Part of our culture at BEYOND is to be lifelong learners so that we may do whatever God asks of us.

Recently, Joel* was working on a disciple-making lesson he would share with Tazig* followers of Jesus. It covered two main Scripture passages: John 20:19-23 and Philippians 2:1-11.

Joel commented: “These two passages are so theologically rich, and so much could be said, debated, and fought over. But if we take that approach, we can easily miss the simple message. In John 20, Jesus appears to his disciples, gives His peace, then says, “as the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 

Jesus sends out his disciples in the same way He was sent to earth by His Father. We must therefore ask, “How was Jesus sent?” Philippians 2 tells us of Christ’s attitude in His obedience to His Father, and the Apostle Paul tells us to have the same “mindset” or “attitude.” Jesus’ attitude was a servant’s mindset, willing to forsake all His rights, being completely obedient – even unto death on a cross. 

“These passages always challenge me,” Joel says. “Compared to what God asked Jesus to do, my task is rather easy, and my burden is light. Yet I struggle to have the same mindset and attitude as Christ. It has been particularly difficult with the challenges COVID has introduced. But as so often happens, in preparing to train others, I find myself being trained. Perhaps that is why Jesus’ statement in John 20:21 and Great Commission in Matthew 28 is for all believers. In making disciples, we become better disciples. I invite you to look at these two passages today and ask, ‘God, what do you want me to do?’ Then take the challenging and more critical step: be obedient to what He tells you.” 

*pseudonyms

Samir* liked to talk with people about Jesus. So, noticing Frank’s* social media account, he left a message and hoped this stranger would reply.  

Frank did. After several conversations, he discovered that Samir and his father, Nuh*, have planted several churches and want to reach many more people. Since spring, Frank has been casting vision with Samir about what it would look like to see their whole nation reached with the gospel. They have had many discussions about the importance of being disciples who make disciples, who make disciples.

A few weeks ago, Samir and Nuh led a man to faith in Jesus. Samir remembered conversations with Frank about reaching whole families and helping people become disciple-makers. So instead of inviting this man to join their traditional church, they told him to gather his family and friends to learn about God together. 

When Samir and Nuh entered his village, they were surprised to see that he had gathered around 50 people! They immediately began to share the good news. Fifteen people became followers of Jesus, while others wanted to keep studying the Word. That day a new church was established in the village!

Shortly thereafter, Samir asked Frank to coach him on using multiplication principles in his ministry. Frank agreed to coach Samir if he first found others who would commit to be trained and apply the principles that Samir would pass on to them. Samir gathered some people, and he and Frank have already had their first “official” coaching session! 

*pseudonym

HE TAUGHT A COMMUNIST REBEL …
Two years ago, Ethan and Nicole* led an introductory disciple-making training in the Philippines with 14 seminary-trained pastors read more …

About two months ago, we told you about Gaden’s village. Here is a report from a more recent trip into the same village.

Joel* and his team of local disciple-makers were back in Gaden’s* village. They were going to conduct some basic health education and screenings, but they were primarily interested in visiting the young Discovery Bible Study (DBS) group. They hoped the group might want to be baptized. 

Instead, the team was perplexed when the DBS people didn’t want to be seen with them. They kept walking away and avoiding conversation. Something had changed.

That night the local disciples quietly visited one of their houses. But the young man’s mother, Metog*, berated them for bringing a foreign religion into their village and involving her son in their “corrupt work.” The team left dismayed but praying for God to intervene.

The next day, Metog saw something unusual happening in a nearby courtyard. As she approached, she saw a nurse checking a neighbor’s blood pressure. Metog, too, needed medical attention. Approaching Priscilla*, one of the disciples she had scolded the night before, Metog asked if the nurse could come to her house for a private check-up. They agreed to come. 

In the course of the check-up, Metog’s behavior completely changed. She declared that Priscilla was now like her own daughter and said Priscilla should be sure to stay in her home the next time she visited!

When Joel’s team visited the following year, they found the group of young people once again studying the Bible. “We have shared this Scripture with the whole village,” one exclaimed. “Everyone has heard it!”

You can dispatch more compassionate disciples like Joel and Priscilla!

*pseudonym