Church of God, Multiplication Network Ministries Sign Agreement
September 26, 2017–Cleveland, TN—The Church of God and Multiplication Network Ministries, have signed a document establishing a shared cooperation agreement in the pursuit of work related to multiplication and revitalization of churches globally.
The formalization of the agreement took place as a Special Order of the Day on Monday during the gathering of the International Council of the Church of God meeting in Cleveland until noon today.
Present to sign the agreement and make comments was Dr. John Wagenveld, founder and president of Multiplication Network Ministries (MNM) who said, “The Church of God is one of the leading denominations involved in intentional church planting throughout the globe. The FINISH Commitment, led by Dr. Tim Hill, has reinvigorated these purposes in the Church. It is a pleasure for the Multiplication Network to serve the Church of God in our shared vision to see more churches and stronger churches multiplying throughout the world.”
Following Wagenveld’s address to the International Council, he was joined by General Overseer Tim Hill and Director of Church of God World Missions David Griffis where the three formally signed a Declaration of Global Missional Cooperation.
Signing the agreement (l-r), Wagenveld, Hill, and Griffis. Standing (l-r) John D. Childers, J. David Stephens, Raymond F. Culpepper, and David Ramirez (click photo to enlarge)
The agreement states in part that the Church of God, “recognizes the vision, mission, and core values of Multiplication Network Ministries: to see healthy churches representing the Kingdom of God in every community, and to equip leaders with the tools to strengthen and multiply healthy churches and that MNM acknowledges the Church of God priorities of the FINISH Commitment and their emphasis on global church expansion through investing and networking.”
The two bodies agreed on six specific points, including 1) to work together in countries or regions where both organizations are operating. This tandem effort will be done accordingly to the context and the dynamics of the country or region, respecting their autonomy, in order to strengthen the structure and system of church planning methodology; 2) MNM will advise the Church of God, offer to train multipliers chosen by them, and give copyright permission(s) for materials pertaining to More Churches and Stronger Churches; 3) MNM will provide a shared database in which the Church of God can utilize as input for their reports; 4) the Church of God will share yearly ministry reports to MNM giving long-term goals for global church planting and revitalization; 5) MNM will offer feedback of results according to the database; and 6) the signees or representative of both organizations will communicate at least one a year for informative updates on the endeavors of church planting and revitalization.
The agreement concluded with the statement that, “Both organizations, with the blessing of their respective executive leadership, accept this cooperative agreement of global partnership, with a mutual aim to be ‘witnesses to the ends of the earth.’”
