What started as a vision in a single church in Naperville, Illinois, has grown into a worldwide movement transforming churches and communities alike. Dave Ferguson’s Community Christian Church (CCC) not only embraced the power of doubling groups but also became the launchpad for the New Thing Network, a church-planting organization that has influenced thousands of leaders globally. Through the network’s partnerships, training, and annual Exponential Conference, the ripple effects of CCC’s principles continue to shape the landscape of modern church growth. Ferguson casts a vision for what he calls four-generation discipleship. Every believer ought to aspire to four-generation influence:

The practice of disciple multiplying is a shift from sharing what I’ve learned to add followers to sharing what I’ve learned in ways that multiply disciples. Disciple multiplying requires that we do life with other leaders with the goal of four generations of multiplication and use simple tools like the five steps of apprenticeship.[1]

The Birth of New Thing

Dave Ferguson’s passion for multiplication wasn’t limited to Community Christian Church. He envisioned a larger movement—one that would connect like-minded churches and leaders committed to reproducing disciples, leaders, and churches. In 2001, this vision materialized as the New Thing Network, a global partnership dedicated to helping churches plant other churches.

“If we’re serious about fulfilling the Great Commission,” Ferguson says, “we need to think beyond our walls and help others do the same.” New Thing started with a few partner churches but quickly expanded as more leaders caught the vision of multiplication.

Churches Born from the Movement

New Thing’s impact is evident in the churches it has helped plant and influence. Among the many success stories is Restore Community Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded by Troy McMahon, a former CCC staff member, Restore began with a handful of people meeting in a high school cafeteria. Today, it’s a thriving multi-campus church reaching thousands weekly. “We took the DNA of CCC and made it our own,” McMahon says. “Multiplication isn’t just something we do; it’s who we are.”

Another example is Frontline Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Frontline started with a core group inspired by New Thing’s principles. Within five years, it had planted multiple congregations across the city, focusing on building community and multiplying small groups. Lead pastor Josh Kouri says, “New Thing taught us that every church, no matter its size, has the potential to reproduce.”

The Power of Partnership

A cornerstone of the New Thing Network is its emphasis on collaboration. Partner churches share resources, training, and encouragement, creating a community of support for church planters. This network approach allows churches to avoid common pitfalls and accelerate their growth. Dave Ferguson says:

We are better together.

Changing the world is more than any one of us can do—but it’s not more than all of us can do together.

You don’t have to look much farther than Scripture to see this truth. The Bible is crystal clear. In fact, Jesus’ words to Jewish and Gentile believers in Matthew’s Gospel inform the big idea of this book: “For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them” (Matt. 18:20). Jesus’ message tells us that when we unify, collaborate and come together as believers, He is present in a qualitative different way than when we are all alone.

We are better together.[2]

Griffin Church in Atlanta, Georgia, credits New Thing with helping them navigate the challenges of their early years. “The partnership gave us a roadmap,” says lead pastor Kim Bryant. “We didn’t have to reinvent the wheel, and that allowed us to focus on building relationships and discipling people.”

The Exponential Conference

At the heart of New Thing’s influence is the annual Exponential Conference, the largest gathering of church planters and leaders in the world. Held in Orlando, Florida, Exponential attracts thousands of attendees each year with its focus on practical strategies and inspiring stories of multiplication.

“Exponential isn’t just a conference; it’s a movement,” says Dave Ferguson. “It’s where leaders come to be challenged, equipped, and inspired to take the next step in multiplying disciples and churches.”

One of the conference’s hallmarks is its emphasis on storytelling. Leaders from diverse backgrounds share their experiences, providing both encouragement and actionable insights. Past speakers have included church leaders like Andy Stanley, Francis Chan, and Christine Caine, all of whom have reinforced the importance of multiplication.

Stories of Transformation

The stories emerging from New Thing and Exponential are as diverse as they are inspiring. In Chicago, Renewal Church launched with a small group of young professionals eager to make a difference in their city. Within three years, the church had grown to three campuses, each committed to planting additional congregations. Renewal’s lead pastor, Mark Carter, attributes much of their success to the training they received through New Thing.

Similarly, in Nairobi, Kenya, a partnership with New Thing led to the planting of City Church. Beginning with a few dozen members, City Church now serves thousands and has become a model for church planting across East Africa. “The principles we learned at Exponential changed everything,” says Pastor Joseph Mburu. “We’re not just growing a church; we’re growing a movement.”

[1] Dave Ferguson, Warren Bird, and J. D. Greear, Hero Maker: Five Essential Practices for Leaders to Multiply Leaders (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018).

[2] Dave Ferguson and Patrick O’Connell, Together: The Great Collaboration (Nashville, TN: Exponential, 2020).