Church Multiplication Learning Community
We desire the re-evangelisation of our city and nation.
We believe planting and multiplying healthy churches is an effective way to bring this about.
We are inspired by the rapid multiplication of the early Church in both Acts and Aotearoa NZ.
We are facilitating a learning community to springboard and resource church multiplication across Aotearoa New Zealand.
What is a learning community?
In this context, it's a group of committed leaders coming together over two years to learn how to plant and multiply in their own contexts. To learn from experts, to learn from one another, and to constructively hold one another accountable to growing and multiplying the NZ Church.
What is the intended outcome of this learning community?
For your church - the practical tools, expertise and accountability to clarify your multiplication vision and drive towards it
For our nation - a multiplication strategy, an ongoing movement leadership team, the creation of reproducible systems and resources, a framework for exponential growth. Your input into this will be valuable!
Who would be in the learning community?
10-14 resource churches, including senior leaders and potential planters. These leaders and potential planters are committed to multiplication and have enough influence to make decisions for their church. A resource church is one who focuses on strengthening the wider church and community. They are often involved in planting new churches, developing leaders, and providing resources for mission.
What are the key aspects of the learning community?
Movement-focused: Aiming for 10x multiplication, not just addition
NZ-focused: Developing contextual approaches for Aotearoa
Action-oriented: Participants commit to future planting during and after each cohort
Practitioner-led: For active church planters and senior leaders
Multi-model exposure: From microsites to resource churches
Global expertise: Learning from UK, Europe, USA, and Australian experiences
Multi-ethnic emphasis: Developing best practices for diverse communities
What is the content of the learning community?
The content would be determined by the needs of the group, and learning from global and NZ best practice. For example:
Clarifying planting models
Building leadership pipelines
Building a multiplication mindset and structure
Coaching / support / mentors for planting
Financial models for planting
What is the financial investment?
Each participating church would be invoiced $2400+GST around the time of each of the 4 intensives, a total of $9600+GST across the 2 years. In addition, travel and accommodation costs for each intensive.
Auckland Church Network would provide sponsorship and seek additional trust funding to cover the remaining costs.
Brent Dolfo
Brent Dolfo has more than 35 years of experience in senior ministry leadership and has coached and consulted worldwide with movements such as Alpha International as well as with churches in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Europe.
He also has served as a designer and facilitator of Learning Communities on various continents with subjects ranging from Church Planting, Generosity, Digital Engagement, Evangelism and Leadership Development. Brent is married to Diana and they have three adult children- Braedon, Keynan and Tanika.
We will also receive input from global practitioners:
Bishop Ric Thorpe (Head of Planting and Multiplication in the Church of England)
Dave Ferguson (Founder of Exponential)
Sarah Jackson (Head of Church Revitalisation Trust; the planting arm of Holy Trinity Brompton)
Who would facilitate the learning community?
Church Planting Learning Community Dates
Meetings
In Person
Four sessions in person over the course of the two-year commitment.
On Zoom
Approximately 8 Zoom calls over the course of two years.
In Person
September 9-11 2025 | Gracecity Church, Greenlane, Auckland
March 10-12 2026 | The Street Church, Wellington
September 8-10 2026 | Venue TBC
March 9-11 2027 | Venue TBC
Each session will start 9am Tuesday and finish midday Thursday.
