Francis Chan has been a significant voice in inspiring and mobilizing the global church toward a vision of multiplying disciples and groups. As a pastor, author, and missionary, Chan’s journey exemplifies the transition from traditional church structures to a focus on organic, multiplying communities that prioritize discipleship and obedience to Jesus. Through his writings, teaching, and hands-on ministry, Chan has become a catalytic figure in the global multiplying groups movement. He describes his vision in his own words:
In We Are Church in San Francisco, we multiply our churches when they get to around fifteen or twenty people to keep them healthily small as well as clustered in the same neighborhood, when possible. Before you know it, we can have churches in each neighborhood of the city, intentionally reaching out to the community. Churches can spread all over without financial limitations.[1]
The Transition from Cornerstone Church to Multiplying Groups
Francis Chan’s early ministry was marked by his leadership at Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California, which he founded in 1994. Cornerstone grew rapidly into a megachurch, attracting thousands of attendees each Sunday. Yet, as the church expanded, Chan felt increasingly uneasy about the model of ministry.
A Growing Discontent
Chan began to question the sustainability and biblical fidelity of the traditional church model. “I was spending so much time preparing sermons for people who weren’t obeying what they were learning,” he reflected. “I started wondering, ‘Is this what Jesus wanted?’” He felt called to simplify and return to the biblical model of disciples making disciples.
In 2010, Chan made a bold decision: he stepped away from Cornerstone to pursue a vision for a different kind of ministry. His journey would eventually lead him to champion multiplying groups.
We Are Church: A New Vision
After leaving Cornerstone, Chan founded We Are Church, a network of house churches in the San Francisco Bay Area. This ministry embodies the principles of multiplying groups:
- Decentralization: We Are Church consists of small, organic communities that meet in homes. There are no buildings, staff salaries, or programs, keeping the focus on discipleship.
- Every Member a Minister: Chan believes every believer has the Holy Spirit and is equipped to lead and disciple others. Leaders are chosen from within each group, with an emphasis on shared responsibility.
- Obedience-Based Discipleship: Groups study Scripture with an emphasis on applying and obeying what they learn.
- Multiplication: Groups are encouraged to reproduce quickly, training new leaders and planting new groups.
Chan’s vision is simple yet profound: to return to the early church model described in Acts, where believers gathered in homes, shared life together, and spread the gospel rapidly.
A Global Vision for Multiplication
Chan’s passion for multiplying groups extends beyond the United States. Through his books and teaching, he has become a global advocate for disciple-making movements.
Multiplying in Asia
In recent years, Chan and his family relocated to Hong Kong to engage in missions and disciple-making in Asia. Inspired by the explosive growth of house church movements in China and other parts of Asia, Chan immersed himself in the principles of these movements:
- Relational Evangelism: Chan emphasizes the power of relationships in spreading the gospel, mirroring the methods of many Asian house churches.
- Training Local Leaders: Instead of relying on foreign missionaries, Chan focuses on equipping local believers to lead and multiply groups.
- Perseverance Under Persecution: Chan frequently highlights the faithfulness of believers in persecuted contexts, urging Western Christians to adopt a similar commitment to sacrifice and obedience.
Mobilizing Western Churches
Chan challenges Western churches to embrace the principles of multiplication. Through conferences, books, and videos, he confronts the consumer-driven mindset of many congregations and calls leaders to prioritize disciple-making over church growth.
[1] Francis Chan, Letters to the Church: Study Guide (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2018).
