We regularly receive selected couples for a period of about three weeks for intensive training in discipleship using the gospel of Matthew as our template. For three weeks we open our home to them, live together as a disciple group and discover from Matthew how Jesus made disciples, His strategy, methodology and His desired outcomes.
During the November 2024 In-House two couples from Nagaland joined us. They were Senti and Ainla, as well as Lanu and Alemla. Some of the training happened in our lounge and around the dinner table. Other times we went out into public and did a session in a restaurant, at a picnic spot on a walking trail or along the beach.
As we read through this gospel, we listened to what the Lord said, saw what He did and had to apply it first of all in our own lives, living together, spending our time together 24/7 for three weeks.
Coming from different cultures and backgrounds we also spent much time thinking and discussing ways on which we could apply what we learned in our different contexts.
The final outcome will be seen in the fruit, but for now we received the following feedback:
Eating, driving, chatting, laughing together, anytime, anywhere, every moment has been transformed into a classroom, a church, or even a pulpit for discipleship! It was just like Jesus doing disciple- making in the Gospels.
My perspective being re-aligned through these experiences, I look ahead to strategically implementing what I have learned, hoping to come out at least with some impactful stories.
The training has challenged me to reflect on my ministry journey. Although I’ve spent my entire life in pastoral ministry, I have come to realize, with some regret that disciple-making wasn’t my priority. Thinking back, I now recognise that I focused more on creating Christians rather than making true disciples.
