March 2024 Article

As we look to the redesign of our Newsletter, which will, in essence, become two variations, and we look forward to the vision of Becoming, I thought I would redesign my article to reflect this new idea of who we will be as a congregation of Christ followers. Some of you may have read through the working document that I put together. The concept is to help us become more intentional in our discipling as a congregation.

Most people are familiar with the Great Commission given to us in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” A lot has been written about how we are to disciple, and much work has been done to encourage us to do this. One of the greatest obstacles that many struggle to overcome is that most think that this work requires us to go and knock on doors and confront people with the Gospel. There is nothing wrong with doing those activities, but discipleship is much greater than inviting people to worship services.

The idea behind Becoming is from something that was said to me by Pastor Ron Dingle, who was my pastor before entering the Seminary. When he was asked whether or not he was a Christian, his response was, “I am becoming.” He would say this because the work of our faith is not completed when we are baptized, confirmed, or after long years of biblical education, but it is done over the entirety of our lives. The journey begins at our baptism, but there are many stages in which God works in us as we walk in our faith. Some people get stuck and wander away in discouragement, while others catch a fire that can’t be quenched.