What's G12 All About?
G12 is a vision to see the fulfilment of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:16-20. It is founded upon the idea that every Christian can mentor and lead 12 people in Christian faith, following the example of Jesus. The Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:16-20;
"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
G12 was conceived by Pastor César Castellanos in 1983 after he received a vision from God instructing him to implement this structure of small groups of 12.
It was first modelled in his church, MCI in Bogotá, Colombia which he started in his living room with just eight people and has now grown to over 150,000 members.
G12 stands for Government of 12 and represents each disciple accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord of their life. It is focused on Jesus's command to the church to ‘go and make disciples of all nations.’
The overall aim of G12 is for everyone to learn how Jesus' love and power can transform lives. Great transformation and growth has been seen in churches who have followed this example of mentoring groups of 12.
Why Conferences?
The purpose of each of our conferences is to lead every person and church into a supernatural experience with the Holy Spirit. We know that God will transform your heart and life to bring an awakening to your ministry, inspiring you to impact your city through evangelism. You will receive the resources and strategies you need to bring growth to your church. Pastors from the G12 team will share teachings and testimonies of what the vision has done in their lives, with the heart to see God do the same in you.
“Jesus went through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:35·36
PASTOR CESAR CASTELLANOS
History of G12
In 1983, Pastor César felt God tell him to take a vacation, which he didn't feel he could afford, but of which he obeyed. It was during this holiday that God spoke to him and gave him a vision of a church of thousands and this would be achieved by following Jesus' example of forming groups of 12.
A month later in Bogotà, Colombia, Pastor César and his wife Claudia started a church in their living room with just eight people, which has now grown to over 150,000 members.
The church grew as Pastor César followed Jesus’ example of building the church on a foundation of 12 disciples. God spoke to him saying, “If you train 12 people and are able to reproduce the character of Christ in each of them and if they in turn are able to do the same with another 12 and so on, then the church will experience unprecedented growth.”
Today the church is one of the fastest growing and largest in the world and holds seven services on a Sunday.
The G12 Founders
Pastor César Castellanos is the G12 co-ordinator and a renowned international speaker and author. He believes that forming committed teams of 12 disciples, like Jesus, will change the world. The Castellanos’ have four daughters, a son and five grandchildren who are all involved in ministry.
Pastor Claudia Castellanos has faithfully served alongside her husband since the birth of MCI. She leads one of the largest women's networks in the world and is responsible for over 20,000 small groups in Bogotà. She has also served as an Ambassador of Colombia to Brazil and as a Senator.
A Global Impact
Thousands of churches across the world have adopted the G12 model as a way of building and to spread the gospel. From small churches in Sri Lanka to larger congregations of over 25,000 in South Africa, G12 has equipped churches of different sizes and denominations to be fruitful and multiply.
The G12 community gathers throughout the year at regional and international conferences. The annual international conference is held in Bogotá, Colombia in January with others being held in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and other parts of South America throughout the year.