In preparation for winter, I found myself mulching leaves and putting summer furniture in storage — just like always. I found a new chore, though, when I read about how to care for plant bulbs — something Anne and I usually leave to nature. However, last spring we purchased three Calla Lily plants that were so spectacularly beautiful up on our hill for most of the summer that I wanted to do all I could to preserve them.

When I dug them up, I found that they had multiplied and that instead of the original three, I had many more bulbs. The directions said to separate them, and I did so — very carefully. The bad news was that even with my careful handling, the bulbs were injured. The good news is that I now have many bulbs to plant next spring — with a lot more potential for multiplication!

Lesson learned. We plant a growth group, a Bible study or a Sunday school class, and it brings much joy — as did my lovely lilies. As the group grows, Jesus Christ gets the glory, and the group gets closely knit together. Then after a season and much prayer, if the leader is forward in his or her thinking, the group will be divided and regrouped for multiplication and more growth. This is a painful process even when we know that it is God's pattern for church growth. This is the way He builds and multiplies! The new group — if planted in good soil and watered by the Word with the "Sonshine" of Jesus Christ — has the potential of much multiplication for the family of God!

Let us seek to be good gardeners, always looking for ways to bring more people into the heavenly kingdom.