The essence of discipleship



YWAM Baguio

 "He appointed twelve...that they might be with him..." (Mark 3:14, NIV)

A month or so ago, at the regular gathering of the deacons of our fellowship, our conversation centered on addressing a certain leadership issue affecting our congregation. At the present time, other than myself Refuge has only one elder and our discussion that evening focused on how it is we grow that circle? "How do we disciple new or up and coming elders?" was the essence of the question. In the days following our gathering, I thought on that question a lot and then it occurred to me how we "do it" at Refuge at the present time. New leaders - be they deacons, elders or ministry coordinators - are groomed and fashioned by being  in relationship with the leadership circle that is presently in place. At Refuge, the Deacons meet monthly to address matters of a practical nature of our fellowship and then later in the month Troy (our elder), the deacons and various individuals who are releasing or overseeing ministry and myself gather together to nurture and pray for one another and the fellowship we are a part of. Both gatherings are necessary. In fact, the "nurture gathering" is more important than the "business" meeting for if relationships are messy it is difficult to do the business of the fellowship. This is "discipleship" Refuge-style: relationship, care, nurture and ministry together be it the weekly worship gathering, the Service of Healing, the weekly gathering of The Focus or any other ministry venture we may be a part of.

In that monthly nurture gathering, more and more of which are held in someone's home, we pray for one another, encourage one another, speak prophetically into each other's life and generally strengthen each other in the work that affects us all. It's in this way that we mentor each other in what it means to walk in the Jesus-way. It's not a linear educational process. It's more "caught" than taught, as it were.  I don't usually do any teaching (maybe I should) but in our sharing we usually "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Heb 10:24) and encourage each other in this walk that he calls us to. It's not didactic. It's not "Me teach. You listen." It's not classroom work but it is a classroom of sorts. And in that circle of individuals we begin to recognize giftings and affirm each other in the pursuit of sharing those giftings so all may be blessed. Over time, love and trust develop and when those two factors are at work, congregational health is generated. Of course, it's not a perfect structure. It has it's shortcomings. But it's the one that we are employing currently to grow and "vet" new leaders.

Jesus called and invited twelve individuals to "be with him." He was their rabbi but his rabbinic school was a mobile one - in fact, they never knew where they were going to be from day to day. On one day he told them that they had to pile into a boat, cross the Sea of Galilee, endure a sudden squall and, once on the other side, have a power encounter that made them all sit up and take notice. But when it was all over, they didn't set up shop and begin a ministry outreach center called Eastern Shore. Nope, they piled in the boat and went back. "Here endeth the lesson." This was his way. "Follow me" was more than an invitation; it was the essence of his school. He "went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness" (Matt 9:35) and within a prayer, he was commissioning those he had gathered around him to go out and do what they had seen him do (Matt 10). He was very consciously and intentionally schooling them in his way, the way by which the Father wants to bring blessing to all the peoples of the earth. It is about knowing right doctrine. But it's equally about knowing and comprehending his heart for others as knowledge alone - even biblical knowledge - is inadequate.



Duane with some of his current students

 Duane & Lois have invited me to spend a week with their students here in Baguio City, Philippines, teaching on these things and reflecting on the meaning of "lifestyle" evangelism. I don't know what they're getting out of it but for me it's an opportunity to be with some very eager students who are highly motivated to know God and make Him known and in the process know Him better myself. It's a long way around the block (something like a 17,000 mile walk) to learn something (or be reminded of it) but it gives me greater focus of what I am supposed to be doing back in Chetek. One thing is for sure: being around Duane is like being around a master discipler who over time has mentored pastors, church planters, evangelists and disciples of Jesus Christ as he is in relationship with them.  Here (along with his wife, Lois) are world-changers humbling going about their work and blessing the nations as they do so.