Saturday, September 1, 2007

How to Win the World in One Generation

When I received the CPM training with David Watson, one of the most fascinating sessions was a presentation on how the Great Commission could be completed in one generation. Taking its lead from Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 24:34 the concept was that the task could be completed in one generation. In fact, the scripture may be predicting that that is precisely how it will be done.

Such a concept seems far fetched to someone who is familiar with the level of task that remains. There are about 9600 Unreached People Groups by some of the latest calculations of experts. There are over 4 billion non-christian people. The sheer magnitude of the remaining task and the track record of the last 2000 years would suggest to many that a gradual multi generational approach is needed.

But as we consider the problem, we see that as the earth's population is continuing to explode exponentially, the completion of the task must increase in speed that exceeds the population growth. Could it be done in one generation?

On the blog I want to demonstrate the viability of this kind of strategy. This is big picture stuff, but it is both fascinating and inspiring. If it can be done, it should be done, and it must be done. In fact, I believe prophetically, it will be done. The big question is when, how, and by who?

What would such a strategy be called. I would like to suggest a rather unwieldy term, but one that I think has the elements of success in it. I call it an UPG/CPM Global strategy.

UPG stands for Unreached People Groups, the target focus of the strategy. CPM stands for Church Planting Movement, the methodological focus of the strategy. Global indicates the total parameter of the strategy. My contention is that the successful implementation of an UPG/CPM Global strategy equals closure on the Great Commission.

I will describe this kind of a strategy in the next post.