The WIN aspect of the vision is accomplished in the vision through 3 primary ways:

A. The L.I.F.E. Group – using the “prayer of 3.” Each cell member is eventually challenged to pray for 3 lost souls in their relationship circle.

B. The Weekend Celebrations – preaching relevant and biblical messages with an altar call—and then very carefully and strategically connecting new converts and newcomer families into the church.

C. Networks – Homogeneous gatherings held once a month for men and women weekly for youth and children that draws men, women, youth, and children for the purpose of winning them to Jesus and making disciples out of them.

Connect Them
The connection process begins immediately after the new believer has made his decision for Christ. Delicate care and attention should be given to every new believer in order to reproduce in him the character of Christ with the aim that he fulfils the purpose of God for his life which is to bear fruit that endures.

At this point, personal details are recorded and the gospel is shared again to ensure that the person understands what has happened to them. The person is then contacted by a L.I.F.E. Group leader or a member of the follow-up team within 72 hours. They will receive a personal visit within a week to find out how they are.

Pre-Encounter
A Pre-Encounter session is scheduled to prepare the participants for the Encounter. The Encounter Leader lays a foundation of what an Encounter is and what should be expected. The participants are given practical things to do to prepare their hearts and minds to experience a personal encounter with God and are encouraged to expect Him to make changes in their lives.

Encounter Weekend
An Encounter is an experience where one is led to have a personal encounter with God. During the Encounter Weekend, the participant is carefully led to confront the past and the present with the Word of God, so that God’s purpose and plan for the future can be revealed and released. After the Encounter, faith is activated, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are stirred up, and one is launched into a phase of preparation and discipleship to become a leader of God’s people.

The goals of the Encounter are:
-to be certain about one’s salvation
-to experience true repentance
-to be delivered from any hang-ups, fears, anger or addictions
-to receive inner healing
-to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit
-to receive clear direction and vision

What happens at an Encounter? Through the Encounter, one realizes that there is so much more in life after “accepting Jesus.” Relationships are healed and restored with God’s love and forgiveness. Dysfunctional, destructive, and sinful lifestyles are confronted with God’s grace and turned around toward God and His care.

Post-Encounter
Fresh from the Encounter Weekend, the believer goes through the ten lessons of the Post-Encounter so that he is equipped with the Word of God to deal with the attacks of Satan. The Post-Encounter teaches believers how to relate to the world, friends, and problems, and how to overcome temptation, the flesh, sin, and the devil. The Post-Encounter teaching will produce greater fruitfulness in the disciples and will result in an unprecedented increase in the retention of new believers.

Where is it held? Encounters are held separately for men, women, couples, youth, and children. They are typically held at a retreat camp or hotel within one to two hours of our church (away from home and your work environment). The average number of people who attend the Encounter is 50–60.

Is it for me? At these Encounters, a miracle will happen in your life through the focused and powerful teaching of God’s word. You will be individually prayed for and ministered to by the Encounter Ministry Team who expects nothing less than God’s power to radically change your life. Prior to the Pre-Encounter, the Encounter team spends about one week in prayer and fasting for the Encounter and for all the participants—including you.

If you desire a change in your life because nothing is happening and life seems to be going nowhere, or you want to be used more by God, then the Encounter is for you!

Let us look at what some men and women have to say about their experience at an Encounter:

“…I was set free from generational sins and curses, a spirit of pride, sexual impurity and disrespect for others...”

“…Before I came to the Encounter, I was depressed, fearful, angry, bitter, jealous, hateful, resentful, unforgiving, judgmental, impatient, disobedient, untrusting, cynical, feeling worthless and full of grief and shame. I was set free from all of these! I was able to sleep for the first time in months!”

“…I was cleansed from generational curses, and I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and was singing to God in tongues…”

“…I was delivered from generational curses, pornography, overeating and weak faith. I was convicted of and set free from not tithing…”

These are just of few of the comments we have received about the changes that have occurred in someone’s life after attending an Encounter. There are hundreds more that are similar or of even greater impact.

Disciple Them
Jesus vision for the world is to “Win Souls and make disciples”. This He clearly stated in Matthew 28:19–20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” To achieve His vision, Jesus worked closely with twelve men that He mentored to take His place on the earth. Following Jesus’ pattern, the apostle Paul also trained a number of young men (such as Timothy) who later became the great leaders of the New Testament Church. We call this mentoring technique the “Principle of Twelve.”

Jesus turned a small group of common men into a dynamic extraordinary team that revolutionized the world. Jesus started with people where they were and just simply responded to them at their areas of need.

1. “Win” – In stage one, Jesus demonstrated credibility and authenticity allowing people to come and see His character, commitment, and compassion. He was building a personal intimate relationship with them by including them in His circle of love with other believers, a commitment to membership.

2. “Connect” – In stage two, Jesus modeled for them basic disciplines of prayer, study of the Word, obedience, and commitment as they learned how to relate to one another. He wanted them to embody the values and character of the Kingdom so they could achieve their God-given potential. He wanted them to commit to a life-long journey of spiritual growth and maturity while connecting to a community of people who were committed to the same cause as Christ.

3. “Disciple” – In stage three, Jesus helped the disciples to discover and develop their gifts and calling. He wanted them to find their place in God’s plan. Jesus allowed the disciples to develop in ministry through instruction, observation, and participation. He wanted them to commit themselves to ministry.

4. “Send” – In stage four, Jesus was preparing His disciples to own and advance the mission. In preparing His disciples for departure, Jesus reinforced the importance of maintaining the right relationship with God as well as following His model in developing people. He was investing His purpose into them and asking them to commit themselves to the mission.

This four-step model is still effective today through the G12 Vision. We are committed to helping our people grow in these four areas.

The G-12 Vision as a discipleship process
By understanding the discipleship process, New Hope International Church has adopted a strategy that will help more people to become disciples. All the ministries of our Fellowship have been designed to serve specific purposes within the Jesus Model. The Ministries are not an end in themselves, but rather a part of the total discipleship process.

When we view discipleship as a process, we focus on people instead of ministries. The ministries and programs are a means of developing people.

Traditionally, the church has been viewed as a building where a series of unconnected events took place. It was a place Christians attended because it was good for them. NHIC has taken a different approach. We see the church as a group of people who work together in process, like parts of the body. This process has focus and direction, and like the current of a river, takes us somewhere.

Implementing the G12 Vision
By design, the Jesus Model guides individuals from the point of investigating NHIC to experiencing who we are, and then becoming a part of the church family. Ultimately, our desire is to see people understand how God has gifted them so that they may impact the lives of others. As individuals understand this, they will minister to their community, their region, and ultimately, the world.

Let’s look at a five-level process that will help NHIC develop life-long followers of Christ (disciples). We symbolize this process with the “The School of Leaders.”

This process has five critical levels designed to take you from being a weekend guest to a growing Christian, ministering in New Hope’s family and making a difference for Jesus in your daily world.

School of Leaders (Levels One through Five)
The Five Levels of the School of Leaders are conducted in the form of lectures, seminars, and (should you choose ministry license, ordination, or simply to complete all that we offer) a one year practicum.

Level One (School of Freedom)
The lectures in Level One cover doctrines such as salvation, repentance, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit. There are different seminars for the Men’s, Women’s, and Youth Networks catering to their different needs. Level One focuses on theology and Christian living.

Level Two (School of Anointing)
The lectures in Level Two cover topics such as the G12 vision, Life Groups and strategies for growth. It also teaches the L.I.F.E. Group leader how to solve problems and how to choose a leadership team. The seminars are on intercession, evangelism, and service. This level focuses on Life Groups and ministry.

Level Three (School of Leadership)
The lessons in Level Three are on leadership. They cover topics such as the call to leadership and the cost of leadership, principles of excellence in leadership and types of leadership. The lecturers also cover practical advice for preaching. The seminars are on connection (or consolidation), Holy Spirit and counseling. Level Three focuses on establishing and developing the disciple as a leader.

Level Four (School of Ministry – Pt. 1)
We discovered that people completed Level Three and said, “You’ve spoiled me with all of this great teaching. Now what? I want more! Give me more!” That’s when our pastors and leaders created the next two levels. Level Four focuses on teaching tools that we can all use for ministry. Most of this level is taught through video instruction, although Homiletics, Pastoral Counseling, and a few courses are in the classroom.

The “International School of Ministry” (ISOM) is a five-level video instruction, complete with mid-term and final exams for each level. Courses include “Foundations of the Faith,” “Praise and Worship,” “Supernatural Living,” “New Testament Survey,” “Power of Prayer,” “Old Testament Survey,” “Jesus Our Healer Today,” “A Leader’s Integrity,” “Cell Groups,” “Power of Prayer,” “Old Testament Survey,” “Jesus Our Healer Today,” “A leader’s Integrity,” “Cell Groups,” “Power Evangelism,” “Church Planting,” and much more! Taught by some of the most widely recognized leaders on their subjects, you’ll learn from men and women such as Jack Hayford, Willie George, Joyce Meyer, LaMar Boschman, Reinhard Bonnke, Ed Cole, John Bevere, and many more!

An Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree could be made available from ISOM for students who are interested in receiving their ministerial degree.

Level Five (School of Ministry – Pt. 2)
Level Five is a “Practicum,” where you will have the opportunity to serve with our pastors and ministry leaders for one year. You will have opportunities to work in all of our major ministries and select two electives (i.e. missions, business management, counseling, pastoral ministries, and more). You’ll get hands on experience. Some things are “taught” in a classroom setting, but much of what we learn in ministry is “caught” as we step out in faith and serve God’s people.

Summary
The School of Leaders gives comprehensive and effective training as you discover and fulfill your calling in Christ within the G12 Vision. Through the School of Leaders, we can continue to grow together, fulfilling the vision of God not only in homes, families and city of the Concord, but in the region and world for the glory of God!

Send Them
In this part of the G12 Vision, the believer begins to lead his own open L.I.F.E. Group, be invited to be part of a G12 Leadership Group, and works towards developing his G12 Leadership Group (made up of leaders whom he will mentor). In G12, we believe the most effective way of multiplication is done through the L.I.F.E. Groups, thereby allowing each leader to reach his spiritual potential.

The L.I.F.E. Group fulfills Jesus’ statement, “...For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them…” (Matthew 18:20) Within the L.I.F.E. Groups, there will be specific purposes to evangelize, edify, form character and form values. A new believer joins the open L.I.F.E. Group and goes through the stages of Win, Connect, and Disciple until he is ready to lead his own open L.I.F.E. Group (Send stage). Once he becomes a L.I.F.E. Group leader, he is in turn invited to join a G12 Leadership Group. (Those who are part of the “Leadership Group” are eligible to teach at Encounters and in the School of Leaders).

What happens to the other Members? They will remain in the open L.I.F.E. Group. The main emphasis of the open L.I.F.E. Group is to evangelize each group member's pre-believing friends. As the members continue in the open L.I.F.E. Group and win people to the Lord while undergoing the G12 School of Leaders, they will eventually become L.I.F.E. Group leaders and become part of a G12 Leadership Group.

The principle of 12 is not a doctrine to dogmatically adhere to, rather a set of principles to implement on the fundamental basis that Jesus Himself chose 12 disciples to reproduce His Character in.

Applying the principle of 12 to The Great commission
Here is a scenario to win the world for Jesus is less than 10 years. (If we want to see the miracles of Jesus, we must begin doing the works of Jesus!) There are six billion people in the world today. Can we reach them all? Sure! So we rent tents, coliseums, stadiums, etc. and put on massive crusades. 300,000 people were saved recently at one meeting in India. Reinhard Bonke saw 1,000,000 people saved in a week long crusade.

What if all these crusades put together won a million people to Jesus every month for a year, every year from now on? This would be unprecedented! 12 million a year from now on! At that rate, we would need 83 years to win a billion souls. In 83 years, there will have been born at least 2 billion more souls…

On top of that, this whole generation will have passed away largely unreached. How many of these converts are discipled? How many of them persevere? Where would we get the money to do such massive campaigns, anyway? Is it hopeless? Not at all. Just use the method of Jesus!

In the world today, it is estimated that there are over 800 million Christians. Let’s be very conservative and say that at least 200 million of them are born again, Bible-believing, Christians with a genuine relationship with Christ.

Let’s say that over this next year, every believer wins one person to Christ; and that they spend the rest of the year discipling that one person. In a year we would have 400 million believers. If all of them just won one person to Christ the next year, we would soon have 800 million.

After 3 years, we would have 1.6 billion in the church. 3.2 billion the next year. In only 5 years, we would have won 6.4 billion to Christ, equal to the entire population of the earth!

What if a believer could only win one person every two years? Even then, it would only take ten years. Every new person would have a personal mentoring relationship. No government permission would be needed, no buildings, no funds…just people winning people! Anyone can win one person a year! Sounds just like Jesus, doesn’t it?

L.I.F.E. Groups
L.I.F.E. (Loving, Involving, and Feeding Everyone) Groups at New Hope International Church are the “heart” of our ministry. Since January 2001, we have pastored our members through dozens of small groups. Led by a mature and trained New Hope believer, each group consists of four to twelve Christians who meet weekly in homes, on the job, coffee shops, classrooms, or wherever they choose to meet.

The L.I.F.E. Group meetings provide small weekly teachings where the Word of God is shared in a simple and practical way. The weekly meeting also serves as an evangelistic mission since new people are being invited and won to Christ each week. Generally speaking, the L.I.F.E. Group enables a person to grow in his relationship with God through the knowledge of His Word, and in relationship with others in an intimate setting. The goal of each group is to prepare its members for small group leadership.

Hundreds have shared how these small groups have blessed their lives. L.I.F.E. Groups bring life. They reach out to the community. They are fun. They focus on relationships. Each week over 50 L.I.F.E. Groups meet here in the Bay Area, reaching out and offering hope to a hurting world. There are many definitions that could be used to describe these groups, but the bottom line is that L.I.F.E. Groups are the eyes, ears, mouths, and hands of Jesus Christ. Groups meet on a weekly basis, where a Bible study lesson is shared with real life applications, putting the story of the Bible into our world. Group members walk away from the meetings feeling renewed and refreshed in their spirits.

If you have never attended a small group and need help in finding one, you can contact our cell coordinator’s office at 925-682-5918 (ext. 18), or fill out the form below.

ISOM (International School of Ministry)
We invite you to consider the International School of Ministry, to prepare yourself for life-long service in the Kingdom of God.

After attending an Encounter, and our first three levels in the School of Leaders, several people in our congregation wanted to take their discipleship to another level. Immediately, we started the International School of Ministry.

A degree is available for those students desiring to pursue full-time ministry; however, these courses will inspire Christians at all levels of their journey.

Courses are taught on DVD format, covering five trimesters. Courses include “Foundations of the Faith,” “Praise and Worship,” “Supernatural Living,” “New Testament Survey,” “Power of Prayer,” “Old Testament Survey,” “Jesus Our Healer Today,” “A Leader’s Integrity,” “Cell Groups,” “Power of Prayer,” “Old Testament Survey,” “Jesus Our Healer Today,” “A leader’s Integrity,” “Cell Groups,” “Power Evangelism,” “Church Planting,” and much more! Taught by some of the most widely recognized leaders on their subjects, you’ll learn from men and women such as Jack Hayford, Willie George, Joyce Meyer, LaMar Boschman, Reinhard Bonnke, Ed Cole, John Bevere, and many more!

Taught exclusively in our Career Center, you’ll be able to reserve one of our twelve computer stations for one to three hours each week. Again, attendance at an Encounter, and teaching in our School of Leaders, levels I, II, and III, are pre-requisites for ISOM. The International School of Ministry is also part of the Level Four. For more information, check out the “School of Leaders” section.