Discipleship – the Church Hinge

Dr. Cook teaching the discipleship course and Rev. John Ingole translating

This April Dr. Cook trained 10 men and two women – some in ministry and the rest training for ministry – on how to disciple a new Believer. He used a discipleship manual pictured above, that he previously had translated into Marathi, which includes weekly Scripture memorization, along with an in-depth study and application of Biblical principles of growth and service.

Together they looked at how someone is able to grow in their new faith in Christ into a mature Believer. The goal is to present to the Lord and the Church mature congregations who know Scriptures and what God has called them to do.

For a few months Dr. Cook heard nothing, but then he received the exciting news this summer that one young pastor discipled 220 people in six different village congregations and was following up with another 80 yet to take the course…then just a few weeks later, word came that another pastor had discipled 20 more and took another 20 discipleship books because many were asking as groups and families to know what it means to walk as a true Christ-following believer!

The Church Hinge – for several hundred years missionaries have ministered in India planting churches and laying the foundation for the great growth that began to expand 15 years ago. Now, with millions of new Believers, the need is urgent for discipleship for churches to grow and mature correctly. Jesus commanded us in Matthew 28:19 to make disciples for a very good reason; the health of churches hinge on the foundation of discipleship.

Thank you for investing into this ministry with your prayers and resources…you have a special part in this good Harvest! If you are adding to your prayer lists, would you pray for those who have been discipled and for the pastors who continue to disciple, for we know this is all not without great effort and great cost.