Victory in the Mall
Posted by Rice on Jul 17, '07 6:03 AM
 On Sunday, July 15th I ministered in the morning in one of our congregations in Manila that meets in a shopping mall. What an incredible strategy to have a facility right in the midst of the places where a majority of the people in a city congregate, and from the managers of the malls standpoint a huge drawing card for their businesses as well
.Altogether there are 5 malls with Victory Christian Fellowships with a total of 29 services meeting there. In one mall there are 7500 people attending in 14services. It is becoming almost as popular as the movie theaters! At the same time they are meeting in locations that are their own facilities as well. The strategy seems clear: to utilize every key facility possible as you expand to reach a city for Christ.
More important than the facilities they utilize in Manila are the leadership teams that operate them. If fact, besides the hundreds of leaders that help operate the 60 weekend services that take place in 12 different venues, they have over 3650 Life Group leaders serving over 4000 Life Groups. This proves that if you are faithful to make disciples and train leaders, there will be an abundance of people who will share in the work of ministry. A multiplication of leaders is a vital need to advance the kingdom of God.
At Bethel in Nashville, we are in a season of focusing on helping connect our members into Life Groups, which are small groups of people that meet in various places for building friendships and growing spiritually. In the days to come we pray that ever member has the opportunity to be a part of one. We are also utilizing a similar strategy to minister in a variety of locations. We meet in traditional church buildings as well as community centers and a YMCA.
We are trusting God to spread out and practically reach our city for Christ. May God grant us the vision and the heart to transcend the American mindset of consumerism and self-absorbtion and embrace a strategy that will help more people come to know Christ. We are grateful for the example that the ministry in the Philippines has set. |
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