One Person at a Time

Forty-five years ago, my friend Floyd McClung and his wife, Sally, made a decision to disciple people. He explained, “Not just bless them, or love them or build relationships with them, but disciple them.”

Today, the McClungs have witnessed abundant fruit from their labors. For example, 38 churches grew out of one small group of leaders they discipled. One woman whom they discipled started a Bible study with prostitutes in the Red Light District in Amsterdam. Her Bible study grew into a church with more than 1,000 people who in turn planted numerous other churches.

The McClungs’ amazing results from discipleship were not without personal sacrifices. Floyd said, “Our commitment to make disciples meant saying no to many other attractive opportunities and invitations. We are convinced after 45 years of ministry that it is the most crucial ministry decision we ever made.”

Jesus was the ultimate spiritual father who focused on making disciples, and He has called each of us to follow in His steps to become spiritual mothers and fathers and make disciples also. We do this by practically choosing to disciple another believer and commit ourselves to them for a period of time to help them grow—one person at a time.

Jesus focused three years of His time and love on His twelve disciples. Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus charged them to fulfill His Great Commission by continuing to make disciples. Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth as they made disciples and prepared the next generation. The Holy Spirit is leading us to do the same today—make disciples, one person at a time.

(Much of this was taken from my new book, “The Cry for Spiritual Mothers and Fathers—The Next Generation Needs You to be a Spiritual Mentor,” scheduled to be released by Regal Books at the end of February).