Disciple Makers University for 2021 is past. Over 140 persons attended this year’s event through which Dr. Don Whitney taught us how to practice the two most important personal spiritual disciplines, bible intake and prayer. The attendance includes 20 persons joining the sessions in Spanish led by Alfredo Ballesta. I’d like to thank all who helped prepare this year’s event, including Dr. Whitney, Bro. Alfredo, Bro. Joe Worley and the people of FBC Groves, Bro. Dustin Guidry, and GTBN Communications Assistant Lizz Jelsma.
But now the work begins. Let me explain.
Just three days before DMU began I returned from a meeting in Atlanta, hosted by the North American Mission Board, on the subject of church revitalization and replanting. There I heard some startling statistics. Did you know that, depending on whose research you read, from 60 to 80 percent of evangelical churches are in plateau or decline? Only 15% are healthy and multiplying, while another 15-20% are at risk of closure in the next three to five years. As we heard story after story of churches at risk of closing, I couldn’t help but think of churches across GTBN whose stories sound disturbingly similar.
Please don’t misunderstand me. We serve a sovereign God whose church will triumph for His glory to the end. But which local congregations take part, I can’t say. What I do know is that all through scripture God works through His people to accomplish His purposes, and those people - His church - He calls to obey Him in faith. And so the apostle James says, “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin,” (James 4:17). This remains true.
I’ve pondered this and prayed over it for years. Churches die. New churches are planted. And some congregations experience a revitalization from the Lord to carry on their ministry from one generation to the next. The difference in the former and latter isn’t some revolutionary new program or great gifted pastor. The difference, I believe, is always rooted in the church and her leaders honing in on those core Christian disciplines God uses to shape His church for His purpose. Everything else grows from there.
So, if we hope the congregations we love will take part in God’s work today, we should take care and impart these crucial spiritual exercises to those we serve in the faith. Practice them yourselves. Pass them to your children and families. Instruct the church. And share them with your sister churches.
A movement of disciple making begins with disciples. And the life of a disciple rests on the disciplines of Bible intake and prayer.
If you missed DMU, or you would like to share what you learned with others, Lizz will soon have the recordings edited and posted on the GTBN resource hub. Several pastors have indicated their availability to share these messages with sister congregations. However you do it, let’s not miss the opportunity to shore up the foundation for church revitalization across our mission field.
Blessings,
Jim