How Can I Grow My Cell?                   

 

1. Make Evangelism a Priority

 

It won’t happen automatically. Evangelism is not simply the inevitable by-product of opening your home to a cell group.  Just because you have a cell, does NOT mean lives will be reached for Christ.   Reaching new, unchurched lives takes deliberate action. It requires a PLAN.

Jesus gave us specific responsibility to evangelize. If you don’t have a specific plan as a group to reach out, invite visitors, serve your community and multiply, it won’t happen.  Have a time set aside during each cell meeting to discuss outreach. “Bob, who are you going to invite to cell meeting next week?”

Your cell members will do what they believe is close to your heart.  When they see you demonstrate behavior, they will emulate it.

2. Focus on New People

People who have been in church for years without sharing their faith will be slower to start doing the real Jesus work.  New believers will be quicker to develop good evangelism lifestyles if encouraged early on.  An enthusiastic new believer is the greatest asset a cell group has.

Cultivate an atmosphere in your cell of excitement. Work with those in your cell who are excited about reaching others. Get them engaged while they’re hot!

3. Personal Nets

This is perhaps the most important opportunity you must seize.  A personal net is simply an informal get-together where you develop relationships with people you are trying to reach.

For example, you may want to get together with one or two other Christians in your cell, and then invite one or two unsaved acquaintances over for dinner, out (or over) for a movie, or to just share coffee and conversation.  By building informal relationships between the unsaved and your cell members, it becomes very easy to say. “By the way, we get together at my house every Friday night for a meeting where we talk about spiritual stuff and have coffee, wanna come Friday?”  It is MUCH easier to invite someone to your cell who has previously known your hospitality.  These events should be kept small, casual, and informal. It should feel like “hanging out”, but you have a supernatural purpose in your heart for building a relationship.   

Develop a lifestyle of these small private “nets” at least once a month, and encourage your members to do the same.  As your members develop this lifestyle, there will be tremendous opportunities to invite new people into the cell.

4. Participate in Group Nets

There are two ways to fish. Using a pole, or using a net. A net requires more people, but it also catches more fish!  We call a “net” is anything that spreads a net for the fish.

It can be a special production, special event, ladies or men’s meetings, or any event that is visitor-friendly.  These are easy to invite people to.

You may want to work with one or more other cells in the church to create an outreach or large fellowship opportunity. It can be a neighborhood block party, a beach bar-b-q.

5. Meet Practical Needs

Is there someone in your neighborhood who needs help?   Teach your group to find a need and fill it.  Always look for opportunity to help or assist the lost.  By showing concern, you open a door that is difficult to shut. This can be done as individuals, or as a group.

This is a great time to take advantage of the “down” times to reach people. Keep an eye out for ways to bless others. Mow their grass, share anything you have. “We had a little extra.” Invite them to dinner, even if it’s chili dogs.  When we make time in our lives to reach out to others they will notice.

Start a class or activity outside the cell setting. Spread the word about your FREE quilting class, basic car maintenance seminar, Italian cooking class, etc. Spend a few weeks with a group doing this and then invite them to your cell! Because they have gotten to know you it will be very natural for them to say yes!

 (For more ideas see pages 37-39 of How To Lead A Great Cell Group)

 

6. Open Your Spiritual Eyes

 

Every day, you and all your cell members rub shoulders with more people than you imagine.  From co-workers to store clerks, from neighbors to salesmen, family to friends, you are constantly in contact with lost people.  Try making a list of every person you come into contact with on any given day. Have everyone in your cell think of those they come in contact with on a weekly or monthly basis. Think of everywhere you go. They are all candidates for relationships of purpose.

Make the extra effort to make a connection with people. Get to know them. To build our cells and reach the lost we must get outside ourselves and reach out to others—this is our mandate.

Challenge yourself to talk to someone EVERY DAY with the idea of winning them!

 

7. Be Supernatural in Evangelism

Ephesians 6: 11-12: “ Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Don’t just depend on natural techniques.  Evangelism is supernatural work. Listen to God’s voice. Pray. Take risks that depend upon God. Believe for miracles.

Be willing to pray with somebody in a public place if you see they have a need. You might be surprised to hear people’s response to the simple question, “May I pray for you?”  If someone has an obvious physical need or you can tell they are upset about something, don’t ignore it. God may have brought this person into your path. Take a moment, engage them. Offer to pray for them. 

After all, our Master, Jesus, prayed for people in public places.

 

7. Prayer of Three

Your cell should always be working on gathering in the top 3-4 names from the Prayer of Three. The plan from the beginning of the Prayer of Three is to invite the people after that time of prayer.
The greatest testimonies we have seen in recent years have come from people who were lost, but wound up on somebody's Prayer of Three list. Look around you!  Today we call many of these people who were once on someone's Prayer of Three..."Cell Pastor".

9. Serve in on-campus ministry

. The more you serve the more people you will come in contact with who you can invite to your cell. Through serving, each of us will be given one on one interaction with new families.

 

Hospitality

In the coming weeks you may be asked to coordinate an area of on-campus ministry. Several areas that come under the Hospitality Ministry will be expanded so that each area has its own coordinators who will then contact each Cell Pastor to find out when they can serve in that area. More people will get the opportunity to serve!   

There are over 60 opportunities to serve every week in the visible, on-campus hospitality ministry.

 

Children’s Ministry

Another vital area of on-campus ministry open to Cell Pastors is the Children’s Ministry. Every week new families come to Central and bring their children. By serving in the nursery or a children’s class you will come in contact with new families. It is a great opportunity to build your cell! 

Over 100 leadership positions must be filled each week in the Children’s Ministry!

 

It is imperative that every Cell Pastor serve in on-campus ministry. We ARE the leadership of Central!

 

10. SUPER CONNECT SUNDAY!!

This will be a special Sunday event occurring once a quarter at both campuses.

It will be an exciting, concerted effort to bring new people into the Sunday morning gathering so you can connect them to your cell! 

Watch your e-mail and listen for special announcements and materials about our upcoming SUPER CONNECT SUNDAY!!

 

 

 

                  

What can I do about someone who has attended my cell group for a long time but won’t progress on the discipleship road?

 

 

1. Send them out with someone you launch to assist in that cell or let them assist you.  While not everyone will be a cell pastor, they should be actively engaged in helping the cell grow and participating in cell life.

 

2. Encourage them to invite someone new to your cell every month.  Every one in your cell should understand your expectations. Your cell is about evangelism. They need to see that you are focused on those who are doing the work.

 

3.  Have a net every few months and require every one to plan and help execute that plan. They need to invite at least 3 people to every net. Brainstorm with them about who they can invite.

They may say “I don’t know anyone.” Ask them “Where did you go today?”  “What did you do this week? Who did you come in contact with?” Tell them to invite that person! Have invitations to pass out.

This may seem pushy, but you are helping these people become disciple makers and answer the call of Christ.

 

4. Invite new people to your cell.

They’ll do what you do. If you are always inviting new people to your cell, they will be more likely to do the same. If they don’t follow your example then you can deal with them accordingly. It’s hard to correct someone for something you are not doing yourself.

 

5. Reaffirm the Vision with your cell.

Here’s the Vision: Make disciples who make disciples. Cells are for those who make disciples. If you are not willing or interested in serving others or being involved in making disciples then you do not really belong in a cell group.

 

We are a cell-based church. Those involved in leadership here are a part of the Cell Ministry. The chief responsibility of these leaders is to raise up other leaders.

 

We want everybody involved in the Vision. We open the door to all of those who are interested and willing to submit to the life of the cell.

 

We welcome everyone to attend Central and we know that there will always be those who just want to “go to church”. There is no better church for them to attend!   We believe that many of those will eventually understand the Vision and receive the call to be involved.  We want them here!

 

However, having the same unproductive people in your cell year after year who are unwilling to participate in the Vision is like watering dead plants week after week and expecting them to grow. We need fresh, live plants!

 

Jesus talked about the tree that would not bear fruit. He said to fertilize it and give it time. Then, if it would not grow or bear fruit, he said not waste our time with it. It’s important that your time not be consumed with those who don’t bear fruit.  Your best attention belongs to those who are fully committed to the Vision.

 

6. Talk with your Coach. 

Together you can pray and come up with a plan for dealing with someone who is not bearing fruit. Your coach can help to bring perspective to the situation and support you as you follow the Holy Spirit’s plan for your cell.

 

 

Your cell will grow if you never give up! 

Our Vision requires persistence and commitment.

Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”   

The only thing that can defeat you is giving up.