Mission priorities explained: Nurture disciples of Jesus

Lieut-Colonel Jayne Roberts (THQ) unpacks the nurture disciples of Jesus mission priority.

Our intention as a territory is to love God and love others. How does nurturing disciples of Jesus fit in with that?

Discipleship involves fellowship with other Christians as we follow Jesus together. Nurturing disciples is about deepening our love for God and encouraging others. As the old song ‘Climbing up the Golden Stairs to Glory’ says: ‘O the joy of getting others to climb with me!/ Lost, despairing, broken-hearted, all may come;/ Calvary love has made the stair a very wide one’ (SASB 884).

Why is nurturing disciples one of our mission priorities?

Nurturing disciples of Jesus is on another level to sharing the good news. It’s recognising that a life of faith is a lifelong, transformative experience. That aligns with the Army’s doctrine: ‘Continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.’

What is the biblical basis for nurturing disciples of Jesus?

‘Go and make disciples’ (Matthew 28:19). The Great Commission was a specific instruction from Jesus. There’s something intentional in that command. Contemporary Christianity can be very personal and inward, but we forget about making disciples. That’s not to lay a huge burden on everyone: we’re responsible for nurturing disciples, not for delivering fully formed Christians. You might have an influence and help someone to take one step.

Matthew 4:19: ‘Come, follow me...’ Jesus’ first call to the disciples brings to mind other verbs: seek, find... It is incumbent on us to do something. We don’t just become disciples by sitting in a hall for an hour every week. Paul talks about running the race (1 Corinthians 9:24) and writes: ‘All I want is to know Christ ... and become like him’ (Philippians 3:10 Good News Translation). It’s not a static thing.

Matthew 16:24: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’

Following Jesus isn’t a hardship, you know, it’s a joy, through all the different and difficult seasons of life. It’s about learning, growing, finding. As Christians in this country, thankfully we’re free to worship, read and meet as we choose. That’s not true for all Christians. And yet we hear the Church is flourishing in some of those countries.

Look at the Church in Acts 2:42–47, meeting, eating and praising together. Nurturing disciples is about being pilgrims together on a journey.

What does nurturing disciples look like in practice?

Nurturing can be simple. God uses the way he has made us as individuals, with our strengths and personalities. Some are gifted at standing up and inspiring a room of 200 people, others at sending cards or messages of encouragement. It might just be you sharing a resource or talking one-on-one with someone else. When a junior soldier is enrolled, it’s often mentioned that someone is their prayer partner, but people don’t always think about having prayer partners as adults.

Nurturing is interpersonal. Only you know how you are doing in your spiritual journey, but it’s not a journey you do alone. It’s important to have a safe space for everyone where no question is too simple. It’s not about people who know telling people who don’t; it’s about being and learning together. The Alpha course can provide a good space, and a good refresher, for groups.

Nurturing takes time. It’s important to encourage people to commit to a rhythm. To find something and give it time to take root. That might be using Lectio 365 or the Celtic Daily Prayer book. One useful resource is the book Knowing You, Jesus, which can be used by individuals or groups.

What’s the end goal?

Becoming more like Jesus. In our personal lives, relationships and life together as a community. It’s having that personal relationship with Jesus that expands.

It’s a balance of doing and being. It’s not either/or. When training officers, William Booth College highlights knowing, being and doing – they’re all interconnected.

What’s the biggest challenge we face in this mission priority?

To consistently commit to a rhythm of prayer and Scripture reading. Try to pray as you can, not as you can’t – don’t set yourself an unrealistic expectation. It doesn’t have to be a long conversation with God, but intentionally living in daily fellowship with God, listening as much as speaking. Sometimes the challenge for small group leaders or corps leaders can also be finding the right material for the people they’re seeking to nurture.

What’s the most encouraging thing about this mission priority?

Lots of things. There’s a huge interest in spiritual formation. The impact that the new UKI Boiler Room rhythm is having through Prayer Matters. Meeting and hearing what people are studying. The new commitments shared in Salvationist magazine. The resources that are available to us. People learning from each other.