G12 Vision
Encyclopedia
The G12 Vision is a strategy for Christian evangelism to fulfill the Great Commission
. It is founded upon the idea that every Christian can mentor and lead twelve people in the Christian faith
, following the example of Jesus
. It was first modeled in Bogotá
, Colombia
by Pastor César Castellanos and his wife Claudia after Castellanos had a vision from God instructing him to implement this structure of cell groups of 12.
, who had successfully implemented a cell-group structure in the Yoido Full Gospel Church
in South Korea
. With about 1,000,000 members (2007), Yoido is the largest Protestant Christian congregation in the world.
Pastor César returned to his church, Misión Carismática Internacional
in Bogotá
, Colombia
, with the revelation that he received from God while he was in South Korea — that God had given him a vision which would increase the number of Christian believers and help him to care for the growing numbers of people.
came,although Jesus had already appeared to both men and women and many men and women were present,not just the 12 Apostles, when the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost.
The G12 Vision is explained by Pastor Cesar in his self published books, Dream and you will Win the World, and Successful Leadership Through the Government of 12.
attended in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009. In 2006, Senator Germán Vargas Lleras
attended and in 2010, former Minister of Defence and future President, Juan Manuel Santos
spoke at the conference. It is important to note that none of these appearances should be considered, neither as a spiritual awakening among politicians in Colombia nor as a personal commitment of those mentioned towards Evangelical Christianity, but simply as an example of political formality.
Other concerns are "pragmatism" and creating a Catholic-style hierarchy among Protestant Christians. Cesar Castellano's book The Revelation of the Cross has often been compared with writings by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus
. G12 principles are similar to the Shepherding Movement
, and have similar problems.
Great Commission
The Great Commission, in Christian tradition, is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples, that they spread his teachings to all the nations of the world. It has become a tenet in Christian theology emphasizing missionary work, evangelism, and baptism...
. It is founded upon the idea that every Christian can mentor and lead twelve people in the Christian faith
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, following the example of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
. It was first modeled in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
by Pastor César Castellanos and his wife Claudia after Castellanos had a vision from God instructing him to implement this structure of cell groups of 12.
History
Pastor César Castellanos developed the G12 strategy after visiting with Pastor David Yonggi ChoDavid Yonggi Cho
David Yonggi Cho is a Korean Christian minister. He is Senior Pastor and founder of the Yoido Full Gospel Church , the world's largest congregation with a membership of 1,000,000...
, who had successfully implemented a cell-group structure in the Yoido Full Gospel Church
Yoido Full Gospel Church
Yoido Full Gospel Church is a Pentecostal church on Yeouido in Seoul, South Korea. With about 1,000,000 members , it is the largest Pentecostal Christian congregation in South Korea, and the world...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. With about 1,000,000 members (2007), Yoido is the largest Protestant Christian congregation in the world.
Pastor César returned to his church, Misión Carismática Internacional
International Charismatic Mission Church
The International Charismatic Mission is a Bogotá, Colombia based church founded in 1983 by César and Claudia Castellanos as a cell group with 8 people. As of 2008, the church had more than 250,000 members, organized into a structure of small cell groups. The church's teaching are titled the G12...
in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, with the revelation that he received from God while he was in South Korea — that God had given him a vision which would increase the number of Christian believers and help him to care for the growing numbers of people.
Aim of the G12 Vision
The aim of the G12 Vision is to form disciples with a Christlike character who adhere to the teaching of the G12(Government of 12). Through prayer, encounters with God, teaching, support and encouragement, disciples are then encouraged to also make disciples. In both theory and example this process leads the church to grow exponentially, without losing accountability of Christian values due to the eventual size of the church.G12 Methodology
The G12 Vision is based on the methodology used by Jesus to begin his ministry, when he chose the Twelve Apostles. Following his 40 days temptation in the desert, the first act of Jesus in his ministry was to form a group of 12 disciples,who were all men. (Mark 3:14). Additionally, in the book of Acts the first action taken by the 11 remaining disciples (Judas Iscariot having been instrumental in Jesus' eventual crucifixion and therefore no longer part of the group ) was to re-establish a group of 12. Seeing fit not to leave it at 11, or allow 13, but rather to cast lots, which fell on Matthias, to fulfill the 12. Jesus of course included women in His group of disciples,Mary Magdalene and His own Mother for example but the men only are counted as Apostles. (Acts 1:26). It was only after the re-established as a 12, that the day of PentecostPentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
came,although Jesus had already appeared to both men and women and many men and women were present,not just the 12 Apostles, when the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost.
The G12 Vision is explained by Pastor Cesar in his self published books, Dream and you will Win the World, and Successful Leadership Through the Government of 12.
Ladder of Success
"Ladder of Success" is used to describe the main steps of the G12 Vision.- Win: Evangelism aiming to win people to a new belief in Christ.
- Consolidate: This stage involves attending an Encounter with God weekend retreat, where a new believer is 'consolidated' in the faith by prayer,exposing of generational curses,casting out of demons and deep repentance.
- Disciple: At this stage, individuals are expected to enroll in the School of Leaders, which will begin to train the believer to recruit new disciples.
- Send: Leaders are 'sent' to do the work by establishing a new cell group of 12 men or 12 women depending on the gender of the "leader".
G12 International Conference
An annual G12 International Conference is held in Bogotá, Colombia in January and is hosted by Misión Carismática Internacional church. The President of Colombia has frequently attended these events. Former President of Colombia (2002–2010) Álvaro UribeÁlvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
attended in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009. In 2006, Senator Germán Vargas Lleras
Germán Vargas Lleras
Germán Vargas Lleras is a Colombian lawyer and politician currently serving as Minister of the Interior of Colombia. From 1994 to 2008 he served as Senator of Colombia for four consecutive terms, and during the Colombian presidential election of 2010 he ran as a candidate for the Radical Change...
attended and in 2010, former Minister of Defence and future President, Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón is a Colombian politician who has been the President of Colombia since 7 August 2010. He previously served as Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.-Career:...
spoke at the conference. It is important to note that none of these appearances should be considered, neither as a spiritual awakening among politicians in Colombia nor as a personal commitment of those mentioned towards Evangelical Christianity, but simply as an example of political formality.
G12 Internationally
Many churches (mostly Pentecostal, particularly Neo-charismatic) around the world work with the G12 Vision. Conferences are held each year on every continent.Concerns
In 2002, Joel Comiskey, founder of the "Joel Comiskey Group" raised concerns about the G12 Vision.Other concerns are "pragmatism" and creating a Catholic-style hierarchy among Protestant Christians. Cesar Castellano's book The Revelation of the Cross has often been compared with writings by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. G12 principles are similar to the Shepherding Movement
Shepherding Movement
The Shepherding Movement was an influential and controversial movement within some British and American charismatic churches, emerging in the 1970s and early 1980s...
, and have similar problems.
Official sites
- G12 Vision, Official Site
- YouTube G12 Network
- What is G12?
- Official G12 Europe Site
- MCI Canada - Official French speaking website
- G12 Information from Faith Community Baptist Church in Singapore
- MCI Aragua - Venezuela
- G12 Venezuela - Official G12 Site in Venezuela, with church adresses, news and preachings (spanish only)
- World On Fire - Generations Church's website
- Södermalmskyrkan - Södermalmskyrkans officiella hemsida, Sodermalmschurch's official website (Swedish only)
Discussions
- Encountering G12: Analyzing the "Cellular Vision" of César Castellanos
- Concerns About the G12 Movement
- Coaching Concerns
- One opinion on G12
- Overview from G12
- Another Opinion about the G12 Movement
- Public Discussion on the G12 Movement
- Website against Generations Church in Yuma, AZ
- "Revealing the Reality of the G12"
- G12: "Control, in Order to Better Reign" By an ex-member of a G12 cell group
- The Truth About the G12 Movement One person's experience with a G12 church (blog) by Annette Colon-Alvarenga