DisciplePath Training Testimony

Recently, January 14, Faith Baptist of Oelwein hosted Summit 5 of the DisciplePath training. This training seeks to help our IARBC churches to understand and to partner with Jesus Christ in the disciple making process as commanded in Matthew 28:18-20.

Summit 5 addresses two very important factors in the disciple making process. By Jesus' own words we have a command to make disciples. This command stands for very good reasons, primarily that we have personal fears. Such fears hinder and cause us to stumble in our obedience. The first half of the day addressed these fears from a biblical perspective. Brad Hoff of CBM (formerly of Sioux City, IA) led this portion of the training.

Jesus' command also addresses another factor in the disciple making process. By issuing a command, He reminds us that we must press beyond the objections to our witness of Jesus Christ. For me, Jesus Christ is amazing. He pressed on despite all the objections. He remained single focused in His task of making disciples and in his Messianic work. The obstacles were great, but his resolve was greater. Then, we see the apostles take on the very same single minded focus. They made disciples while overcoming the objections to the witness of Jesus Christ. This is the kind of obedience our IARBC must endeavor to achieve. Jeff Duffy (Rapid Street Baptist, Abel) and Jack Jackson (People's Church, Batavia) led these training sessions.

For the record, Faith Baptist continues to learn and to practice the process of disciple-making. We are tested within the church by those who do not understand or who reject the truth of disciple making. We are tested outside the church by the many distractions and fears that hinder our witness of the Savior and Lord. None of this is easy to learn, easy to apply, or easy to implement. We have many traditions of men that hinder our progress as disciple-makers. Please pray for our church that these walls will fall, one-by-one.

The good news is that Jesus Christ still cares for this church. This morning (Monday) the church received a phone call asking for gas money. Do you have those calls? I sensed that this was our test of obedience. So, I asked the caller (a woman needing gas money to go to a doctor appointment), if she would accept a ride from one of our church women. She said that would be fine. I called three women and two were available and willing to serve (all had been at Summit 5). One of the women made contact. This was our test. I pray that we honored Jesus Christ by our faith and obedience.

The other good news is that one of the men who have been going through disciple-making training has now accepted the role of training an apprentice. Those of you pastors in small rural churches can rejoice with me (be careful of envy). Apprenticing leaders from within produces long-term leaders that help drive the mission of disciple making. Someday, this young apprentice (18 years old) may end up in your church. We hope that he will be ready to serve when he arrives.

Pastor Stuart Schwenke,
Loyally Following Jesus Christ
Faith Baptist Church of Oelwein, IA