Discipleship that belongs to the people

A few years ago I met Jon and Jude Witt at a discipleship training event. I found what they shared back then very helpful, so I read Village Journey. I love Dignity’s approach to evangelism, and I’ve found that the materials offer new ways of reaching out to my community.  For me, previous approaches to outreach didn't involve getting as close to people as I think Christan outreach should. What I discovered through studying the Village Journey course is quite simple. It suggests identifying people who are hungry for God and coming up close to them. The course materials showed us that everyone has a part to play.

This past January, I set up a Life Group which consists of local people, young and elderly. The approach was simple. We studied a passage of scripture and gave the group some questions to think about.  Then I sent them away for the week to meditate on the scripture and the questions I had asked them to look at and come back to share their thoughts.

Some members of the group said they had read the Bible passage but didn’t understand it. Others said they understood it to a degree but asked for further guidance on unpacking the meaning of the scripture.

I encouraged everyone in the group to speak. When they shared their thoughts and learned from one another, they realised that responding to the Bible would require the involvement of all of them.  

Through regular Bible study and discussion, people began to work out the message of the gospel for themselves. This is good. I’ve told them that rather than being their leader, I’m their helper, and I’ve explained that the aim is for them to be able to study and apply the Bible without me being there to facilitate it.

One week, I knew I wouldn’t be able to meet with the group. In the session before, I discussed a plan with the group about how they might manage the session without me being present. They went ahead without me and were encouraged that they managed it.

To begin with, I had used the English language version of Village Journey, but in discussion with the Life Group members I learned that the group much prefer to use the Chichewa translation, so that’s what they now do. To be able to study the material in their first language makes it easy for the group members to understand it. They liked the clarity that brought, and, as a result, are excited to be able to use these books.

People are enjoying meeting together and they are becoming excited about what God is doing. They have recently welcomed a gentleman who stopped attending church a few years ago after nobody came to help him when he was very ill. He’s been drinking heavily in recent years and life has been dark. They group have encouraged him to come sober, and he’s interested in learning. Depending on how he does for the next few months, the group will look for some simple responsibilities to give him in the hope of encouraging him.

This year, I hope the group may develop in several ways. I’m praying that they will fully take ownership of it; that they will come to know who God is and be rooted in His word. My prayer is that they will grow in hope and learn to trust the Lord.

In the past, there has been a good deal of religious activity in this community. But people knowing God? Not so much. I hope this group will change that.

- Benito, Malawi

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