I was taught some years ago that success is always plural. Therefore, success in ministry on any level is always the result of God's word and Spirit working in and through a team of His people. Without this dynamic three, true success in any ministry endeavor is impossible. So when Pastor Sam Miles presented me with the privilege of overseeing the ministry of discipleship at Midtown Baptist Temple in 2011, I knew I needed direction from God's Holy word, power from His Holy Spirit, and a team from within His church to steward this incredible responsibility with me. After a season of assessing the state of discipleship at MBT, I began the process of trusting God to build a team. Based on that season of assessment, the Lord gave me clarity on the type of individuals most fit to be a part of this team. For me, these traits formed the principles of building a healthy discipleship team.
Faithfulness
Proverbs 20: 6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Given the magnitude of the ministry of discipleship, the individuals on this team had to have a testimony of unquestioned faithfulness. As basic as that sounds, according to Proverbs 20:6, faithful men are like the virtuous woman — they're hard to find (Pro 31:10). For this reason, more than a few local churches are very acquainted with the 80/20 rule, which says that 80% of the giving and serving is done by 20% of the people in a local church. Making disciples is what solves the 80/20 issue in a church. However, it takes faithful men and women to make disciples, and it requires a discipleship team made up of faithful men and women overseeing a discipleship ministry.
If the mission of the church is to make disciples, the discipleship team within the church cannot afford failed stewardship in overseeing the discipleship ministry. It would most certainly cripple the church for years to come.
Conviction
Acts 14:22 confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
When returning to Antioch, Paul and Barnabas wanted to visit the converts in the cities they had previously visited. That sounds routine until we consider that one of the places they were returning to was where Paul was stoned to the point where they supposed him dead (Acts 14:19-21).
Paul was not content with converts. He possessed a conviction to make disciples out of those converts. Sam often reminds MBT of the fact that we do not want to just hold services. If I've heard him say that once, I've heard him say it a million times! That sentiment has found permanent residency in my heart. God forbid that we would hold services week after week without making disciples. That sounds like a very miserable spiritual existence for a church.
Now, as important as it is for me to own that conviction with my pastor, it is equally as important to work with a team of people who own it as well. They must possess a conviction to make disciples and be willing to endure the resistance that comes against the ministry, because making disciples in the last of the last days will be as challenging and as costly as it was for the Apostle Paul. If as a discipleship team we lack the conviction to make disciples, once it gets hard (and it has), we will capitulate and settle for converts, which is much safer and costs significantly less in the short-run (yet so much more at the judgment seat).
Every member of the discipleship team must abhor the idea that numerical growth alone is the bottom line of success.
Vision
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Just as with simply holding services, we are disinterested in just covering discipleship lessons in a workbook. As a team, the overall vision is to see converts walk as Jesus walked. In other words, as they grow as “disciples indeed” (John 8:31), they should reflect Jesus more in thought, speech, and behavior. With that being said, we can never lose sight of the more specific goals of discipleship — establishment in the worship of God, the word of God, the local church, and the ministry.
If we do lose sight of these goals, we will foster a culture that equates the completion of a workbook with discipleship. Too many churches have burned themselves by allowing believers to be deceived into thinking they were discipled because they met a set of curriculum demands. When the specific biblical goals of discipleship are met, Christlikeness in the life of the believer is undeniable. Therefore, it is imperative to have a team of men and women who can discern when discipleship is happening and when it is not.
The vision is simple and straightforward, but as a team we understand that we must protect the integrity of discipleship. This means that we do not allow our vision to become blurred, which would compel us to settle for converts.
Maturity
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Discipleship is held in very high esteem at MBT and is taken very seriously. That’s not to say it is not taken as seriously in other churches. But because of how highly it is esteemed at MBT, it is common for people to express interest in being a part of the discipleship team. Given the importance of the ministry and roles that team members fill, every member of the team has completed Discipleship 1 and 2. Additionally, before any member is added to the team, a thorough discussion with their direct spiritual leader is had. The discussion is centered on their character, testimony of faithfulness, strengths, and weaknesses.
Ministry leadership demands spiritual maturity, and the last thing a discipleship team can afford is to get entangled with childish things. Each team member must be able to stay focused on the mission and own what God has entrusted to them on the team. If one team member adopts any other focus, our mission is in jeopardy and we simply cannot afford that. Additionally, all team members regularly interact with MBT pastors, disciplers, and those being discipled, as well as pastors and leaders from other churches. Given that many, if not most, of those discussions occur without me being present, spiritual maturity is a must.
Ownership
2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
Over the past two years, MBT has maintained an average of 100 people being discipled throughout the year. Including those functioning in an apprenticeship role with a discipler, this means that over 200 people are involved in Discipleship 1 and an average of 50 students from MBT are enrolled in Discipleship 2. First, those numbers justify the need for a dedicated discipleship team. Next, they convey that there are too many people, issues, inquiries, and moving parts for me to handle alone. Therefore, each team member has specific areas of the ministry that they own and must make full proof of to keep the ministry moving forward.
It would take several more pages to capture their worth and impact. They are all as delightful to walk with as they are to work with. Below is a breakdown of our discipleship team at MBT and each member’s critical role in moving the ministry forward:
Ministry Coordination - Nick and Hannah Hatton
The Hattons are a team within the team. They do everything from managing the team database of discipleship pairings to coordinating discipleship recognitions. From managing the team calendar to facilitating team meetings, the Hatton's are invaluable in keeping the team on track and inside the lines.
COD and D2 - Jason and Rachel White
The Cost of Discipleship (COD) class at MBT is the most important part of our discipleship process. This is where believers are challenged to count the cost of following the Lord Jesus Christ and are envisioned for a path of continual growth. Every new D2 and LFBI student at MBT started in COD. With the support of his wife, Rachel, Jason does an excellent job teaching COD classes throughout the year. Jason is also a teacher in Discipleship 2.
Ministry Communication and D2 - Van and Megan Sneed
Van excels in communication and works closely with me on how discipleship is presented in various formats, both internally and externally. Van is also a fixture as a teacher in D2. In addition to helping Van, Megan has blessed the team with her ability to coordinate memorable team bonding events.
Ministry Advancement and D2 - Dell and Serene Thomas
Affectionately known as "Uncle Dell" by many, with the help of his wife, Serene, Dell Thomas works with the Adult Fellowship class leaders to ensure the advancement of discipleship in their classes and to discern how the discipleship team can assist in encourage discipleship in the fellowships at MBT. Dell is also a fixture as a teacher in D2.
The breakdown of these roles captures a very small picture of what these fine brethren do. They are often called upon to handle or address matters that go far beyond their typical areas of ownership and they do so joyfully and without hesitation. As a team, we are far from a finished product and our work remains large and ahead of us. However, there is no finer group that I'd rather attack it with than these individuals. I hope this has helped encourage you to build or strengthen the discipleship team at your local church in order to bear abundant, Christlike fruit.
If you are interested in the implementation of Discipleship ministry in your local church, check out this interview with Pastor Kenny Morgan on the Postscript.
Kenny Morgan is the discipleship pastor at Midtown Baptist Temple in Kansas City, where he also leads the Life Fellowship adults class.