Written by Yanelis Lopez, Latino Ministry Director
"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”" (Matthew 28: 18-20)
A big debate in churches over the years have been, “How to effectively make disciples”. There are many ideas that are studied and well-analyzed that help us to better understand how we can walk with others in the faith. For me this theme has been my passion. I have dedicated myself to reading, studying, and more than anything; trying to live focused on making disciples of Christ. Once I deeply understood the last words of Jesus in the book of Matthew, I haven’t been able to keep the captivating secret that exists in sharing life with others. Making disciples does not depend on a context, a country, or certain circumstances; it is something that goes with you, wherever you go from the moment you begin to embrace it . This is exactly what has happened in my life in the past few years.
On Sunday we had our house church service. We took advantage of the nice, summer weather and went to Wyandotte County Lake Park. While we were there, we celebrated the birthdays of some of our members. We had rich food, cake, and much laughter. What a beautiful and fresh experience, it reminded us that church happens where two or more are together in His name. Discipleship relationships flourish perfectly and naturally in environments such as these. Values are transmitted, teaching happens, and the life of Christ is transferred through being together like this. The church feels alive and organic; conversations of practical and real life arise spontaneously.
I love Jesus' strategy of making disciples, I love living my life together with my brothers and sisters of faith and with those who, although they do not know the Lord, find their home in the church as well. May the Lord Jesus continue giving us opportunities to share live together and to know Him. May we realize the impact of our discipleship relationships as lives continue to be transformed.
