"Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" - Mathew 9:37 (NIV).

There is a powerful marketing principle known as the Pareto principle. Simply, it says 80 percent of results in any worthy venture is dependent on 20 percent inputs. Look at it this way if you follow soccer team it is always a tiny percentage that make the scores for any team.

Those involved in fundraising are aware that out of a field of 100 you are better off concentrating on 20 who are the real givers. Every sales person knows that sales do not come by tapping every door in town, rather identifying those 20 percent likely to buy and focusing on such.

In his ministry Jesus applied the Pareto principle by focusing on a few out of a crowd. He started out with 12 disciples whom he mentored and invested his teachings. Then it is from a dozen faithful that the body of Christ has since extended into a billion followers.

Very often any of us is impressed with having a legion of followers or buyers in whatever undertaking. Many churches are under pressure to make numbers as proof of success of their ministry. But the Jesus principle which he practiced long before Alfredo Pareto made it his own shows that we can and should start by focusing on a few. And from these our influence will extend gradually. In other words none should be discouraged with just a few followers- as long as the right seeds are being sown!

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you started out with a few, today I pray you enable me know the power of investing in a few for growth, this I pray in Jesus's name.