What are the pros and cons for the G12 Vision for church growth?

1. The G12 strategy has a remarkable track record for large exponential church growth. The model is based off of one used by Dr. David Yonggi Cho, pastor of one of the world’s largest churches. (1, p43)

2. They charge a fee that is not insignificant of $120 a month for a church to be a member of the network. (1, p43)

3. G12′s goal is to unite the Christian church and to make disciples of all nations. (1, p43)

4. The man who started the network, Cesar Castellanos Dominguez, says he got the idea from a vision from God in 1983. (1, p43)

5. G12′s principles are: win, consolidate, disciple, and send. (1, p43)

6. One of the controversial features involves the consolidate principle. For this process, they ask members to be involved in an Encounter weekend event. They tend to be highly secretive and intense. Those involved are not told where they are going, cannot bring anything, cannot leave until it is over, and are shown a number of graphic displays for the purpose of greater understanding in sin and forgiveness. (1, p43)

7. There have been complaints from a large number of the G12 churches and pastors who have cried for help, saying that the membership has only hurt the church body. (1, p43)

“For over six years we have received cries for help from pastors and Christian laypeople across Latin America who have paid dearly for their churches’ adoption of the G12 model… [G12 can] bring drastic changes, virtually wiping out existing church structures and programs.” Ricardo Becerra, director of Centro de Investigaciones Religiosas (2)

8. There have been reports of ruined Christian faith, mass confusion, psychological damage, torn church bodies and families, and the downfall of denominations, says Ricardo Becerra. (1, p43)

9. G12 does not apply a traditional leadership method, but instead allows anyone who has gone through their training to be involved in leadership, often causing chaos. (1, p43; 2)

Conclusion: One should both look at the methodology and the fruit of a ministry. Here, the fruit is mixed. The growth of churches and members is huge for the G12 Vision. However, many of those churches and members have been harmed in the process, and as a result of G12′s controversial techniques. This is a ministry to be watched and critiqued and those thinking of getting involved warned.

See also:
1) "Controversy Swells around the G12 Vision for Church Growth" by Phil Fleischman, V.31 N.2
2) "Encountering G12" by Ricardo Becerra
3) G12 Cult Web site
4) Wiki: G12 Vision
5) G12 Vision Web site

Parent topic: Church