Early in 1998, the DCPI Board adopted the "Vision of a Million." This God-sized vision emerged in one of President Paul Becker's prayer retreat. Here, in Paul's own words, is the story ...

    In November of 1996, our National Advisory Group counseled us that DCPI’s vision was too small. Our DCPI Board gave me, Paul Becker, the task of praying for God's greater vision for DCPI. 

    My prayer retreat began on June 13-14, 1997. I spent the first evening and morning in a motel room near San Diego, CA, reading the Bible, and asking the Lord for His vision. On the afternoon of the second day, I drove to Palomar Mountain for a hike. I prayed that the Lord would communicate his vision for DCPI to me. As I walked along the Upper French Valley trail, the Lord impressed these words upon my mind: "Plant a Million Churches." I didn't hear an audible voice, but the words were very clear.

    I kept walking and a few minutes later a second, more complete, phrase came from the Lord: "DCPI will impact the planting of a million churches." I kept hiking and came to an incredibly huge oak tree. This tree is so large that one of the four main branches is over six feet thick. The tree is so overarching that the farthest branch shades ground 60 feet from the trunk.

    But the most unique characteristic of this oak is that its massive trunk rests squarely upon a granite boulder. Its roots encircle the boulder and anchor the tree in the ground. This is truly the Oak on the Rock.

    While I stared at the tree, amazed, another impression came from the Lord: "DCPI will be just like the Oak on the Rock." DCPI is still a young mission, but over time, its growth and influence will be massive and overarching, with many branches of ministry, like this great oak tree. Just like this tree is founded on the rock, DCPI is founded on Jesus Christ, the Rock. "And on this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18).

    I went home, and in the days following my retreat, I was silent. Frankly, I was afraid. I wondered, Can we at DCPI carry this vision? And then it came to me: "We don't have to carry the vision . . . God will!"

    I don't know how God is going to make this happen. But I do know the strategy He has given us to bring the vision to pass: to equip leaders all around the world, so they can become effective, reproductive church planting leaders. Our strategy statement is "Equipping Leaders to Plant Dynamic Churches Worldwide."

    One million churches means 100,000 leaders who will impact 10 churches each. Or 10,000 leaders who will impact 100 churches each. Or 1000 leaders who will impact 1000 churches each. How many churches does the Lord want to emerge from your ministry? Are you a ten-church leader? A hundred-church leader? A thousand-church leader?

    How many other church planting leaders will you train and mentor during your ministry? Think about this. Pray about this.

The realization of the Vision of a Million will require the vision of many other leaders to be realized. Just like this oak, you and other leaders will be called "oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor" (Isaiah 61:3).
Our Lord is gathering mighty men and women of God to bring his vision to pass!.