Step 2…

I (Seth) like to call giving the Gospel “step 1”, but I like to call discipleship “step 2”. One of the pastors here said to me, “I knew the Gospel was important, but I have missed discipleship altogether, thanks to you I understand that I too need to do this myself as well”. If we are honest, in some ways, giving the Gospel can take 5 minutes, 1 hour, 2 days, or a precise moment that God allows. As long as you use God’s Word effectively and in a culturally comprehensive way, the job can be quick and almost immediately gratifying (the McDonald’s-western-worldview loves that aspect). But that is just step one… and if we are understanding the Great Commission correctly, we can see that the Gospel is not main point… that’s right, its referred to, but the focus is to “make disciples… teaching them to observe ALL things…” That’s right, the problem with step 2, is that it is nothing like step 1.

Signing a special with the Bible School Students

It takes time, lots of it. Not just hours of teaching Scripture, but also relating it in socio-structural (cultural) ways. This is where we are beginning to see fruit, discipling people to make their own disciples. To make things clear, the Gospel is the essence of what we all should be doing, but you can give the Gospel and not disciple someone, whereas when you are discipling someone it implies you are giving or have given the Gospel.

The principle of discipleship is quintessential to our faith, we have been spreading this teaching to several villages and churches and they have been in awe saying things like “we have never heard of this… I didn’t know all Christians were suppose to do this”. It has been very concrete-relational because when we share about this principle we use the young men (and Nicole with the women) we are training as our examples. We explain that yes, we teach them God’s Word, but we also have them in our house to eat multiple times a week, we eat with them in their setting multiple times a week, we participate in cultural events together, we work in the garden together, we play soccer and volleyball with them, we sit down by the fire and talk to them about their life and hear their struggles, we pray together often, and if needed we cry together… this is what it has taken, over months to begin to see true growth and understanding in their lives.

Recording the New Tiale Songs

To see them discussing scripture outside of class or church, to see them applying God’s Word in their daily lives, to see them trying to correct people who have sinned in a loving way, to see them open the scriptures and show people that witchcraft is of the devil, to see them teaching their young friends or even their four-year old about God… to see them want more of God and begin to look different than their peers, it is just an exciting time. To witness growth is just a blessing God allows, because we can plant or water, but He is the one who makes everything grow… and to be a spectator in the process is precious.

Ladies Bible Study

One of the pastors from a nearby village, his has asked us to be a part of a small ceremony for one of the young men (Kevin) I am discipling, it is not an ordination but is more a blessing and marking him for the ministry. If he continues to grow and be faithful, he could be ordained as early as 2020. The church will be hosting this event on the 24^th of this month, and I was asked to be the key speaker, to give both a challenge and encouragement about the ministry. Please pray for him, Kevin, his wife Josephine, his daughter Tiro, and his two sons John and Jeremiah.

The Gospel is glorious, and is step 1, but to see people conform into the image of Christ is a beautiful thing and takes work, but step 2 is the command our Lord gave us. Continue to pray for us as we seek out men and women to move them onto step 2, discipleship.

Your feet to the unreached, Seth and Nicole Stokes.