Have you ever considered what all went into making a disciple? Many times we make assumptions. We look at the disciples in the Bible and we think wow what heroes of the faith. I wish I could be more like them. They just got it and ran with the vision that Jesus gave them.
There is a layer of truth to this. But let us take a moment and think about that just a little more, and if you will allow me I will give you some key facts about the disciples found in the Word (when you read the Gospels).
- Jesus picked the least likely people to be disciples.
- Literally according to the standards of the time, Jesus did the exact opposite. He picked the worst and ones everyone had given up on.
- Jesus spent 3 years training and investing in His disciples
- At one point He had at least 72 disciples, then it went to 12, and then at His ascension there were 500 gathered.
- At Pentecost there were 120 gathered together.
- Three years of training to just what our standards today would call a small church of disciples.
- Jesus constantly reminded the disciples of all that Jesus is and also who He is calling them to be.
- Jesus showed His disciples what it looked like to sacrifice Himself so they would know how to make disciples of their own, in His name.
- Jesus didn’t waste His time.
- He was focused on completing the vision He wanted everyone to catch.
- He was focused on making sure His disciples would be ready to do it on their own.
I know this sounds more like a sermon than an update (I am pastor. Sorry, not sorry 😀), but within this I hope you are getting the picture that raising disciples that make disciples is not an easy task!
It is, by far, the most rewarding task. But according to man’s standards it is not as glorious as having a big church, being in a large booming church, and even sometimes looks like you are trying to take people from their church to join yours!
These things are so from the truth for a disciple-maker. They have a single vision, are you ready for it?
Matthew 28:19-20
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
For a disciple-maker, they have a church home where they gather together and they share in fellowship, but they hold this deeply as their creed. The walls of the church building have little effect on them. They want to GO!!! And they want to see disciples made. When they see them and know that they have been made they enjoy the reward of watching those disciples go and make more disciples.
We (Scott, Mark and Whitney with their sons, Liam and Korbin) are getting ready to head to the Philippines and we have some key prayer requests and praise reports to share with you.
The Philippines is on fire with making disciples. The Philippine Disciple-Making Movement is reaching and crossing denominations that we are praying will begin happening here in the USA the same way! They have the focus of Matthew 28:19-20 and they have the zeal to see their nation and the neighboring nations transformed into disciples who make disciples!
As we go into the Philippines we will be hosting many different events to help them go further and enable the ones that have been discipled to now start discipling others. As you read through Acts you see how many of the Apostles did this very same thing going and visiting the new house churches and spreading the Gospel that Jesus wants you to be His disciple. It takes lots of work and much commitment to see all these people rise up to become fully mature disciples of Jesus!
Join us in celebrating these praise reports and also join us in prayer.
Praise Reports:
- Southern Missouri is beginning to see disciple making groups spring up all over! This is just the beginning! There is a fire.
- Kenyan National Directors James and Hillary have been facilitating new Vision Castings in further regions, and the new areas are responding with excitement to be discipled.
- The 20 pastors identified for the Luzon Disciple project, have received their introduction on what to expect and are excited for the upcoming trip in October where they will start their disciple making process.
- The Mission Banquet 2025 was a great success where ⅓ of the funds for the KDMM Command Center (Total budget $30,000) were raised in a single night! Praise the Lord!
Prayer Requests:
- With the trip to the Philippines now only 16 days away, that Mark and family, and Scott would have safe flights and stay healthy. That God would work out all the details for the Tandem Conference for the 20 couples coming, along with the other events that will happen.
- For Scott as he travels to Nepal after the Philippines. That all the pastors attending these events would be receptive and ready to be discipled to disciple others.
- For the Filipino team to pull together all the needed items and schedules for a prosperous trip.
We thank you greatly for all of your prayers and support. These trips are crucial to helping the teams on the ground keep expanding and going further. Please join us in the prayer requests and if you would like to support TTC in these trips we would be grateful for the support!
Mark, Whitney, Scott, Patty, and the International TTC Team
