George Patterson

George relates the similarities between today’s prolific churches with the characteristics of the churches depicted in Acts. Churches that rapidly multiply today have certain things in common: Money is not a necessary component, nor are particular doctrine or liturgy, buildings, degrees, big meetings, or eloquent speakers. They require no church practices except what Christ and His apostles required.

The goal of teaching someone to climb mountains is more than teaching mechanics of climbing. The teacher equips the student with all the nuances of safety and planning as well as appreciation of the splendor at the top. God empowers all believers to serve with their gifts and not just to listen to teaching. Teachers must help keep the body of Christ in balance, and George urges teachers not to get so wrapped up in brilliant teaching as an end in itself, but to realize it is the means for the Body to be equipped to use their spiritual gifts to serve.

Harvesting fruit is only possible when the branches abide in the vine; leaders can only bear good fruit when they abide in Jesus (John 15:4). George outlines the characteristics that a small church needs to have in order to flourish after planting. When leaders heed certain New Testament guidelines, churches multiply rapidly, inexpensively and with little or no ongoing help from Western missionaries.

I’m an Evangelical, and as an Evangelical I have the right to join my Evangelical brothers in confessing a currently-devastating sin, in repenting from it, and in making amends. I fear that the majority of us Evangelicals have been covering up one of the most significant truths of our modern age: More people are coming to faith in Christ around the world than ever before in history, while our Evangelical denominations in the West are declining.