MakingDisciples Of All Nations

Making Disciples Of All Nations

I hope everyone is doing well. We are halfway through the year, and summer is here. I hope you have a great summer enjoying God’s creation, no matter where that takes you. I recently returned from a trip to Mozambique, Africa. We encouraged our current leader and finished training another individual who is becoming a leader in the country.

We also trained other missionaries, pastors, and evangelists who are going to take the Gospel into hard-to-reach parts of the country that radical Islamic groups are overrunning. We have the great privilege of supporting the body of Christ worldwide. Thank you for sending me. Reflecting on my time in Mozambique, I am reminded of three Biblical truths that have held throughout all generations. First, relationships are vitally important in discipleship. Second, God is at work all over the world. Third, taking Christians with you as you are involved in God’s work is essential to their growth and your obedience to God’s commands.

1.        Relationships are vitally important in discipleship.

On their return, the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. (Luke 9:10-11)

This passage is both a sending and receiving text. The disciples had been sent out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. They spent time with Jesus, who taught and commissioned them to go into the world and share about God's coming kingdom through Him.

When we disciple people, we must spend time with them, passing on what the Bible teaches. Here at GGM, we are finding men with a similar call of the evangelist; once we find them, we train them and send them out to use their God-given desire to advance His kingdom by sharing God’s truth.

The disciples returned to report what had happened, this highlights the importance of continued relationships. As we disciple people, they encounter situations that need discussion and guidance. This allows them to bring up questions and invite others who may have questions about the faith. We see this happening at GGM, both nationally and internationally. In Mozambique, we have two disciples who are training others, including missionaries, pastors, and evangelists, who will plant churches and share the Gospel in areas where radical Islam is growing.

2.        God is at work worldwide; get involved with what He is doing.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matthew 28:18)

It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and forget this passage. All authority on earth and in heaven has been given to God. All followers of Christ are to simply follow the example Jesus set for us. God is at work all over the world in countless ways.

Recently, you sent me and my daughter—a new disciple of Jesus—to Mozambique to serve the church and unbelievers there. I was able to train pastors, missionaries, and evangelists in effectively reaching the lost and establishing God's kingdom through church plants. God is putting the desire inside these missionaries, pastors, and evangelists to reach their people for Jesus. He gave us a vision at GGM to raise up evangelists and train the church to witness to unbelievers. If this were my desire alone, I would have given up years ago. God is working by giving both the trainer and the goer the desire. Remember, He has all authority, and what He wills happens because He has the power and authority to carry it out.

“I will put My laws upon their hearts, And write them on their mind.” (Hebrews 10:16)

It is an honor to follow our great God in obedience to His commands and laws and make disciples of the nations. To cultivate an environment of discipleship, we need to take people with us as we go. This brings me to my last point.

3.        Take new Christians and others with you as you are involved in God's work.

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. (Acts 16:3)

In this text, Paul takes young Timothy with him to help promote the spread of the Gospel. This is effective in two ways: it trains young followers of Christ to advance God’s kingdom in their lives and prepares them for a life of ministry serving our great Savior.

My daughter Elizabeth and I shared the Gospel on college campuses in Mozambique. She teamed up with a female interpreter, and they started talking to a young lady named Clara, who was contemplating eternity and Christ before they entered into the conversation with her. After talking with her, she said she would place faith in Christ. God is always at work, and it is our honor and duty to join Him in what He is doing through His Spirit worldwide.

Thank you for sending us to Mozambique to encourage our missionaries and to train and equip God’s church to be more effective for the Gospel. We also enjoyed some of God’s creation while we were there. I took some of the team and Elizabeth on a guided tour off the coast of Mozambique and South Africa. We swam with dolphins and sea turtles and explored a coral reef. Elizabeth said, “This is the best day of my life. Thank you!” I ended with a heartfelt thank you for partnering with us to get the gospel out and giving me an opportunity to make this memory with Elizabeth and our evangelist.  

Until next month, go out and proclaim and share the Gospel because the truth worth proclaiming and sharing is the truth that transforms.