DNA of CPM (the Bhojpuri the case study)

This month the discussion turns to “how”, or the strategy for accomplishing that purpose and mission.

Many outreach and missional strategies have been developed over the past 2000 years, but Asian Partners believes that the most effective way to reach the unreached is by planting churches. More specifically, our strategy is to plant self-replicating churches that will result in a church planting movement (CPM). This is accomplished by teaching the DNA of self-replicating churches to local leaders, who in-turn inject this DNA into new churches in local communities. This CPM model has been implemented and continues to be perfected in communities and villages of North India. Using this strategy over the past 16 years, over 90,000 house churched have been planted, with over 4 million new followers of The Way.

So you might ask “what is this so-called DNA”? The diagram below depicts the main components of the genetic make-up for self-replicating house churches in North India. These elements are taught and instilled in leaders and church members from the outset, so that new churches live and breathe these characteristics.


Passionate Prayer
Prayer is always the starting point. Nothing of any significance is accomplished unless it uses God’s power and is in concert with God’s mind and God’s will. In addition we must look for where God is working, and decide to join Him there (John 5:17,19). Knowing, understanding and becoming wise to these things can only be realized through constant prayer (Colossians 1:9-12, 1 Thess 5:17, Ephesians 6:18, James 1:5). In a survey of house church pastors in North India, it was discovered that on average, each pastor spends 2-3 hours per day in prayer, with some pastors spending up to 5 hours per day in prayer.

A Culture of Empowerment
Leaders are called and appointed by the Lord, and sent to places where He is about to go (Luke 10:1). After this commissioning by the Lord, the authority of the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit empower leaders for ministry. Church Planting is an act of God through His Spirit and His people who are obedient to the Word and the Spirit. (John 16:7-15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 5:12-14). In addition, leaders from the start are taught to be self-supporting, which results in better access to the community, and breaks the barrier between clergy and laity. (Acts 20:34, 1 Corinthians 9:1-19)

Reaching Friends and Relatives
The focus is on entire families and households. The family is an integral, autonomous unit of the culture, community and society. If the entire family follows Jesus, this unit has a much better chance of not only surviving in a hostile environment, but thriving and multiplying. (Acts 10:1ff; Acts 16:13-15; Acts 16:30-33; Acts 18:7-8)

Instantaneous Personal Witnessing
Multiplication happens when believers are “on fire” for Christ, and can’t wait to tell others about Him. One Biblical model is the Samaritan woman at the well:
So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?" John 4: 28-29
Here we see the “instantaneous” part. The Samaritan woman dropped the “important” task at hand (drawing water), and immediately told others what Jesus had done for her. Sounds simple doesn’t it? She just told them “come and see”. And from that simple testimony, many came to believe in Christ.
From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all the things that I have done." John 4: 39

The Word is the Foundation
The Scriptures are foundational and the source for salvation, preaching, teaching, and discipleship. (John 1:1; 1 Timothy 4:11-16; Matthew 22:29; Luke 24:44-45; Acts 17:2,11; 2 Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 4:12; 1Thess 2:13)

Obedience and Accountability to the Word
The Bible is foundational, but we also learn from the Scriptures that knowing what the Word says is not enough, for even the demons believe and shudder (James 2:14-19). James also tells us that “anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man that looks at his face in a mirror, and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently in to the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:23-25). Teaching new believers to obey and be accountable is an integral part of the discipleship plan (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 15:18). Literally, believers must put the Word into practice (Matthew 7:24-27). Finally, if the Word is not put into practice, Christians will be perceived as hypocrites, and are no better than the Pharisees (Matthew 23).

Intentional Planting
Plan the work and then work the plan - Be intentional in Ministry, Prayer, Scripture, Appropriate Evangelism and Preaching, Teaching, and Discipleship. However, an essential part of the planning process is ensuring, by prayer, that the plan of men is subject to and in submission to God’s plan. (Acts 16:7-10; Isaiah 55:8-11: James 4:13-17; Romans 15:23-29; Isaiah 14:24,26-27). From the outset of the CPM in North India, churches were not only encouraged, but expected to reproduce. The results reflect the precepts contained in Ephesians 3:20-21. There are now 20th generation churches from those that started over 15 years ago in North India. This is more than our humans minds could have ever hoped or imagined. To God be the glory for the work He is doing!

Will this strategy work in other places? Absolutely! To further expand this movement outside of North India, this model has been taught to church planters in China, Southeast Asia, Japan, Africa, Europe and Latin America. We will teach the model to any and all who make the request. Again, our goal is to reach the unreached, and follow where God is working among any unreached people groups worldwide.

This has been only a short summary of the kind of teaching that is happening every day among leaders in North India. Please contact us if you would like more detailed information about the DNA of church multiplication. We’d love to share this teaching with anyone who wants to learn (and obey).