From the Neighborhood to the Nations
A leadership framework for growing disciples deep and reaching wide, rooted in Acts 1:8. We're shifting from counting attendance to cultivating witnesses—measuring growth by active discipleship that transforms communities from the inside out.
Leadership Axiom
Grow Members Deep So We Can Reach Wide
Deep Roots
Spirit-formed disciples cultivated through prayer, Word, and accountable community
Wide Reach
Transformed witnesses whose faith impacts neighborhoods, cities, and nations
Metric Shift
Replace census mindset with active discipleship—people becoming formed, faithful, fruitful, and sent
The question isn't how many are attending, but how many are being transformed into witnesses who multiply impact.
Acts 1:8 Mission Map
Four concentric circles of discipleship and witness, moving from depth to distance with intentional progression.
Jerusalem
Grow Deep
Formation in the house and neighborhood through prayer, biblical teaching, and discipleship pathways
Judea
Reach the Region
City-wide partnership and measurable community impact with strategic collaboration
Samaria
Cross Lines
Reconciliation, inclusion, and intentional barrier removal across dividing lines
Nations
Multiply
Global reach through diaspora connections and digital discipleship platforms

Core Principle: Depth before distance. Steward your measure, strengthen capacity, then pursue multiplication.
Remove the Census Mindset
The Old Question
Are we counting attendance?
The New Question
Are we cultivating witnesses?
Are we making disciples?
Are we reaching the community?
Is our messaging resonating in the community?
We measure growth by active discipleship: people becoming formed, faithful, fruitful, and sent. This requires tracking discipleship indicators that reveal genuine transformation.
Prayer & Word Rhythms
Accountable community through small groups and mentoring relationships
Serving & Stewardship
Consistent ministry participation expressing faith through action
Leadership Pipeline
Movement from apprentice → captain → multiplier with visible character fruit
Inside-Out Methodology
Metron Thinking: Lead Within Your Measure
Inside
Spirit-formed disciples cultivated through intentional formation practices
Out
Witness that transforms community through embodied faith and measurable impact
Expand
Multiplication as capacity and wisdom grow within God's assigned measure
Implication: Steward your measure, strengthen your capacity, then pursue multiplication. Don't expand beyond what you can sustain with health and integrity.
Models Are Contextual
Models are tools, not theology. Tools only work in certain contexts. Before copying any ministry model, we must ask: What is our city's context?
Identify Barriers
What shapes participation here? Trust, trauma, time, transport, economics?
Discover Assets
What already exists that we can honor, mobilize, and multiply?
Locate Pain & Hope
Where is pain concentrated, and where is hope emerging in our neighborhood?

Rule: Context before copying. Incarnation before imitation. Effective ministry requires understanding the unique soil where you're planting.
Deep + Wide Kingdom Equation
Deep is the root. Wide is the fruit. Both are essential for sustainable kingdom impact.
Grow Deep (Jerusalem)
  • Prayer culture and biblical formation as foundation
  • Discipleship pathway: connect → grow → serve → lead
  • Pastoral care and restoration for sustainable health
Reach Wide (Judea, Samaria, Nations)
  • Community impact with measurable outcomes
  • Partnerships that increase credibility and capacity
  • Reconciliation and sending—local to global, including digital discipleship
The Gospel Is Our Platform
How Are We Platforming Our Platform?
The Word is our platform, not an accessory. Every ministry practice must align with and amplify Scripture as our foundation.
Preach
Christ-centered proclamation with pastoral clarity that speaks truth with love
Teach
Discipleship that trains people to live the Word publicly with courage and wisdom
Practice
Embodied witness through care, holiness, justice, and compassion in daily life
Protect + Publish
Align ministries with Scripture and extend discipleship through media and gatherings
Leader Scorecard
Four key areas to measure discipleship health and kingdom impact. Each ministry must name one discipleship outcome and one measurable indicator per quarter.
Formation (Deep)
Prayer, Word, and discipleship participation rates
Family & Care (Deep)
Follow-up, restoration wins, retention with health
Service & Impact (Wide)
Outcomes achieved, partnerships strengthened
Multiplication (Wide)
New leaders trained, teams expanded, ministries reproduced
From Neighborhood to Nations
4
Mission Circles
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Nations
1
Core Platform
The Gospel as foundation
4
Scorecard Areas
Formation, Care, Impact, Multiplication
Key Takeaway
Grow members deep so we can reach wide. Replace census thinking with active discipleship. Context before copying. Depth before distance. Steward your measure, strengthen capacity, then multiply with wisdom.
Every ministry must commit to one discipleship outcome and one measurable indicator per quarter. This is non-negotiable for sustainable kingdom impact.