Last week I had the privilege of attending and teaching at our East Africa Leaders Conference. It was so humbling to eat with and hear from so many amazing Jesus followers who are living out their faith, planting churches and leading others in some incredibly challenging places. We heard of imprisonments, beatings, and planting churches with tiny resources. It was truly humbling.

In one session they asked me to share about building a disciple-making church. (How did they know ;-))

Although we are still working this out ourselves, the principles I shared aren't just good ideas - they're drawn directly from Jesus's ministry model laid out in Matthew 9 and 10.

Also - this isn't just for those who are in formal leadership in a church - this is for all of us! Here's the passage;

"Jesus travelled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, 'The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.' Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.... Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: 'Don't go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God's lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!' Don't take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. Don't carry a traveler's bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. When you enter the home, give it your blessing. If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day." (Matthew 9:35-10:15)

From this foundational passage, we can draw seven essential principles for building a disciple-making church:

1. Develop a Heart for the Harvest

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Jesus's first response to the lost wasn't first a strategy - it was a heart of compassion. It's so easy to lose our compassion and forget the state of the world around us. We have to constantly be asking God to break our hearts with the things that break His heart and be responding to needs as we can.

Compassion fatigue is a real thing and the only solution is supernatural - it's connecting with the heart of God himself.

2. Be a Leader in the Harvest

"Jesus travelled through all the towns and villages... Jesus sent out the twelve apostles"

Notice the sequence: Jesus didn't just send others - He led by example. He was in the harvest field Himself before sending others. This challenges me deeply. Someone once asked me, "If we cloned 100 copies of you, would it make a difference in reaching your town?" The answer was uncomfortable, but it drove me to greater dependence on Jesus's promise: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

I have to make tough decisions every term to carve out time to be with lost people and engage with them. It's not easy but it's essential if we are to help train and mobilise others to become multiplying disciples.

3. Cultivate Effective Prayer for the Harvest

"Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."

This is our first action step in the text - before strategy, before training, before sending. I've connected with numerous revival movements worldwide, and one coach told me something profound: "I've never seen a disciple-making movement without first seeing a prayer movement."

One of the most effective things that I've done to keep this on my radar is to meet every week for 30 minutes with a group of people where we just focus on disciplemaking. We spend 15 minutes sharing stories and 15 minutes praying for lost people. The weekly rhythm and the stories of others are so provoking for me.

4. Implement a Clear Strategy

"Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions..."

Jesus had a vision for the whole harvest and a specific strategy to accomplish it. His strategy wasn't just about making disciples - it was about making multiplying disciples. I realise that even if our church reached 1,000 people a year (20 times our current rate), it would take 100 years to reach our town. Addition won't cut it; multiplication is the only way forward.

So whatever we do we need to think - is this helping to create multiplying disciples?

5. Develop a Process

"Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority..."

Notice Jesus's process: He cast a big vision, gathered a small group, and trained them intensively. But here's what I've learned: We must train widely but coach narrowly. The formula is Vision > Training > Coaching, with coaching being the critical element most churches miss.

Coaching requires time and personal interaction. I have three coaching groups that I run monthly and I only invite those in who are actually doing something with what I'm teaching them.

6. Multiply the Word

"Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near."

The book of Acts repeatedly emphasizes that "the word of God spread." Yet in many churches, people hear the Word on Sunday but never share it. We need to restore the biblical cycle of HEAR > OBEY > SHARE. This is why we've embraced Discovery Bible Study, which naturally incorporates all three elements.

7. Demonstrate the Kingdom

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!"

Jesus sent His disciples with both words and power. The Kingdom advances through:

• Words that proclaim truth
• Works that demonstrate love
• Wonders that display God's power

Your Next Step

These principles aren't meant to overwhelm but to inspire. Start with one. Here's what I suggest:

1. Choose ONE principle that resonates most with you
2. Implement ONE practical step this week
3. Share what you're learning with ONE other person

Remember Jesus's words: "Now that you've heard these things, you'll be blessed if you do them." Which principle will you put into practice this week?