By Ian Finnan

Power to Change runs quarterly SHIFTm2M Best Practice Zooms. These interactive gatherings bring pastors and ministry leaders together to learn from each other as they seek to create environments where disciplemaking can flourish.

At our most recent Zoom, Paul Crothers from New Peninsula Baptist Church in Victoria shared practical steps his team have taken to embed disciplemaking frameworks into the life of their church.

At New Peninsula Baptist Church in Victoria, the principles taught through SHIFTm2M Training are gradually shaping the life of the church in practical ways.

Senior Pastor Paul Crothers says the journey has been developing over many years.

Paul first encountered early disciplemaking ideas as a young volunteer youth leader. But the conviction deepened later in his pastoral ministry. After more than a decade leading another church, he took time between roles to pray and reflect on what he had learned.

During that season, one idea kept coming back to him: not just discipleship, but disciplemaking.

“I sensed God leading me to think beyond helping people grow in faith,” Paul says. “The question was how we could see multiplication. How do we see disciples making disciples?”

When Paul began leading New Peninsula Baptist Church in the middle of COVID lockdowns, the first year was focused on helping the church navigate a difficult season. But in 2022 he began exploring frameworks that could help the church move toward a disciplemaking culture.

After considering several options, the leadership team chose to engage with SHIFTm2M Training. The entire ministry staff team went through the nine days together.

One decision shaped the way they approached it.

“This wasn’t going to be the flavour of the year,” Paul told the team. “This is the next 15 years for our church.”

Rather than rushing to implement changes, the team took time to reflect before applying what they had learned. Over the past two years, Paul describes their journey using three words: realign, remodel and renew.

Realigning around disciplemaking

Before SHIFTm2M, the church was already doing many good things. But ministries were not always aligned around a common disciplemaking pathway.

SHIFT helped the leadership team develop a shared framework. All ministry leaders now set goals using the five stages of the disciplemaking journey: Connect, Win, Build, Train and Send.

Using the same framework across ministries has helped the team focus on what matters most and let go of activities that do not contribute to their disciplemaking vision.

Remodelling ministries for balance

The next step was to evaluate every ministry through the disciplemaking lens.

In many cases, ministries were strong in one or two areas but missing others. For example, the youth ministry had strong connection points but little intentional evangelism and no pathway for training and sending students.

The program was redesigned so young people would not only connect and grow in faith, but also learn to share the gospel and disciple others Similar adjustments have been made across many ministries in the church.

Renewing pathways for new believers

One of the biggest discoveries came when the team examined how the church helped new believers grow Although the church had many long standing life groups, most were not designed to welcome people new to faith.  

In response, the church introduced new pathways. A short Head, Heart and Hands course helps people understand that following Jesus involves both personal transformation and everyday mission. They also developed a three-week Exploring Faith group for people curious about Christianity. At the end of the course, participants are invited to continue meeting together.

In the first group, most participants chose to continue. Within a year, people who were not previously part of the church were being equipped for possible leadership roles. For Paul, that is a sign that the culture is beginning to shift.

“It’s not about choosing between traditional church and new models,” he says. “It’s about doing whatever helps the Kingdom grow through disciplemaking and multiplication.”

The story at New Peninsula Baptist Church is still unfolding. But it offers a glimpse of what can happen when a church commits to the long journey of cultivating a disciplemaking culture.

Want to learn more about what New Peninsular Baptist Church is doing?  We would love to invite you to join us at the Multiply Conference (see attached flyer)

🎯 Multiply Conference 2026

Join other pastors and leaders who are asking the same questions—and learning from churches who are already seeing fruit.

What you’ll gain:

• Practical frameworks from the life of Jesus
• Real case studies from growing, multiplying churches
• Space to think, plan, and process for your context
• Connection with like-minded leaders on the same journey

Featuring insights from churches like:

• Sydenham Baptist Church
• New Peninsula Baptist Church

📅 When:
Tuesday 23rd June (8:30am–5:00pm)
Wednesday 24th June (8:30am–4:30pm)

📍 Where:
Sydenham Baptist Church, VIC

💡 Registration:

• Full Conference: $250
• Day Pass: $130
• Registrations close: 9 June 2026

👉 Don’t just get inspired—get equipped. Join us.