home. The smaller size (micro-environments) around which the community is structured influences the mission.
Micro-Church Networks possess an impressive ability to replicate.
This conclusion comes from a survey conducted by Exponential on micro-churches in 2025. While it may seem intuitive, the data now backs up the theory. You can download the report for free – CLICK HERE.
Micro-Church Networks engage more individuals with the five-fold gifts.
From my experience, I can observe how individuals with the gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, and teacher are activated in a micro-church. Smaller settings enable people to exercise their gifts in a secure environment. Larger gatherings are always an option, but typically, the norm is 3-20 people, gathered in a circle, discerning the work of the Spirit through scriptures, worship, prayer, and fellowship.
Micro-Church Networks are attractive communities for Nonconformists.
During the holiday, I invited my two adult children to join the house church I have been attending to gather their feedback. I was taken aback. They described their church experience that morning as “compelling” due to the interaction, the opportunity to discuss differing perspectives, and authentic engagement.
Micro-Church Networks allocate a significant portion of their budget to financial investments.
Beyond the essential needs to operate the network, funds are reinvested directly into the community the church serves. Larger networks necessitate oversight, care, and support. These are crucial as the number of churches expands into the third, fourth, fifth generation – and beyond.
There is much more that could be discussed regarding this subject, but from my recent experiences, I have noted the following. Globally, some of the most effective movements in disciple-making and church planting include elements of the micro-church DNA: love God, love your neighbor, and make disciples.
Questions for Your Personal Reflection:
Do you think it is feasible to be both attractional AND missional? Why or why not?
What approach are you most dedicated to?
If money were not an issue, which option would you choose?
What is your reasoning behind your answer to question #2?
What feelings does the statement evoke in you: “…the idea of being fully attractional AND missional is difficult.”
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