namahatta.org - Congregational Development Ministry

This is the beginning of a discussion between Kaunteya and Iksvaku prabhus about one danger of the G12-system as practiced and advertised by Castellano: eventually the founder of the first (mother-) cell group will emerge as the patriarch of all following (daughter-) cells. Several influential (Christian) cell group preachers criticize Castellano for the increasing subordination he demands from cell groups that want to belong to his church.

by Iksvaku dasa.

There are some devotees around the world who are paying attention to the expansion phenomenon called the G12 - Movement. This is not surprising due to the amazing numerical successes this movement is having and it may well have some pointers that we could use in our preaching. G12 stands for 'Government of 12' and aims at empowering those 'touched' by the word of Christ to 'touch' another 12 individuals, and in that way grow exponentially. At present it is claimed that their numbers reach hundreds of thousands active members around the world.

Here are some resources, collected and explained by Iksvaku prabhu, from Christian web sites that explain, support, and also criticize the G12-approach.

To begin with, see this non-partisan overview of the G12-movement presented by Wikipedia.

Introduction by Kaunteya Prabhu

We are discussing (and we invite our readers to participate in the discussion) about a system of congregational development that some Christian Churches use, some with success, the G-12 approach.

In short: it's a type of group in which all the members of the group are supposed to eventually form their own groups, while remaining part of their original group. One difference with the usual Bhakti-vriksha approach is that the groups in the G-12 system do not divide: the members remain with their group leader.