97. Megachurch to multiplication #1 

Chris Galanos joins the conversation over the next two episodes. In this podcast, Chris starts by sharing the challenging journey of his successful Texan megachurch in the US switching to embrace a vision for multiplication. 

From 10,000 to 1 million – compelled into multiplication by a God sized vision

After reaching their ten year vision to reach 10,000 people in just eight years, Chris describes how God gave him and the church leadership a new God sized vision for the next ten years. After asking God what his vision would be for them, Chris tells us how God birthed a call for their church to reach the entire population (1 million people) of west Texas. 

“The movement catalysts that God seems to use are people who are willing to receive a God sized impossible vision to see a whole people, ethne, language or nation reached.” 

Multiplication – very different to addition

“Addition brings people to you. Multiplication launches them out”

Chris highlights the challenging shifts his megachurch needed to make as they leveraged everything they did to multiplying disciples during a three year transition period. The church had to be prepared to loose people at this time and many did leave. 

Raising the sails for movement

During this time, the church shifted towards multiplication by focusing on seven key elements of DMM or as Chris puts it, the “raising of seven sails”:

  1. Focus on God’s Word 
  2. Multiply Extraordinary Prayer 
  3. Go Out Among the Lost 
  4. See Groups Start 
  5. Cast Vision
  6. Train Believers 
  7. Ongoing Coaching 

Not all smooth sailing – some of the challenges along the way…

  • Coming and consuming to going and producing – changing a church is a massive challenge. 
  • Not everybody will go with you – paying the cost of loosing close friends. 
  • Being willing to go slow to go fast – it takes perseverance and hard work.

Chris’ resources:

Chris’ book – ‘Megachurch to multiplication’

Check out Chris’ website – experiencelifenow.com

  • Chris’ WIGTake blog can be accessed via the website or here