The Groups of 12 Model
In 1982, Cesar Castellanos quit as a pastor. He was disillusioned with what he was experiencing in his ministry and in the life of his church in Colombia, South America. During this time of disillusionment, he sought God in a concerted way. Castellanos told me in a 1998 interview with him in his home that during his time of seeking God in 1982, he experienced a vision from God in which he heard God say, “Dream of a very large church, because dreams are the language of my Spirit, because the people in the church that you will pastor will be as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sands of the sea, the multitude will not be able to be counted.” In response to that vision, in February 1983, International Charismatic Mission (ICM) was birthed in Bogota, Colombia. The church had a young, contemporary feel and, inspired by Cho, used a home group strategy.
After seven years, however, Castellanos was frustrated because the church had plateaued at 3,000 members. Part of his frustration was how long it took to produce small group leaders. Few people completed the two-year process they were using, and those that did had few non-Christian friends left to win once they became leaders. Castellanos sought God for a breakthrough to release unlimited growth. He recounted to me:
But the moment came in my life when I said, “Lord, I need something that will help me accelerate the purpose.” And in my times of spiritual retreat God ministered greatly to my heart. In one of those moments he said. “I’m going to give you the ability to train people quickly.” And then he removed the veil and showed me the model of 12.
The “Groups of 12” or “G12” model is a combination of principles and methods that enabled ICM to become the fastest-growing church in the world. What are the characteristics of the G12 model?
• A “consolidation” process to disciple new believers that immediately sends them on a weekend “Encounter” retreat to help them be set free from spiritual bondage and be filled with the Holy Spirit, then into a “School of Leaders.” This discipleship system equips every member to start their own evangelistic small group within the first year of coming to Christ.
• An emphasis on the external multiplication of homogeneous groups targeting specific populations, such as businessmen, women, students, couples, etc. External multiplication means that ,instead of splitting existing small groups, new groups are formed by individuals by gathering new people from their own circle of influence.
• A system of oversight that has group leaders in “Groups of 12” where they are discipled on a weekly basis. Leaders of the Groups of 12 are also members in another Group of 12 led by someone else. The central point in the system is the pastor and his own Group of 12.
