Following the Biblical examples from the book of Acts, we define catalytic ministry as a few staff or volunteers launching and developing independent, self-sustaining movements in multiple locations across a broad scope. Paul and Barnabas’ missionary journeys are examples of this paradigm of ministry. In a relatively short amount of time, they saw locally led and owned churches planted in multiple cities. They were catalysts for the beginnings of the new movements in new cities. Their role was very important for launching, equipping, and encouraging leaders for the work in each city, but they were never a long-term essential part of the local movement. Ownership, growth and ministry were always in local hands. They planted, others watered, but God caused the growth. (See Acts 13-15) When they left, sometimes after only 3-4 weeks in a city, the church grew and developed without their physical presence.