By Jake Howard, Pastor at Community Alliance Church - Towanda
As I reflect upon what God has been saying in the multiplication track, I am struck by how graciously active He has been in our lives at Community Alliance Church. I want to share one specific way God is at work in our church that I can trace directly to one of the teaching times this year.
The track is about learning to make disciples who multiply disciples so that communities of disciples are multiplied here, there, and everywhere. One foundational truth keeps coming back to me. The truth is this: We need more of the presence of Jesus by the Holy Spirit.
As God’s people see God’s face—as they see Him at work—they are transformed and passionately join Him in what He is doing out of love for being with Him.
At Community Alliance Church, we’ve been practicing looking for God at work in various ways. During our fellowship meals each week at AWANA, we ask each table to share how they have seen God at work in and through them. We do the same thing at our Sunday after-the-service meal and our missional small groups. And our homework from each week’s sermon almost always involves looking for God-sightings and sharing with others how one sees Him at work or has experienced His grace and love.
In short, we are trying to get to where every gathering involves spending time looking for, sharing, and celebrating God-sightings. This discipline has been catalytic in people’s lives in both personal transformation and in missional engagement.
Recently, one person told me they never believed they could turn to Jesus in their hurt and need. However, one day, in the middle of a personal struggle, they cried out to Jesus and told Him they believed that He was present and He was holding them in His arms. The person then broke down crying and shared with those around them how remarkable His Presence was and how He makes all the difference in their life. This person shared how they discovered in Jesus the grace and strength to stand and now wants to start a small group to extend the presence of Jesus to others outside their usual circle of influence.
Another person told me they felt their passion for Jesus had been waning for a while. However, as they have practiced looking for God-sightings, they discovered a new, profound joy that is birthing in them a new passion for the mission of God. God-sightings have emboldened this person in prayer, leadership, and evangelism.
While Community Alliance Church has not yet seen a harvest of multiplication, the sprouts are growing. The track is teaching me that making disciples happens when God’s people see Him in His glorious light and run to be with Him. At Community Alliance Church, God is giving us a dawning of the “light of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:6). His people are responding! And may it be multiplied here, there, and everywhere. “Oh, show us Your glory” (Ex 33:18).