We want our small groups, which we call cells to be places where Christian community is found and worked out. Community is about lifestyle, not just a weekly meeting. Community is created through relationships and a sense of belonging. A cell group has a weekly gathering, but its life is actually embedded in these daily relationships and mutual sharing of life. Our cells draw others in so we can share community together and others can experience the good news of Jesus. As current members of the cell grow in God and as new people are added the cell becomes too large and can no longer effectively care for its members. At this point the cell multiplies into two new groups.
The very purpose of the cell groups in The Open Door Church is that they grow and multiply. Cell multiplication embraces the five ways that we bring glory to God as expressed in our purpose statement; Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and Evangelism. For example cell multiplication requires leadership development, pastoral care, releasing people to serve, standing together in prayer, welcoming new people, gathering with other cells on Sundays and committing to the vision of growth and multiplication. It is a time of celebration when a cell has been so effective that it has grown to a point where it must multiply into new groups.
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