Church Multiplication Network sees early successes
By Jerilyn Osborn
Only in its infancy, the Church Multiplication Network is already reaping rewards as Assemblies of God churches are beginning to take advantage of CMN support. Following are two examples.
The journey to Cleveland
After spending two years in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, James Wilkes and his wife Jennifer felt God call them to plant a church. Traveling to his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, for business, Wilkes felt the Lord stir his heart to plant there. In June of 2008, Jim and his family moved to Cleveland, trusting God to guide their efforts as they started a weekly Bible study in their home with only three other couples.
Six months later, Jim and Jennifer realized that their group was quickly outgrowing it’s space. “Our Bible study grew from three couples to 45 people,” says Jim. “Once we started growing and filled the house we knew we had to look for a new location. We couldn’t afford it, but we took steps of faith to do that.”
The Wilkes found a 30,000- square-foot building for sale.
“It was an old church that had declined in size,” Jim says. “We asked if we could rent it and they said we could.”
On March 29, 2009, 386 people attended the launch service for Journey Community Church. “[When I got up to preach] I was excited and numb at the same time,” Jim says. “I was really amazed at how many people had come out from the community and excited to see the beginnings of fulfillment of what God had whispered to us a year ago.” That day, four people gave their hearts to God. Over the next two weeks, an additional 14 people were saved; the majority of which were first time converts.
The Church Multiplication Network was able to partner with Journey through the matching fund by matching $30,000 of the money Jim had raised as they started this new endeavor. Looking back on his church multiplication experience, Jim can see God’s hand at work. “The money issue was our biggest challenge. We took great steps of faith and risk. Whether we had the resources or not, we planned as if we had them,” says Jim.
“Each time God asked us to risk something or do something beyond ourselves, He has always come through. He has always met us right where we need to be.”
Make your connection
“Give Me 40 days and I’ll do something you’ve never seen before and take you places you’ve never been.” That’s the promise God gave to Eric Akin during a 21-day fast in 2008.
Halfway through those 40 days, the Lord told Eric to start a church. “I called the North Texas District and told them that God was calling [my wife and me] to plant a church. So I asked where they needed one,” says Eric. “We went to three different cities, but when we got to Rockwall/Heath, Angie and I knew that was it.”
On April 5, 2009, seven months after arriving in Rockwall/Heath, Texas, 47 people met for Freedom Chapel’s launch service. “There was excitement in the room,” Eric says. “It was so positive. We picked up three families from the initial launch and the community is excited.”
Getting up to preach, Eric admits that he was slightly nervous, but soon excitement took over and he hit his preaching stride. “The atmosphere was set,” says Eric. “Our worship leader did a great job [setting the tone for the service]. We had six people come down for the altar call and had one rededication.”
With Freedom Chapel’s launch under his belt, Eric has words of advice to other multipliers. “Get involved in your community as fast as possible, whether it’s coaching, volunteering or substitute teaching,” says Eric. “You need to meet people.”
Looking back on their launch, one thing really stands out. “After the service when we were tearing down, there were people who were there for the first time and they were getting involved cleaning up,” Eric says. “We must have done something right that sparked an interest in their hearts and they were able to feel an instant connection.”
Freedom Chapel is another recipient of the Church Multiplication Network’s matching fund.
For more information on CMN, visit www.churchmultiplication.net.