It started with a whisper

It appears that forty or so years ago, God began to whisper into the ears of leaders all over the world about the power of multiplying groups. These whispers carried a divine urgency, a reminder of Jesus’ call to make disciples of all nations. They resonated deeply, igniting movements of disciple-making and church growth that continue to transform lives to this day.

Perhaps it started with Dawson Trotman, the founder of The Navigators, who famously declared, “We are born to reproduce.” Trotman believed that every disciple is called to make disciples and that spiritual reproduction is at the heart of the Christian life. His legacy includes a simple yet profound vision: invest in a few people, teach them to follow Jesus, and equip them to do the same. Trotman’s pace-setting approach to multiplication became a guiding principle for countless leaders, showing them that multiplication is not only possible but essential. Key take away from Trotman’s life: the leader must embody the vision.

Or maybe it was Waylon Moore’s book, Multiplying Disciples, that carried the message to a new generation. Moore’s writings emphasized the biblical mandate for disciple-making, drawing from stories of ordinary believers who changed the world through their commitment to spiritual reproduction. His work helped churches see that multiplying groups isn’t a program—it’s the way Jesus designed His church to grow.

This story is worth the price of the book: Edward Kimball was a quiet, unassuming man who taught a Sunday School class for teenage boys. He had a deep concern for their spiritual well-being. One day, he felt prompted to share the gospel personally with one of his students, a young man named Dwight L. Moody, who worked at a shoe store.

Kimball was nervous, but he followed through. He went to the store, entered the back room where Moody was working, and shared the message of Christ with him. That conversation changed Moody’s life. Moody gave his heart to Jesus and went on to become one of the greatest evangelists of the 19th century, leading thousands to Christ.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Through Moody’s ministry, a chain reaction began:

• D.L. Moody influenced a man named J. Wilbur Chapman, a prominent evangelist of his time.
• Chapman mentored a young former baseball player named Billy Sunday, who also became a powerful preacher and evangelist.
• Billy Sunday’s ministry had a significant impact on Mordecai Ham, who became another evangelist.
• Mordecai Ham, in turn, led a revival in North Carolina where a young man named Billy Graham heard the gospel and committed his life to Christ.

Billy Graham, of course, went on to preach the gospel to millions around the world, arguably becoming the most influential evangelist of the 20th century—perhaps ever.

This story is often used to remind us that we may never know the full impact of our faithfulness. Edward Kimball may have thought his visit to that shoe store was just a small act of obedience, but God used it to start a chain of events that would lead to millions of lives being changed.

It’s a beautiful picture of the power of multiplication in discipleship—a theme central to Waylon Moore’s Multiplying Disciples. It underscores the idea that every soul matters and that even the smallest acts of faithfulness can be used by God in extraordinary ways.