GCN Great Commission Network – Initial Phase Resources

GCN Great Commission Network – Initial Phase Resources

The GCN Initial Phase Resources provide practical tools to help national, regional and local teams begin building collaboration for the Great Commission.

The goal is not to build structures first, but to connect people, understand the current situation, identify opportunities and gaps, and move together into practical action.

GCN seeks to strengthen collaboration in the Body of Christ so that together we can advance toward:

• Every person reached
• Every believer a disciple-maker
• Christian fellowship in every place
• Kingdom transformation in every sphere of life and society

1. Connect & Build Relationships

Begin by connecting people, churches, ministries, networks, workplace leaders and other Great Commission partners who share a desire to see their region reached and transformed.

Relationships and trust come before structures. GCN encourages leaders to listen to one another, pray together and discover where God is already at work.

2. Form a Facilitating Team

A small GCN Facilitating Team can help initiate and facilitate collaboration. The team does not seek to control ministries or replace existing networks. Its role is to connect, facilitate, communicate and help others work together.

Depending on the context, team members can serve as Facilitators, Co-Facilitators, Members or Advisors and contribute according to their calling, relationships and areas of experience.

3. Assessment & Mapping

Develop a clearer understanding of the current situation in the country, region, city or community.

This can include:

• Churches and Christian fellowships
• Evangelism and Gospel access
• Disciple making and multiplication
• Church planting
• Unreached or underserved people and places
• Existing ministries, networks and initiatives
• Workplace and agriculture
• Spheres of life and society
• Available resources, training and tools

The purpose is not simply to collect information, but to identify gaps, opportunities and possibilities for collaboration.

4. Prayer & Spiritual Discernment

Prayer is foundational to the entire process. Teams are encouraged to pray for their communities, cities, regions and nations and to seek God’s direction together.

Prayer can take place personally, in small groups, through churches and ministries, and through regional or national prayer initiatives.

5. Workshops & Consultation

Bring key people together to listen, learn and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Workshops and consultations can help participants:

• Develop a shared understanding of the Great Commission
• Review the current situation
• Identify gaps and opportunities
• Discover existing resources and good practices
• Build relationships between ministries and leaders
• Identify possible joint activities and initiatives

6. Identify Priorities & Work Areas

Based on relationships, assessment, prayer and consultation, identify the areas where collaboration can make the greatest difference.

GCN collaboration can develop around three broad areas:

• Church & Ministry – Evangelism, disciple making, church planting and multiplication
• Workplace & Agriculture – Kingdom impact through business, employment, entrepreneurship, agriculture and the workplace
• Society & Community – Advancing God’s Kingdom in every sphere of life and society

7. Develop Focus & Project Teams

Not everyone needs to participate in every area. Smaller Work Groups and Focus & Project Teams can bring together people with a common calling, expertise or objective.

These teams should remain practical and action-oriented, connecting the right people and resources around specific opportunities.

8. Move into Activities & Initiatives

Collaboration should lead to action. Activities and initiatives can emerge locally, regionally, nationally or internationally according to the needs and opportunities identified.

Examples can include:

• Prayer initiatives
• Evangelism and outreach
• Disciple-making groups
• Church planting
• Training and equipping
• Workplace initiatives
• Community transformation projects
• Resource sharing
• Joint events and campaigns

The emphasis is on simple, reproducible and multiplying action.

9. Connect Local, Regional, National & Global Collaboration

GCN encourages collaboration at different geographic levels:

• Local – city, town, village or neighbourhood
• Regional – state, province, canton, district or city-region
• National
• Continental
• Global

Local initiatives can benefit from national and global relationships, while national and global networks can learn from and support what is happening locally.

Getting Started

You do not need to have everything in place before you begin.

Start with the people God has already connected you with. Pray together, build relationships, assess the situation, identify one or two practical opportunities and begin collaborating.

GCN structures are intended to serve the mission, not become the mission. Small teams should be able to act directly and develop collaboration as relationships and opportunities grow.

Connect – Equip – Empower – Collaborate – Multiply