Disciple Makers: Prayer Letter 11-03-08

Dear fellow disciple maker, In the past month I have been reading a couple books which I believe are valuable to anyone who wants to grow in both being a disciple and in making disciples. These books are: Irresistible Evangelism, by Steve Sjogren, Dave Ping, and Doug Pollock, and Growing True Disciples, by George Barna. These are both available on Amazon. Let me share a thought from Barna. He says that “Discipleship is not a program. It is not a ministry. It is a life-long commitment to a lifestyle.” He would say that this lifestyle is “being a follower of Jesus Christ (is) an all-consuming obsession.” Page 19. One further quote that I think is important. “Discipleship…is about being and reproducing spiritually mature zealots for Christ.” To all this and much more I say a hearty “Amen”. This is what I am all about. And I will push you to enable you to pursue Him and His mission the same way. Following Christ is not like following the Yankees. Pray: 1. for a band of men and women to be raised up here who will pursue following Him with growing passion and into which I can contribute, my life. Pray: 2. For the following key guys and gals: Steven, Brook, Sharon, Ken, Mark, Al, Barb, and Matt. Pray that they would be single hearted in their love for and pursuit of Jesus Christ. Pray that He would become their all consuming obsession. Jesus want not to be first in our live, but everything. Pray 3. That neither I nor Myrna, get tired of pouring our lives into these people and others that He is bringing into our lives. One way to define discipleship, according to Barna, is the becoming a complete and competent follower of Jesus Christ. He goes on to say, “it is about the intentional training of people who voluntarily submit to the Lordship of Christ and who want to become imitators of Him in every thought, word and deed.” My prayer for you is that you would take this eminently seriously. “Go and make disciples” was the last thing Jesus said before going to His father. Barna says that, “Not one of the adults we interviewed said that their goal in life was to be a committed follower of Jesus Christ or to make disciples.” Friend, what is your answer to this question? Love, Charles Powell Acts 2:42-47

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