The Discipleship Department of the Singapore Adventist Conference hosted a 2-day training focusing on the Multiply Cycle, a life-changing approach to disciple-making. Held on May 5th and 6th, the training consisted of two events—"Prepare: From Strangers to Friends" and "Sow: From Friendship to Fellowship"—which aimed to equip attendees with practical, tactical, and biblical strategies to effectively share the gospel, nurture relationships, and transform lives. The training featured Dr Abner Dizon, an experienced and accomplished educator, missionary, and church-planting pastor from the Philippines, as one of the key speakers. With his extensive intercultural studies and mission work background, Dr Dizon brought a wealth of knowledge and insights to the training sessions.
Understanding the Multiply Cycle: A Comprehensive Approach to Disciple-Making
The Multiply Cycle is a systematic process designed to guide churches and individuals through the different phases of disciple-making, ensuring a well-rounded approach to sharing the gospel and nurturing relationships. Comprising five essential stages—Prepare, Sow, Cultivate, Harvest, and Preserve—the Multiply Cycle helps churches identify the current activities and recognise areas where they may be lacking. By following the Multiply Cycle, churches can better manage their resources, avoid redundancy, and maximise their impact in disciple-making.
The Multiply Cycle starts with PREPARE, where believers build friendships and set the stage for spiritual conversations. In the SOW phase, spiritual truths are shared through conversations, testimonies, and invitations to church activities. Next, the CULTIVATE phase offers structured Bible studies to deepen understanding of God's Word. The HARVEST phase involves making a spiritual decision for Jesus and baptism. Finally, the PRESERVE phase focuses on supporting newly baptised believers' growth through Discipleship Groups, empowering them to make disciples themselves.
Event #1: Prepare: From Strangers to Friends
The first event, "Prepare: From Strangers to Friends," kicked off the practical training and equipping of Adventists to fulfil God's call to be disciple-making disciples. Pastor Isagani explained the need for the Multiply Cycle, which helps provide clarity of steps and prevents overlapping efforts. Inspired by the agricultural cycle, the Multiply Cycle is a practical, tactical, and biblical approach to sharing the gospel.
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During the workshop, participants discussed a visitor's first-time experience in their church, small groups, or social events and explored steps to help make that experience better. Pastor Christon shared 8 steps to make a visitor feel welcome, which include:
- Smile
- Introduce your name
- Welcome them to your church
- Get to know them (name, where they are from, what they do or study)
- Offer help – show them the way to the Sabbath Schools, washrooms, worship service
- Invite them to sit with you
- Invite them to eat lunch with you
- Before they leave, thank them for coming & invite them to come again
Following these steps, church members can create a warm and welcoming environment for newcomers.
Event #2: Sow: From Friendship to Fellowship
The second event, "Sow: From Friendship to Fellowship," focused on building relationships and effective communication. Dr Abner Dizon talked about the keys to communication with others with different values by going from Know Yourself, to Know Your Message, to Know Your Audience. He also presented informative research on postmodernism, including trends and characteristics such as contingency, autonomy, relativity, and temporality.
Dr Dizon highlighted the importance of finding common points of interest, such as shared moral values, belief in science, concern for social justice, and appreciation of art and culture. By inviting and involving friends in activities they deem valuable, depending on their demographic (including community service, sports, tours, etc.), participants can build stronger connections and create opportunities for fellowship.
Building a community of loving people and fostering a sense of belonging is crucial for forming lasting relationships and bridging the gap between strangers and friends. As Dr Dizon concluded his training, he emphasised the need for authenticity when introducing friends to Jesus, as it helps to connect people to the message and the community genuinely.
Join a Discipleship Group Today and Experience the Transformative Power of the Multiply Cycle!
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