The Model of 12 works through homogeneous cell groups. This means the cells are organized into several different nets:

1. The men's Network,
2. The women's Network,
3. The youth Network
4. The children’s' Networks.

There are a number of keys to understanding how and why this works so well.

1:  The vision is often presented as running the cells along the homogenous principle. But we   must understand that to mean we are running these ministries (men's, women's, youth etc.) through the cell principle. This means that men are best equipped to reach out and disciple men, women best reach women, and so on.

   Three main facts help us grasp the importance of homogeneous groups:

·         The Church is a family.

·         Each member has special interests, needs and concerns.

·         Each group is best equipped to reach and disciple others like themselves.

2:   We are one body, one family and one church. But our unity does not mean we always must do the same thing, at the same time, in the same way in the same place!

A family must regularly come together as a family, but there will be times when the children are doing one thing, the teens are doing something else and the mother is engaged in something else, and so on. We must always remember that our primary cell is our family. We should first be discipled in our own families. And then we can move out into our homogeneous cells. The Model of 12 Cell Vision is all about building families up - not splitting them up! But we must also understand the power of homogeneous groups.

The dynamic of homogeneous groups

Homogeneous groups allow people to learn and grow in the company of like-minded people who have the same needs, face the same challenges and share the same interests, identity and language. The gospel (evangelism and discipleship) travels fastest along these kinship or homogeneous lines.

We know this principle very well from the youth ministry. Young people have special interests that enable them to identify with one another. Their music, their style and their mind set all relate to their time of life. We can best address their questions, pressures, and temptations in the context of youth ministry.

The same applies to women. Many women's ministries are being raised up today. These recognize the special dynamic that operates when women come together to minister to each other. The same is true of men's ministry. Men open up better in the company of other men. And we need to minister to the men as men who share the same needs, desires and pressures.

3:   Discipleship is about role models and teaching by example. Only so much can be achieved by cross gender role models. How can a man model to a woman how to be a godly wife? And how can a woman demonstrate to a man how to be a Bible pattern husband?

The principle is 'like disciples like'. When you disciple others, you reproduce yourself. Jesus' 12 disciples where male, although he had many women followers. In fact, they were often the most faithful, loyal and supportive. Women backed his ministry in practical provision. He elevated them and gave them a very high place in his ministry, teaching and mission. But his close disciples (His 12) were men. Even when you take the culture of the day into account (theirs was a patriarchal society in which men and women were separated in most public gatherings) you can still see how this sensibly applies today.

Paul gave the older women a clear directive to teach the younger women and to disciple them.

”…the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Titus 2:3-5).

4:  The homogeneous principle does not mean the sexes or the age groups are divided and separated. It means that they are discipled as men, women, youth and children to take up their place as disciples in their families and in the wider church body. They become better husbands, wives, fathers, mothers or children.And, remember, the celebrations and church services include everybody. The church is a family and the family must come together.

Three practical points

1.  This can and does work. We have seen the benefits of a strong men’s ministry, women’s ministry and youth ministry as each member of the family finds their special place in the ministry.

2.   During the time of transition into cells, it is important to start where you are. Churches should introduce whatever homogeneous cell structure they can - men's, women's, youth or couples. And they should let the others develop over time. Some may already have mixed cells. These should continue until leaders are raised up who can lead the men, the women, the youth, and so on.

3.  There is power in corporate strategy. Churches should be united in their adoption of the homogeneous principle. It should never be a point of contention. But that may mean people laying down some of their traditional ideas that prevent the vision from being adopted intact.

Jesus first met some of His disciples mending their nets. They were fishermen, but Jesus said, "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

As they obeyed that command Jesus spent the next three years equipping them for the work of catching, cleaning and gathering a different kind of 'fish'. So down through the ages this work has gone on. And the picture of the net is an abiding one. With it we catch the fish of today - men, women and children in need of the life he offers.

The Model of 12 also uses nets, both to catch these fish and also to develop them to become like Jesus. The basic work is done in the cells, but the cells must come together in the celebration services on Sunday. There is more to church life than the cell. New believers are presented to the whole body of Christ of which they have just become a part. The celebration services are splendid way of expressing the joy of people coming to Christ and finding their place in the body of Christ.

Gathering the groups

But there is also another part of the strategy that we call the ‘Nets'. These are the gathering of the different homogeneous cells. They take place weekly, monthly or quarterly. The principle purpose of these Nets is evangelism, spiritual warfare, prayer, celebration and vision. When the cells get together it is like the troops assembling. All the little companies gather in their battalions and begin to think, feel and act corporately. They are part of the greater army of God and must fill their function.

This level of corporate gathering is essential. Those who make commitments to Christ in the cells need to confirm their decision publicly and discover the wider family of God. Such gatherings are powerful times of prayer and intercession, making spiritual warfare central. Spiritual forces are routed and God's victory is stamped on the spiritual atmosphere. And because the Nets are homogeneous, the focus remains steady.

Building unity

During the net meetings the vision is held up once again and people are made fresh in their determination to fulfill it. There is an opportunity for fine-tuning and repairing the breaches. Issues are addressed corporately and everyone hears the same thing at the same time building stronger and stronger unity.

But one of the greatest purposes of the Nets is to bring everyone together to praise and celebrate the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing like going to a big meeting where Jesus is being glorified by those who are fighting shoulder to shoulder in the trenches. When we come together we encourage each other in the fight and learn to stand strong in the battle.

The Nets can grow very large. It doesn't take long for the multiplication to reach into the thousands. The process begins with a single cell, but it soon grows to 12 and then those 12 will reach another 12 and so you have 144. That process repeats and you have 1,728 and, once more - you have 20,736.

A net to catch fish

Imagine a youth group so large that they have to be banned from coming to the regular church meetings on a Sunday because there is not enough room for them. Picture a whole stadium filled with men committed to becoming the kind of husbands, fathers and men of God He called them to be. Think of the women meeting in the largest auditoria in the city proclaiming deliverance for the city. All this is possible through the net meetings.

During these meetings the net is cast for the lost to be saved. The Spirit of Salvation is poured out and hundreds make commitments. And they do so in the presence of a people ready to receive them. The consolidation process begins right away and disciples are made. The Net meetings are a very powerful means of winning people to Christ. When these Nets start to operate in the city salvation will not be far away.