When you hear that something is having an almost unbelievable impact, the natural question is, "How does it work"? To give you a simplified picture - think of a chain with 5 links:
The first link is Service:
In places where you are not welcome or the Gospel is not wanted, the only thing that will get you in the front door is meeting a need. Compassionate service in meeting a need is the first link in the church planting chain.
The second link is Relationship:
Once you are inside, the key to everything is relationships with many to find just one. The man or woman you are looking for is the one that God has prepared to bring the Gospel into the community - the one that Luke 10 calls the "Man of Peace".
The third link is Discovery & Obedience:
This link is about salvation and growth through personal discovery of God’s will from His Word. Through personal discovery, we have removed the middle man, allowing God to speak for Himself and the people to decide for themselves. The call to obey what God has said is the "compass heading" that directs the entire church planting process.
The fourth link is Inside Leaders & Church Planting:
This link is about the inside leaders God is raising up launching new churches. Maturity is about obedience not just the passage of time. As believers mature, leaders emerge and churches are born.
The fifth link is Reproduction:
The final link in the chain is to multiply, disciples making disciples and churches planting churches.
In Luke 13:21 Jesus says, "The Kingdom of God is like leaven" It only takes a little bit of the right stuff to change everything." It works quietly and takes a little time but what it changes, is changed forever.