Pastor Meng Aun Hour (pictured here with me) was recently traveling with me in the U.S. and shared this kernel of wisdom. He originally thought that in order to see his church grow and multiply, that he should focus on the church ministry.
However, he joined Asian Access as a volunteer nearly 12 years ago because he was challenged from his participation in our program. What did he learn?
In order to "grow the church,"
it's best to "grow the leader."
This, he thought, was real wisdom.
Pastor Meng, National Director of A2/Cambodia, now spends much of his time investing in leaders both for his church and his nation. He has seen the fruit of this truth that through developing the leader, the Church grows and multiplies.
One of the pastors in the class was a commander during Pol Pot's reign of terror known as the "Killing Fields." This man was brutal before he met Christ, but God got ahold of his life—and he's never been the same. He came through the A2/Cambodia leader development process a few years ago and since graduating has planted more than 300 churches in the center of the area occupied by the former Khmer Rouge people. Most of these new churches have 30-90 people of whom the vast majority had never heard about Christ before. It's simply amazing!
The power of reproduction in the model Jesus created two centuries ago: invest in twelve select disciples and see them multiply! "If you want to grow the church, grow the leader."
Please pray that the current leaders in the A2 program will allow God to change them, develop them and transform them. This will, in turn, bring growth to His Church across Asia.