"As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it." Genesis 9:7
The number one goal of every cell group is to multiply into more groups by winning lost people to Christ. To make this goal achievable it must have a specific time frame. Experience has shown that healthy cell groups multiply at between 6 months and 2 years. Consider the make up of your group, seek the Lord's guidance in prayer, and then set a specific target date for your group to multiply.
Announce your goal to your cell group at the earliest possible point in the group's life (the very first meeting is ideal!). This goal gives your group identity, direction, a challenge to rise to, and a framework in which to work.
Remember the advice of David Yonggi Cho, pastor of the world's largest church:
(Quoted in Home Cell Group Explosion, page 48)
It is recommended that you read Home Cell Group Explosion chapter 10 ‘Prepare for a smooth delivery' along with this training module.
Cell churches across the world vary on their opinions about when a cell group is ready to multiply. Since the Lord Jesus himself modelled a group of 12, we will use this number as our guide. When your group has grown so that there are 12 persons in regular attendance, then as far as numbers are concerned, you are ready to multiply.
However, no multiplication can take place without a prepared leader. Is your Apprentice ready to lead a group of their own? Has he or she completed the Leading a Cell Group equipping modules? When you judge your Apprentice Leader is ready, then as far as leadership is concerned, you are ready.
Finally, since our aim is for each new group to multiply also, do you have enough new persons to become Apprentice Cell Leaders? If you have been training more than one Apprentice, the additional Apprentice(s) can become the primary Apprentice Leader(s) in the new group(s). Do what you can to ensure each new group will have both a Cell Leader and an Apprentice after multiplication. If it is not possible to recruit enough Apprentice Leaders from your own group, it may be possible for a more mature Christian to transfer from another group to become an Apprentice Leader. Discuss this possibility with your Cell Coach and other church leaders. In the end, it is still possible to multiply your group without two new Apprentice Leaders at the beginning, but recruiting them will become an urgent priority for the new groups.
‘Mother – daughter multiplication' is the normal pattern for multiplying a cell group. When the original ‘mother' cell group grows large enough, it can ‘give birth' to a ‘daughter' group. At the time of multiplication the primary Apprentice Leader takes half the group and the original Cell Leader retains the other half. Those who are more mature in the faith should generally go with the Apprentice in order to give the new leader stronger support.
‘Cell planting' expands the possibilities for starting new cell groups. As soon as a new leader is trained it is possible to launch a new group. The best situation is to send out a prepared ‘core' of 2 or 3 members with the new leader, thus starting the new group with a strong core. The new group could be a regular cell or a specialist group, say amongst college students or in a workplace, or it could begin as a small group-based Alpha Course that becomes a normal cell when the course finishes. In circumstances where cell planting is used, the parent cell should do all it can to provide help and support to the new group whilst it strives to become established.
After you have a trained Apprentice and enough members to form two groups, you need to decide who will form part of the new daughter group and who will stay in the parent group. This separation must be handled with great care and sensitivity. Ask God for wisdom to make the right decisions; seek his mind for your members.
The general rule for dividing cell members is to preserve networks of natural relationships as much as possible. Those who were already friends should remain together. Those who have formed strong, positive relationships within the group should remain together. As far as possible, each new group should have a mix of maturity levels – don't let one leader take all the more spiritually mature members and leave all the newer, weaker ones with the other! Take time to talk to all members so that any concerns can be addressed and no one feels manipulated or controlled.
The birth of a new cell group is as special as the birth of a natural son or daughter. So celebrate! Hold a special party. You could even have a birthday cake! Invite as many as possible. Some visitors may even stay to strengthen the new groups! Make it a spiritual celebration. Include singing and testimonies. Church leadership should be represented – and the new groups commissioned at this event.
After multiplying the two new groups can maintain links to some degree. An occasional joint event may help to encourage all members, particularly in the early days following multiplication. And the relationship between the original Cell Leader and the new Cell Leader will be maintained as the original Leader now becomes Cell Coach to the new Leader. In this new relationship the two leaders meet once a month to share encouragement and support.
E8.15 Multiplying Your Group - Version 3 – Apr 11