Transforming People Through Life-on-Life Discipleship
Most churches that have a vision or mission statement or a set of core values, very appropriately, say they want to make fully devoted followers of Christ or mature and equipped believers or an equivalent statement. Yet almost any church that honestly evaluates its effectiveness and its methodology for this must confess what I have heard over and over again, “We honestly have no idea how to really do this. It is obvious that our current methods are not resulting in this happening.”
We have developed a proven process to assist churches in developing a culture of discipleship.
- First, we will provide a Leader Orientation Workshop to begin to familiarize your first group of Discipleship Leaders and Assistant Leaders with the concept and practice of Life-on-Life Discipleship. Or you can purchase a DVD based Orientation training package.
- Next, we will provide ongoing “Life-on-Life” Coaching of your Discipleship Leaders as they experience their first year of discipling. You can choose the proven Journey© curriculum or another. However, Life-on-Life Discipleship is much more dependent on the Leader than the curriculum, and it has been proven over and over again that “Life-on-Life” Coaching of your Leaders, providing support, encouragement, and accountability to do the right things to disciple well, will lead to real life transformation of those being discipled by them.
From Life on Life Discipleship, by John Purcell:
As I work with churches all over the country and internationally, one of the things I help them do is figure out how to intentionally move toward becoming more effective at their calling. To that end, they develop what I call a Ministry Plan, consisting of a Purpose, Vision, Core Values, and Mission. Next they must work on their “Strategy” for how they will actually move the church toward that “target.”
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Testimonies of Life-on-Life Discipleship:
“Discipleship has increased my desire to grow as my confidence has grown. I’ll never not do this. This is real ministry. Every Pastor should be doing this.”–From a Wyoming Pastor
“I’m seeing an amazing difference in the men in our discipleship group right now. There is a different spirit in them.”–From a Texas Pastor, when asked about the impact of the economy on his people
“It has been for me life-changing; after 30 years walking with the Lord, I really feel like I'm meeting with God when I have my quiet times. It’s wonderful. And seeing what God is doing, it’s incredibly amazing to see what God is starting to do with these women.”–From an Elder’s wife in Pennsylvania
“I've decided I'm going to forget the numbers and just disciple my Elders and young Leaders.”–From another Pastor in Texas
“I have grown tremendously myself; I feel the Lord’s pleasure when I lead.”–From a New England Discipleship Team Leader and Deacon
“The wives of our men are coming up to us leaders on Sunday morning and asking, What are you doing with our husbands? They are really changing. And when do we get to be a part of a group like this?”–From a Leader at a church in Georgia
A discipleship group in Atlanta discovered after only a few weeks that one of their men had an addiction, and he checked himself into a treatment facility in another state. They immediately went into action taking care of his wife and kids and visiting the man. When he was released, several of the guys drove over there to pick him up and bring him back to his family. They loved him right back into the group and are calling him several times/week as well as checking with his wife on how he is doing.–Discipleship group in Atlanta
“We believe that God has sustained our church during this transition time without a pastor largely through the Discipleship groups we have established by God's grace and with your help and leadership. We are thankful for the Journey material and thankful for the Right Path guidance.”–From a Leader in an Alabama church that began Life-on-Life discipleship, then lost its pastor and was in the midst of a 14 month period without one