A Multi-Track Approach to “Discipling a Whole Nation”

1. A Multi-Track Approach to “Discipling a Whole Nation” The Canadian Experience

2. Can Additional Tracks Accelerate the Completion of the Great Commission? (If a national saturation church planting vision (DAWN) can stimulate movement towards Great Commission “closure,”)

3. The Starting Point for DAWN: A National Congress DAWN Goal: • 10,000 new churches by 2015 • Raise average annual planting rate to 4.5% • Churches geographically accessible and culturally relevant to every Canadian The Situation: - 30,000,000 population - 9,000 Evangelical churches - 1.4% Planting AAGR (Population growth 1.7%)

4. AD 2000 & Beyond Track Roots Prayer Mobilization Unreached Peoples Mobilization of Women

5. A Collaborative Agreement … Four tracks, without EFC backing (1990’s) EFC backing, but no tracks (1990-1995) (1997)

6. Established Tracks (2001): • Prayer Mobilization – network of prayer ministries • Church Planting Canada – “classic” DAWN / SCP • Research & Goals – to measure progress • Inter-Cultural / Unreached People Groups • City Transformation – influenced by Dennison, Silvoso, Otis Jr.

7. Developing Tracks: • Housechurches – influenced by Wolfgang Simson • Strategic Regional Initiatives – e.g. “Power to Change” • Church Health / Revitalization • Compassion Evangelism – showing and doing the gospel

8. Envisioned Tracks: • Emerging Generation Leaders • Training Evangelists • Financing the Great Commission

9. Vision Statement: “The Gospel for every person and a church for every people…Together we can do it!” Functional Goal: “That every Canadian be brought into relational connection with believers, seeing and hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ with such cultural and personal relevance that it results in sufficient understanding to accept Christ by faith as a believer (disciple) or to reject Him.”

10. Role and Function of Tracks Introduction: The following components (or “Banks” to bound the River) are viewed as important criteria guiding tracks in their work to the end “that every Canadian be brought into relational connection with believers, seeing and hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ with such cultural and personal relevance that it results in sufficient understanding to accept Christ by faith as a believer (disciple) or to reject Him.”  1.  A team leader, with long term vision and commitment, committed to the VC vision statement, goal and core values. The team leader would be is person with “apostolic” gifting and partnering abilities, able to give at least a day a week to the task, given much freedom to range broadly within these criterion in casting vision, able to recruit personnel and finances, and developing implementation strategies. 2.   Leader gathers a team of 6 or more persons each of whom can contribute to regional/local partnership development and mobilization. Track meets a minimum of 2 times a year (outside of VC meetings) and raises its own program budget through donations or registration/membership fees. Be gender and ethnic sensitive in team development. 3.   Teams define track vision and mission statements and measurable, dated outcomes (including needs assessment), which contribute directly to the VC goal.

11. Role and Function of Tracks 4. Set and implement action steps towards these desired outcomes. This would involve defining dates, resources need, and personnel responsible. 5.       Team produces regional activity/partnerships to share in expression of the vision and assist in work towards desired outcomes. This might involve at least two or three regional events annually and a national event at least every third year. 6.       Track develops and maintains a disciplined prayer team infrastructure channelling specific prayer needs to intercessors willing to provide essential prayer cover. This might involve regular prayer emails, a prayer coordinator, or other structures. 7.       Track develops and maintains effective communication infrastructure with the larger Christian community (or that segment with which it seeks to work). This might involve a quarterly newsletter, website, regular email updates and/or other communication instruments.

12. Numeric Goal Areas: • New church plants & Net gain. Current Goals: • Triple church planting rate: 1.5% > 4.5% AAGR • 10,000 new churches (1997-2015) • % Evangelical (Professing) • 7.9% (1989) > 10.8% (currently) • % Evangelical (Church Attendance) • 4.1% in evangelical denominations, remainder in mainline & historic denominations • Small Groups

13. Numeric Goal Areas: • Professions of Faith (annually) • Children of believers • Reaffirmation of faith/returning prodigals • Initial commitment to Christ from: Secular, New Age, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish • EFC has asked member denominations to begin gathering additional information for the purpose of measuring progress in the evangelization of Canada…”

14. Funding: • EFC pays for 2 roundtable meetings a year, limited track leadership travel, and some special projects. • Tracks raise ministry costs though conference registrations, memberships etc.

15. Role of EFC: • Delegate credibility (i.e. convening and legitimizing role). • Provides limited resources, financial and administrative. • Facilitates communication, maintains website.

16. Role of Vision Canada: • Casts vision / proposes goals • Identifies resources • Mobilizes larger church: denominations, mission agencies, education, local church, laity • Initiates projects, training events, conferences, research, gathers leaders regionally, consults with cities, publishes books & websites

17. “The Gospel for Every Person and a Church for Every People …. Together We Can Do It!”

18. Conversation …? • Murray.Moerman@outreach.ca • www.efc-canada.com