Levels of Growth in Maturity and Numerical Increase – Apostle Mohammed SANOGO

Growth stages in spiritual maturity and church increase

In every ministry, in every congregation, there is an unrelenting law: what does not grow is destined to die. God is a God of multiplication, expansion, and maturity! And if your church is not growing, it’s time to ask the right questions: where is the blockage? What threshold must I cross? What step must I understand for both spiritual and numerical growth of the church to be effective? Because it’s not just about seeing numbers go up, but about leading souls to true maturity! Do you want to see your ministry expand? Then it’s time to learn the foundations of growth stages.

1 John 2:12-14 teaches us that there are three major levels of maturity: little children, young men, and fathers.

Each of these levels has very specific characteristics, challenges to overcome, and behaviors to adopt. And in the dynamic of a local church’s growth, these phases are visible and tangible! Each ministry goes through these stages, every pastor must master them if he wants to see true expansion. Jesus Himself gives us the model in:

Matthew 28:19-20: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…

This is not about filling seats, but about building disciples! Take these revelations seriously because your growth depends on your spiritual and strategic discernment.

Little children: laying solid foundations

When a work begins, when a ministry is just starting out, the believers who join the congregation are spiritual children. The apostle Paul gives us a clear picture:

1 Corinthians 3:1-3: these believers are still worldly, attached to men more than to Christ, subject to quarrels, pride, jealousy, and strife.

They are in Christ, but without maturity! In church growth, this phase is inevitable, and mismanaging it is sentencing your ministry to instability and repeated breakdowns.

A church in the little children stage is characterized by:

Dependence on pastors and leaders rather than the Word of God.
Constant quarrels and divisions: “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos”…
A fragile faith, influenced by emotions and circumstances.
A strong pursuit of the carnal: attraction to material things, affection for people more than for the truths of Scripture.

The danger is that a church that never leaves this stage becomes a congregation of infant Christians, easily manipulated, incapable of spiritual discernment, always looking to be fed milk and never growing up. How many churches are filled with souls who have walked with Jesus for ten, twenty years, and yet are still spiritual babies, unable to stand firm in trials, always offended, always hurt at the slightest rebuke? This is not normal! We must grow!

So how do we move through this stage and prepare the church for a higher level?

1 Corinthians 13:11: When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

This is intentional, not automatic! The pastor must teach, rebuke, exhort with patience and wisdom to help souls detach from the carnal. The teaching must be centered on Christ, the cross, repentance, and true commitment to God. Without this, the “little children” stage becomes an impassable wall to growth!

Young men: the time for spiritual warfare and energy

As the congregation begins to move past spiritual childhood, it enters the phase of the young men. This stage is crucial for multiplication!

1 John 2:14: young men are strong, because the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one!

This is the level where the church becomes an instrument of conquest!

But beware: young men are zealous, but they must be self-controlled!

Titus 2:6: Likewise urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

Why? Because at this stage, emotions often take over. Young people are passionate, but sometimes reckless, excessive, too radical and difficult to channel. A good shepherd must learn to moderate their zeal while maximizing their energy!

A church without young men is a church that will die. The vitality of a congregation comes through this spiritual youth that pushes to implement effective evangelism strategies, to innovate, to listen to the new generations! That’s why it’s crucial to train young pastors, to encourage dynamism, without sacrificing the foundations and sound doctrine!

Fathers: guardians of the vision and pillars of unity

1 John 2:13: Fathers, you know Him who is from the beginning.

The role of the fathers is formidable! They are the guardians of the vision, the pillars of wisdom and order in the church. They are no longer tossed about by emotions, nor by the fiery enthusiasm of young men. They are established.

Let us pray together

Lord, thank You for the Church, Your living body! Help us discern the stages of growth in our congregation, to lay solid foundations for the little children, to channel the energy of the young men, and to establish wise and balanced spiritual fathers. Fill our churches with a new fire and give us the wisdom to build on the rock! In the mighty name of Jesus, amen!