Discovering Our Discipleship Strategy

"So what is the Discipleship Strategy for the Asia-Pacific Region?" This question was recently asked to Dave Hane, Regional Jesus Film Coordinator, during meetings at our International Center.

How would you have answered? 

It’s a fair question that deserves some thought. 

Unlike some other regions where there is a dominant language, the regional office has never pushed one particular discipleship program.  But we do believe discipleship is our top priority.  Our clear commission from Christ is to make disciples.  Our Mission as an International Church is "To Make Christlike Disciples in the Nations."

While we stress Discipleship, we leave room for each local church to choose the discipleship strategy that best suits their particular context (language, culture, political situation, etc.).

In wrestling with the concept of a “discipleship strategy,” Regional Director Verne Ward III expresses his concern that we as a church do not reduce discipleship to a process of providing information for a new believer. Rather, we should “build on the Wesleyan understanding that discipleship is a life long process that requires intentional relationship all through the process.” After all, real "church" is about discipleship. But, if we promote the understanding that discipleship is a 10-week course for new believers, we do great damage to what it really means. Even if we talk about bringing people to "maturity" as the purpose of discipleship we miss the essence of our missional community.

Rev. Ward urges, “When we consider a regional discipleship strategy, everything we do must be scrutinized by how it contributes to the making of disciples. Everything we do must contribute to “making Christlike disciples in the nations.”

With this as our clear understanding and practice, there are some helpful resources available as a part of this ongoing emphasis.   Visit the Jesus Film Harvest Partners website to view a few of these Discipleship Materials.

1. Go to the JFHP web site:  http://www.jfhp.org/index.cfm

2. Click on Resources.

3. Select Discipleship Materials

Please feel free to contribute to this discussion and share your stories of how God is helping your make Christlike disciples in your context.  Send your comments, questions or requests to Dave Hane (dhane@apnaz.org).  

this post was filed under Around The Region on Jun 18, 2007