Pi is a Pivotal Number for the Expansion of Christianity

Part Six: Grassroots Strategies for Congregational Multiplication

Pi is a Pivotal Number for the Expansion of Christianity

Over 45 years ago, one of my primary mentors, Lyle E. Schaller, introduced me to a benchmark numerical concept regarding the expansion of Christianity.

Lyle was the leading congregational and denominational consultant in North America during the latter half of the 20^th century. He continued active ministry into the 21^st century. I first came to know him through his books starting in the late 1960s. By the 1970s, he was personally mentoring me.

He introduced me to a numerical concept related to the congregational multiplication movement of denominations. He said denominations needed to launch a number of new congregations each year equal to three percent of the number of affiliated or member congregations as of January 1^st of that year.

Those denominations who launch three percent or more consistently, year after year, experience steady growth. Those who launch less are plateaued or declining. When more than three percent are launched annually, the long-term growth rate could become exponential.

This made me contemplate the rule of 72. This rule calculates how many years it takes at a certain rate to double a number. Thus, the denomination which launches new congregations at the rate of three percent annually will double its number of congregations in 24 years.

Throughout my 50 years as a strategic thinking mentor for congregations and denominations, I used this three percent figure. I found other instances where this benchmark applied.

The Rise of Christianity

Over the years, I have read various books authored or co-authored by sociology and comparative religion professor Rodney Stark. I somehow missed his 1996 book, The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries.

I acquired a copy two years ago. It is an incredible book with significant implications for understanding the worldwide growth of Christianity. It may be one of the most important books on church and Kingdom expansion I have ever read. The author reveals numerous issues still relevant today. These are often hiding in plain sight.

He suggests on page six that Christianity grew 40 percent per decade during the first several centuries. This is 3.42 percent per year. Applying the rule of 72 again, this means Christianity doubled every 21 years.

Insights and Implications

1. Reflecting on Schaller’s insight: A three percent annual increase in the number of congregations may not seem significant. Yet consistently achieving this year after year is a bold strategy.

2. Reflecting on Stark’s Insight: An average increase of 3.42 percent per year in the number of people becoming Christians might not appear momentous. However, maintaining this average year after year among both existing and new congregations is phenomenal.

3. As I ponder these two figures and their implications for the Christian movement in the 21^st century, I suggest it is a bold opportunity to consider Pi (3.142) as a challenge for annual percentage growth in the Kingdom.

4. Growth at the rate of Pi would double efforts in just under 23 years. This assumes a consistent pattern holds for that period. Some years might exceed Pi, while others may not achieve it.

5. This can be used to establish goals for nearly anything: the number of affiliated congregations, the growth of new congregations (and now campuses), and the growth in membership and attendance. The key is to do this year after year.

6. One example is the number of new congregations launched. Consider a denomination with 1,000 affiliated congregations. This would mean they need to launch over 31 new congregations each year.

7. The key lies in developing a strategy for this, securing the necessary capacities, and then maintaining this pattern annually.

Reflect on these ideas while celebrating Pi Day!

Copyright 2025 by George W. Bullard Jr. March 13, 2025 Edition

Read all the Grassroots Strategies for Congregational Multiplication

• Part One: Learning Congregational Multiplication by Osmosis, Doing, and Mobilizing

• Part Two: Learning Congregational Multiplication by Modeling

• Part Three: Planning the Launch of 500 New Congregations in 15 Years

• Part Four: Recruiting Hundreds of Congregations to Launch New Congregations

• Part Five: It’s Time to Unbench Existing Congregations to Launch New Congregations

OR . . .