….Every number represents a soul.
By REVIVALIST JOSEPH MVULA
There is a mentality we must confront in the Church: “Numbers don’t matter.”
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Yes, numbers are not everything. We must never measure the health of a church by numbers alone. But it is equally wrong to suggest that numbers do not matter to God.
Every number represents a soul.
Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep. A shepherd had one hundred sheep, but one wandered away. What did he do?
He left the ninety-nine and went looking for the one.
Think about that.
Ninety-nine were still safe in the fold, but the shepherd was concerned about the one that was missing.
If numbers did not matter, the shepherd could have said, “I still have ninety-nine. One sheep is not a big deal.”
But he didn’t.
He went after the one.
Why?
Because one matters.
And when that one was found, the number returned to one hundred.
There is something powerful about that.
The kingdom rejoices when what is missing is restored and when what is small becomes greater.
This principle appears again in the parable of the great banquet. When the servants reported that many had already come, the master did not say, “That’s enough. We have enough people.”
Instead, he said:
“Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Luke 14:23
Notice the language:
“That my house may be filled.”
God is interested in a full house.
We should never develop a theology that celebrates smallness simply because we have become comfortable with it.
We should not be satisfied when more people can be reached.
We should not be satisfied when more souls can be saved.
We should not be satisfied when more believers can be discipled.
We should not be satisfied when more families can be restored.
We should not be satisfied when more people can experience the presence of God.
More is better when more means more people encountering Christ.
Think about what happens even in the world of sport.
A poorly attended game has a completely different atmosphere from a stadium filled with thousands of passionate supporters.
The noise changes.
The energy changes.
The confidence of the players can change.
The atmosphere can become electric.
And there is something similar that happens when God’s people gather.
When a congregation is full of people who are hungry for God, praying, worshipping, believing and responding to the Word, faith can become contagious.
One person’s worship can encourage another.
One person’s prayer can stir another.
One person’s testimony can strengthen another.
One person’s faith can provoke another person’s faith.
Jesus Himself said:
“Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:20
There is something about gathered people.
The Church is not merely a building.
The Church is a people.
And when more people gather around Christ with one heart and one purpose, something powerful can happen.
Even the preacher can sense the difference.
There are times when you stand before a congregation that is hungry, responsive and expectant, and you sense a greater liberty to minister. The atmosphere of faith can become a platform upon which the Word is received.
So let us stop apologising for wanting our churches to grow.
Let us stop pretending that numerical growth is somehow unspiritual.
We are not pursuing numbers instead of souls. We are pursuing numbers because numbers are souls.
Every additional person is another life that can be saved.
Another family that can be restored.
Another disciple that can be raised.
Another worshipper that can lift up the name of Jesus.
Another worker that can enter the harvest.
Another vessel that God can use.
Jesus said:
“The harvest truly is plenteous.”
Matthew 9:37
The question is not whether we should desire more.
The question is:
What will we do with more?
#TheHarvestIsPlenteous
#KingdomGrowth
#WinSouls
#MakeDisciples
#ApostolicRevivalCentreIf
