Jesus Christ commanded us to “Go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). The final words given to His the apostles have remained over time as instruction for those of us born into the family of God. This command has not only provided me with a plan and purpose, but it has become my heartbeat. My greatest passion is to make disciples of Christ, by bringing people to a place of faith in Christ and obedience to His instruction.
I wake up each day with this mission on my mind. I am keenly aware that there is nothing God desires more, than for me to seek Him and help others to do the same. As a pastor, I fulfill my calling to preach, lead, care for the flock, and manage church affairs, all for the greater goal of making disciples.
One year ago this week I made the change of position from a “Senior Pastor” of one church to now the “Discipleship Pastor” of another. In the past, I have had the privilege to serve as a Teaching Pastor, Associate Pastor and Senior Pastor. None of these roles have given me the opportunity to live out my calling to disciple others as much as in my current role.
No matter where I have served in the church, discipleship has always been at the forefront of my mind. However, I have learned that programs and church politics can often hinder the power of pure discipleship. As a Discipleship Pastor, my goal is to move away from programs and create better pathways for spiritual growth. I work hard to remind our church staff that we must think in steps, not programs, in order to see men and women develop into Christ-likeness. E. M. Bounds stated it well when he said,
“We are constantly on a stretch, if not a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the Gospel. This trend of the day has tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the plan or organization. God’s plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than anything else. Men are God’s method. The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.”[i]
[i] Armstrong, Guy, and Stephen Kemp. “Lesson 3: Growing Up Others.” Principles of Discipleship, EV 2210. 2011 ed. Chicago, IL: Moody Bible Institute, 2001. 25. Print.
