We just witnessed the birth of a new church. Yes, it did cost us friends that we won’t see as often, numbers in our membership, money in the offering and valuable leaders. But all of those are replaceable and their loss cannot compare to the joy of watching the birth of a healthy new congregation.

The New Church
This particular church is named Mana’olana which translates to “hope.” It was born in a bar. The Pipeline Café is a dance club reputed to flow with ecstasy on weekend evenings. Now on Sunday mornings it overflows with the life of the Holy Spirit.

Many of the regular patrons came to the first service. Most were favorably impressed. The crowd numbered 157 up from a core team of about 45 people. Several people accepted Christ and several others rededicated their lives to the Lord. The radio ads (aired on three secular stations) were so funny that listeners are phoning in requests to hear them played again. These guys even ran ads in the lonely hearts column of a local paper, “Looking for love, call Mana’olana at 123-4567.” Not their exact copy, but you get the picture–This ain’t your father’s Oldsmobile. The leaders even got chewed out by an angry saint who said they were demeaning the gospel by their choice of meeting places and the rock music. All the pieces are in place for a successful penetration of the culture they are trying to reach.

The Thrill it Brings
Today I’m sitting back like some happy godfather watching all of this unfold. To me the true fruit of any tree is another tree (or an orchard full of them). The true fruit of the church I pastor is the reality of another church that effectively reaches it’s community. In fact, the true fruit of my life as pastor is found in placing another disciple into successful ministry. Pushing pain aside, this week I am exulting in the thrill of multiplication. I do it every time we, or one of our daughter churches, multiplies.