Spiritual Multiplication

Have you ever stopped to think about how it is that you came to be a part of God’s family? What about the people who sit next to you at church each week? What about those in the church down the street? What about the estimated 2.6 billion Christians seeking to know and follow Jesus worldwide?

Well, as amazing as it is to consider, it is very likely that nearly every one of us can trace our faith story all the way back to a group of 12 unschooled, ordinary men who were Jesus’ first disciples. They were committed to sharing the good news of Jesus and seeing that message spread from believer to believer, generation after generation, right up to today! That’s the power of spiritual multiplication!

2,000 years later, Cru remains committed to this model for expanding God’s kingdom throughout the world and helping as many people as possible come to know and follow Jesus. So, what is spiritual multiplication, and why are we so committed to it as a movement?

Spiritual multiplication is a model for mission in which everyone is involved. Each new follower of Jesus shares the message they have received with people, who in turn pass it on to others. In this way, God’s kingdom can advance quickly, and the message of salvation through faith in Christ can spread far and wide. This model is one of the key distinctions between a ministry and a movement.

So, why do we believe so strongly in this model, and why are we committed to seeing spiritual multiplication take place in our movements?

Modeled in the Bible

First, we are committed to seeing spiritual multiplication take place in our movements because spiritual multiplication is modeled in the Bible. We have already discussed how the gospel has spread over the past two millennia though the faithfulness of a few key disciples and generations of believers who followed them. During His earthly ministry, we know Jesus multiplied His mission in the lives of His disciples through empowering them to baptize (John 4:2) and sending them out to proclaim the message of the kingdom (Luke 10:1-16). Others who were transformed by Jesus were given similar opportunities (Luke 8:39). In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes the fertile soil (a receptive heart) as someone who produces “thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (Matt. 13:8, 23)

We see this pattern continue in the life of the early church members. Paul exhorted Timothy to teach what he had been taught about Jesus “to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” (2 Timothy 2:2) In this one short verse, we see four generations of faith in Christ: Paul, Timothy, trustworthy people, and others!

As leaders, we must cast vision and create space for students to share their faith and disciple others.

Accelerates the Spread of the Gospel

Second, we are committed to spiritual multiplication because it allows the gospel to spread at an accelerated rate. You may remember seeing a similar model in your high school algebra class when you studied exponential growth functions. The financial industry also uses this thinking to grow wealth in the form of compound interest. Spiritual multiplication works in the same way!

Allow me to share a hypothetical example. Imagine a campus where four Cru leaders were each able to lead 10 people to Christ each year, but these new believers did not share their faith with anyone else. This is a model we call “spiritual addition.” After six years, 240 new believers would be added to the family of God! That sounds great, right?

But now consider what would happen if each of those same leaders were able to lead just two new people to Jesus each year. However, in this spiritual multiplication model, each of those new followers of Jesus did the same, year after year. In that scenario, after six years, 2,916 people would come to know Jesus! That is the power of spiritual multiplication!

Grounds Disciples in Their Faith

Third, spiritual multiplication grounds disciples in their own faith. People love to talk about the things they love. Whether it is the local sports team, a new restaurant, or a musician or artist, we naturally want to share the things we love with others. And often, in sharing the things we love, we find our love for them growing even stronger. Author and theologian C.S. Lewis once said, “We delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment.”

The same is true of our relationship with Jesus. If Jesus has truly rescued us from sin and adopted us into His family, then it should only be natural that we would want to share that news with others and invite them into a relationship with Jesus as well. In doing so, we express the joy we have found in Christ, and that joy is enlarged in our own lives!

As new Christians share their faith with others, their faith will grow and they will increasingly delight in the God who loves them. Furthermore, when new believers actively share their faith, they typically see themselves as an important part of the movement, rather than just passive participants. They tend to stay more involved, help cast vision, and lead by example, so younger believers also become multiplying disciples.

C.S. Lewis once said, “We delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment.”

Outlasts Any Individual

Last, we strive towards spiritual multiplication because it goes well beyond the scope of any individual. Spiritual multiplication grows faster and can outlast any individual leader within a movement. In fact, when spiritual multiplication is really taking place, much of the fruit of the movement may not even be known by those who would be seen as “leading” the movement, as the gospel runs down various relational tracks and expands into ever-increasing circles of influence.

In campus ministry, we sometimes ask ourselves, “Are we here to reach people, or see people reached?” If we are simply here to reach people, then the ministry is really about us, our influence, and our sense of significance. We will never impact the world beyond our very limited time, resources, and availability. But, if we are there to see people reached, we will invite others into the mission with us, trust God with the results, and expect to see a much larger impact in the world.

Three Challenges to Spiritual Multiplication

In order to embrace and implement a movement of spiritual multiplication, it is important that we identify and overcome some challenges and false beliefs that can serve as potential obstacles to our success.

1) I Don’t Know How to Create a Movement of Spiritual Multiplication.

For many of us, we have never seen or experienced a consistent movement of spiritual multiplication. It can feel mysterious, challenging, and overwhelming. But that should not prevent us from taking steps of faith to see disciples multiplying their faith.

As leaders, we must cast vision and create space for students to share their faith and disciple others. Cru has created an array of transferable tools that can help in this process. Students can be trained to share their story, communicate the Gospel, and disciple others in their faith.

2) My Disciples Are Too Immature to Spiritually Multiply.

This can be a difficult belief to overcome, especially for those of us who work with teenagers. Middle and high school students can often be a bit unpredictable as their brains develop and they grow in valuable life experience. But we know from experience that students can, in fact, be powerful leaders and influencers. In recent years, we have seen massive student-led movements related to climate change, gun violence, and racial injustice, just to name a few. Surely, these same students are capable of leading spiritually as well. It may not always look exactly as we would do it (more on that in a minute), but if we challenge students and give them the support they need, they are capable of incredible things. We simply have to give them the opportunity!

3) It Is Just Easier to Do It Myself.

This challenge can be particularly difficult to overcome. Empowering others to multiply can be difficult and time consuming. Sometimes, things will not go as planned. Things can get messy and unpredictable. It can be easy to believe, “No one else can do this as well as I can.” And you know what? Those thoughts may actually be true, in part!

But if we fail to empower others and embrace spiritual multiplication, our movements will remain stunted in their growth and lacking in influence and power. The end result will never reach beyond our own limited capacity. I wonder how often Jesus witnessed a disciple struggle through a task which He could have accomplished faster, easier, or better. And yet, He allowed His disciples to serve, fail, learn, and try again, and we should do the same.

It is only through spiritual multiplication that we have any hope of reaching our goal to build spiritual movements everywhere, so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus!

Next Step

Consider the Christian students you know and identify one you can equip to share their faith using the God Tools app. Help them consider someone they would like to see know Christ, and go with them to share the gospel with that person. For more training on how to do that, check out How Judy Shares Her Faith.

god tools app how judy shares her faith

5 Key Features of the Claim Your Campus App

Pray Now:
This section is designed to lead any student through a daily 15-minute prayer time for their school. The format is simple: Listen, Thank, Ask. Each day students read a passage of scripture, thank God for something specific He is doing in their school, and ask Him for help at their school and schools across the country.

21-Day Challenge:
Habits take time to build. The 21-Day Challenge can help you and your students build the habit of praying together daily.

Share Your Story:
Students from all over the country are using Claim Your Campus at their schools. This video feature gives students one minute to capture what God is doing at their school and then share it.

Groups:
Use the Groups section to form your own prayer group and/or join other groups. Students praying together in community for their school(s) is the foundation of CYC. The group feature keeps students connected, motivated, and encouraged to keep pressing on!

Prayer Walk Your Campus:
This feature describes how to prayer walk a campus in three easy steps. Invite. Pray. Report. It includes a brief tutorial and a downloadable prayer walk guide.

Social Media:
Stay connected through Tik Tok, Instagram, and Youtube pages; News and Updates can also be found in the app.

Cast the Vision: Prayer Equals Change

Use these videos to get excited about how God could change your campus through prayer and how He could use you to build a prayer movement at your school.
General Promo video
Marion School video

Invite Students to Be One in the Million

Students download the app using the QR code graphic & claim their campus!

We encourage all campus movements to emphasize prayer and the Claim Your Campus app is a great way to engage students in prayer.

4 Different Ways Students Can Claim Their Campus

Start a Weekly Prayer Group. The CYC app provides prompts that change weekly.
Host a prayer walk around your campus. The CYC app features a Prayer Walk Guide.
Embed 5-10 minutes of Prayer into Your Weekly Cru Club Meeting. Build a CULTURE of prayer. CYC has done all the work for you. Click here for the Leader’s Guide and here for premade slides for up to 20 weeks. That is enough for an entire school year. CYC’s GRAB-N-GO resources make praying EASY.
Participate in Annual National Events such as SYATP.

Invite the adults in your community to support SYATP by signing up for The Prayer Walk Project. This project offers a way for caring adults to join hands in prayer on the Saturdays before and after SYATP.

Prayer is the real power in any campus movement. Make it a non-negotiable in your ministry to emphasize prayer with adults and students and see how God moves.

Next Step

Download the Claim Your Campus app and consider how you could use it on your campus today. Do you have a prayer strategy for your plans? If not, send the app to a few student leaders and invite them to start praying for their campus!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

4 Ways to Prepare for a Prayer Walk

Prepare Your Heart

Surrender the Prayer Walk to the Lord. Ask the Lord for one or two scriptures to help prepare your heart. Jot them down. If you like, use them to inspire the people you invite, or share them with your team the day you meet to prayer walk. Pray for:

Divine appointments with people.
Connections with insiders at the school who are like-minded and willing to help.
God to guide your steps.
Open eyes to see the spiritual needs of the campus.

Prepare Your Team

Pray for Names. Ask the Lord to bring to mind specific names of students, volunteers, parents, pastors, and/or faculty you can ask to join your prayer walk. Keep in mind, this is not about numbers. Even one prayer partner is enough. Matthew 18:20 says, “Where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.”

Invite the People that He brought to mind. Decide what mode of communication is best: text? social media? phone call? Give them a brief description of what a prayer walk is and what they can expect that day. Share what has motivated you to gather a team to pray. Be sure to tell them the date, the start and end times, and the location. Give them an RSVP date.

Send them any final details on the day before. Remind your team what time you will begin and end and the location to meet. Let them know what to bring and any adjustments needed due to weather or other factors.

(During a Prayer Walk) Pray for: Divine appointments with people. Connections with insiders at the school who are like-minded and willing to help. God to guide your steps. Open eyes to see the spiritual needs of the campus.

Prepare Your Campus

Check with an Insider at Your School. Once you choose your campus and gather your team, you may want to check with an insider at the school to see if there is anyone you need to notify ahead of time. Most likely, it will not be an issue if you are prayer walking after school or over the weekend on the parts of the campus that are open to the public. Avoid prayer walking on campus during school hours without permission.

Prepare Your Details

“WHO” DETAILS: By now, you know WHO is coming. But here are some other “WHO” questions to think about if you have a larger group. Who will…

begin the prayer walk (introduce/explain it)?
end the prayer walk?
lead smaller groups (if your team is large)?

“WHAT TO BRING” DETAILS: You may want to bring copies of the Prayer Guide and the Leader Guide.

“WHERE/WHEN” DETAILS: Make sure everyone knows the date and time you will meet. Include starting point (address of meeting spot) and ending point (time and meeting spot).

“HOW” DETAILS: For your convenience, this Campus Prayer Walk Leader’s Guide provides a general flow and includes sample scripts of what to say from start to finish. If you can read it, you can lead it. But you may need to think through the unique needs of your prayer walk.

Would you like the prayer walk to be more casual or more organized? Do you have people who are comfortable prayer walking or more new people who may need more instruction?

You have prepared your part. Time to grab your walking shoes. Let’s do this!

Next Step

It is time to get on the campus to pray. Text one friend today and ask them if they would be willing to go to the school to prayer walk with you this week. Get your feet on the campus and pray together. Once you have done it yourself, it will be a lot easier to gather others to do it with you.

Prayer Walking

After the Israelites wandered for 40 years in the desert, God called Joshua to bring His people into the land He had promised them. The commander of the army of the Lord appeared to Joshua with instructions essentially for a prayer walk around the city of Jericho. And let’s just say the Israelites’ obedience to his words, made history. (If you are unfamiliar with this incredible story, you can read the whole story here.)

What is Prayer Walking?

Prayer walking is just what it sounds like—praying as you walk. And you can do it anywhere: around your neighborhood, through your city, or even on your daily commute. Invite others to join you! As you walk together, let the Spirit of God use what you see to guide your prayers. Then, trust God to respond in His perfect way and timing.

One of the most impactful places for a prayer walk is around a school campus that means something to you. It puts you right where the students are—like God’s boots on the ground—allowing you to connect your heart to that specific location as you pray. And who knows? It might even lead to a chance meeting with a key person on campus. Many ministries have started with a simple “Hey there!” to a student or administrator during a prayer walk. A casual stroll can open unexpected doors!

If you have never done this before, no worries! Joshua—the young leader from the Bible—had not done it before either. It was his willingness and availability to God that mattered most. And the same goes for you—no experience required!

Prayer walking is just what it sounds like—praying as you walk.

Prayer Walk in Three Easy Steps

Meet Up (5 minutes)

Grab a friend or two and meet on campus- ideally after school or on the weekend. Select and read a meaningful passage from the Bible together. Take a minute to pray a blessing over this time, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers.

Walk & Pray (10-20 minutes)

Start walking the perimeter of the campus and let the Holy Spirit use who/what you see guide your prayers. Here are 5 ways you could begin praying:

Ask God to move by His Spirit on this campus and be glorified.
Pray people here would hunger and thirst for God.
Pray for the believers here to live wholeheartedly for Jesus and make others feel seen, known, and loved by God.
Pray for leaders in this school’s community (students, parents, administration, faculty, coaches, etc.)

Wrap It Up (5 minutes)

Select a spot to close your time together. Talk about how it went. Was there anything that stood out as significant or meaningful? Take a few minutes to thank God for this time. Express your love for Him and your confidence that He will respond to the prayers He heard today.

Other Prayer Walking Guides

If you would rather have a more specific guide to help you in your prayer walk, try one below:

CYC Prayer Walk Guide
Locations on Campus Prayer Walking Guide
The Launchbox Prayer Walking Guide
Make a list of prayer requests to pray about your specific campus
Just invite people to pray for things that come to mind as they walk

One of the most impactful places for a prayer walk is around a school campus that means something to you.

Why Do It?

Prayer Walking Knocks Down Walls

What effect did Joshua’s and the Israelites’ obedience have on the fortified and powerful ancient city of Jericho? Well, the God of the Universe infused their faith-filled feet with power, causing the otherwise insurmountable walls of the city to collapse. That’s how they fought and won the battle of Jericho—without ever throwing a punch!

Now, maybe you are not planning to tear down any physical walls around your school—in fact, let’s definitely avoid that! But in the spiritual realm, every school is a battlefield for souls. On every campus, there are barriers to the gospel that need to be broken down. Inside every person, there are walls that separate us from God or keep us from fully experiencing the abundant life He wants for us.

Looking for a more current example of a battle fought and won with prayer? Check out this powerful story of what happened when a group of students in Marion, Indiana consistently and prayerfully put feet to their faith and watched God win the battle for their campus. If you want to read about more victories won with praying feet, check out Exodus 14 and 2 Chronicles 20:1-30.

Some Other Great Reasons to Prayer Walk Your Campus

It is a place to gather other believers who have a heart for the campus.
It is a way to be on campus with a purpose.
Sometimes God uses these times to introduce us to key gatekeepers on campus.
It might surface some needs on the campus with which you could help.
It helps your team become more familiar with the campus and less fearful of going there.
It is better than doing nothing. Sometimes God moves when we take action.

Within the campus ministry of Cru, prayer walking has actually been shown to be the single most effective strategy in seeing new gospel movements started.
– Dan Allen, Director of Mission Expansion

The powerful presence of God always has and STILL does mix with our prayers and supernaturally connects us more deeply to God, ourselves, and others. Prayer breaks down barriers that lie between us and wins the battle for souls.

Prayer walking can be your lead foot on any campus. Ready to grab a friend and step into the unknown with Him? Prayer walking is something anyone can do.

Next Step

Plan 15 minutes this week to stop at your local high school, walk around, and pray for the school. Bring a friend or do it alone; just get your feet on the campus and pray. Ask God to show you what next steps He would like you to take.