Sending is the New Success: Redefining Growth in the Church

In a culture obsessed with numbers, it’s easy for churches to define success by attendance, budget size, or building expansions. But what if true success isn’t measured by how many people gather on a Sunday but by how many are sent out to plant, serve, and lead?

For churches that want to multiply by 10X, sending is the new success. Multiplication happens not by hoarding talent and resources but by generously releasing them.

Jesus’ Definition of Success

Jesus’ ministry wasn’t focused on building a megachurch; it was focused on sending. He didn’t gather His disciples to keep them in one place. He trained them, empowered them, and sent them out to expand the Kingdom.

In John 20:21, Jesus says:

"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

The early church grew rapidly not because they centralized power but because they multiplied leaders and sent them to start new works.

Why Sending Multiplies Growth

When churches shift from a gathering mindset to a sending mindset, multiplication accelerates. Here’s why:

1. Releases New Leaders
   Sending creates opportunities for emerging leaders to step into roles they might never experience if they remain in the shadow of more seasoned leaders.
2. Expands the Kingdom
   One church can only reach so many people. Sending leaders to plant new churches extends the reach of the Gospel into new communities and cities.
3. Creates a Ripple Effect
   Churches that plant churches often inspire those new plants to do the same. One sending church can lead to generations of multiplication.
4. Models Generosity
   Sending reflects the heart of God—a generous, open-handed approach to leadership and resources.

Redefining Metrics for Success

If sending is the new success, how do we measure it? Here are a few ways to redefine the scorecard:

• How many leaders are we sending out?
• How many churches or ministries have we helped plant?
• How many people are stepping into new leadership roles because of our sending culture?

Rather than measuring success by seating capacity, we can measure it by sending capacity.

Practical Steps to Build a Sending Culture

1. Celebrate Sending
   Shift the narrative by celebrating when leaders are sent to plant new churches or start ministries. Make sending a moment of joy and gratitude, not loss.
2. Develop Leaders Intentionally
   Equip leaders at every level of the church. Create pathways for leadership development that prepare people to be sent.
3. Plant Before You’re Ready
   Don’t wait for perfect conditions to send leaders. Trust that God will provide as you take steps of faith.
4. Partner with Church Planting Networks
   Collaborate with networks and other churches committed to multiplication. Shared resources and support make sending easier.

The Legacy of Sending

Churches that embrace sending as success leave a lasting legacy. They are remembered not for how large they became but for how far their influence spread. The ripple effects of sending can impact communities and nations for generations.

In Luke 10:2, Jesus reminds us:

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Are you ready to redefine success in your church? The future of the church belongs to those who send.