Australia is in crisis—not just politically or culturally, but spiritually. And if we’re serious about saving this nation, we must start with the Church. In this compelling episode of the Church & State Show, Dave Pellowe sits down with Joel Shaw, founder of Multiply Movement, to unpack the urgent need for a discipleship revolution in Australia. This isn’t just another conversation about church growth or evangelism—it’s a clarion call to every believer to rise up and reclaim the Great Commission.
Dave opens the show with a candid reminder of why Church & State exists: to help Christians overcome apathy and ignorance when it comes to engaging in the public square. He doesn’t mince words—Australia is a democratic socialist nation funding morally bankrupt initiatives like the abortion industry, which he rightly calls “child sacrifice.” With 90,000 unborn Australians killed each year, Dave declares this a moral, social, and national emergency. The solution? A reformation of the Church that leads to a reformation of the nation.
Enter Joel Shaw, a man whose journey from worship leader to street evangelist is as inspiring as it is convicting. Joel shares how a simple prayer meeting led him to the streets, where he began sharing the gospel with strangers. His first attempt was a failure—he followed a group of teens from Loganlea to Inala and never mustered the courage to speak. But the next week, he witnessed a miracle: a deaf girl healed on a train platform. That moment sparked the birth of Rescue 316, a grassroots evangelism movement that saw thousands make decisions for Christ.
But Joel soon realised something was missing. Despite the high number of decisions, very few people were being discipled into lasting faith. The Church was celebrating attendance and decisions, but not transformation. This led Joel to a radical shift—away from traditional church growth models and toward simple, reproducible disciple-making strategies.
Through Multiply Movement, Joel now trains everyday Christians to become disciple-makers. He shares the “Three Circles” gospel tool—a simple, powerful way to explain the gospel in minutes. But more importantly, he emphasises the need for immediate follow-up and intentional discipleship. Drawing from Jesus’ own model—“model, assist, watch, launch”—Joel equips new believers to disciple others almost immediately, using just-in-time learning and discovery-based Bible study.
The statistics are sobering. Less than 2% of Christians in Australia will ever make a disciple. Less than 1% will make a new disciple. Churches are closing at a rate of 5% per year, while only 1% are planting new ones. If this trend continues, half of Australia’s churches could be gone by 2040. Joel and Dave agree: this is a crisis. But it’s also an opportunity.
Joel points to encouraging signs of revival—mass baptisms on Australian beaches, people responding to Facebook ads asking to be baptised, and a growing hunger for authentic faith. He believes the Holy Spirit is moving, and the Church must be ready. The key is decentralisation—empowering ordinary believers to make disciples in their homes, workplaces, and communities.
Dave closes the episode with a powerful challenge: “If we are going to save this nation, we are going to have to disciple this nation.” He reminds us that democracy only works when the people are moral and self-governing. Without spiritual reformation, political reform is impossible. The Church must rise—not as an institution, but as a movement of obedient, Spirit-filled disciple-makers.
This episode is a must-watch for every believer who wants to be part of the solution. It’s not about waiting for revival—it’s about being the revival. Visit MultiplyMovement.com.au to get equipped, and join the mission to save Australia—one disciple at a time.
👉 Watch now, and share this with a friend who needs courage for the days ahead.
The Church And State Show, recorded 03OCT25, hosted by Dave Pellowe with special guest Joel Shaw. To be part of the live online audience during recording, subscribe now at DavePellowe.com/follow.
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Dave Pellowe is a Christian political educator & writer who gives priority of philosophy to God’s Word. He founded Church And State ministries in 2016, which has grown to include annual teaching conferences in Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and regional Australia by invitation.
Specialising in what God says about complex ethical and social issues, Dave Pellowe is a sought after guest speaker at churches, Christian schools, TV, radio and podcast interviews and other secular and Christian forums where love of Truth and nonpartisan thinking are valued. [more]
