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RELATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
MENTORING
CHAPLAINS MESSAGE AT THE END OF ITR TRAINING,
2ND 14TH MAY 2011
Visit the Chapel site: http://thechapelofgrace.wordpress.com
God gave the leadership of the Chapel the desire and directive towards discipleship
fruitfulness. He also confirmed this with startling signs of great response to Gods
Word and the Spirits move. In cooperation with God we began to intensify and
enhance our discipleship capacity, first from among us and now with help from the
Institute of Transformational Relationships (ITR) Jos, Nigeria. The intension is that
from now on we shall all endeavour to work continuously together to apply what
we have learned in order to produce the fruit of veritable disciples in whom Christ
is formed to become spiritual leaders for the Kingdom. All of us who have
participated in the ITR shall constitute the Relational Discipleship Ministry of The
Chapel to help our Evangelism and Follow-up Teams in order to disciple those won
to Christ in the course of our programmes.
CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP is meant for growth in the Faith until the FORMATION of the
full stature and measure of CHRIST (Gal 4:19; Eph 4:13). Such mentoring involves:
not only about INFORMATION from Gods Word for UNDERSTANDING and
KNOWLEDGE (Didactically),
but also has to do with COMMUNICATION of Gods Word for SHARING and
RESPONDING (Experientially),
as well as EXEMPLIFICATION of Gods Pattern of loving-kindness and holiness
for BEHOLDING and IMITATION (Relationally),
and even REFORMATION with Gods Kingdom Principles for DISCIPLINE and
ORDER (Administratively).
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Church has drawn from various aspects of Acts 2 in implementing her soul-winning
and spiritual-formation mandates:
2. By our Relational exemplification in our WALK and WAYS (morals and manners so
Disciples would observe and imitate)
Mentoring and Modelling for Imitation,
Experiential (Fellowship and Worship Assemblies),
Whatever our emphasized and customized methods, models and milieux for
training disciples in the Church, none should be allowed to either overshadow or
compete against the ministration of the absolute Truth of Gods immutable Word
(Act 6:2-4; Exo 18:17-23). We must recognise that all relations, methods and
structures are of no value without the pure seed of Gods Word sowed into our
hearts (Psa 119:140; Mat 13:23; 1Pet 2:2) and the light-lamp of Gods Word shining
on our paths (Psa 119:105). Gods Word is infallible but our relations and propositions
or methods and models are all imperfect. The Institute of Transformational
Relationships (ITR), has trained us in the biblical nitty-gritty of the age-old Relational
Discipleship method and structure which can work even in absence of literacy,
money, material and technology.
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celebration and participation at the public (ecclesial/congregational) RALLY of
thousands in the Temple court (Act 2:41-45; Act 20:7),
to also ensure
demonstration and inculcation of the personal (familial/communal)
RELATIONSHIP as between relatives from house to house (Act 2:46-47; Act
20:20).
Let us co-operate together to operate the whole counsel of God and enhance
the propositional through our relational.
the preaching (of the Word) through our patterning (of the Ways),
the message through our manners,
the truth through our love, and
the instruction through our imitation.
The exposition through our exemplification
Let us all be committed to begin to DO and to TEACH after the model of Christ (Act
1:1) and the Apostles (1Tim 4:12-16). Henceforth let our evangelistic outreaches,
Sunday school, follow-up, fellowship and other disciple-making programmes and
opportunities be loaded with relational spirit and strategy. God shall grant signs and
wonders in our midst and will daily add multitudes to our number such as are to be
saved (Act 5:12-16). Relational mentoring for walking in Christs Way involves:
showing the Way, sharing in the Way, supporting in the Way and sending in the Way.
Relational Discipleship skills and structures are indispensable for pleasing God and
bearing fruit in the Chapel of Grace, University of Maiduguri. Relational Discipleship
Ministry, is not about methodology, material and money used but about our love,
sanctity, service, sacrifice and commitment of the discipler who become all things to
all disciples in order to win them to Christ and wean them in Christ (1Cor 9:20-22).
Relational Discipleship Ministry is about raising offspring and productive successors
in the Faith (2Tim 2:1-3).
May the labours of this ITR training not be in vain in the Lord (1Cor 15:58); may we
produce fruit that abides (John 15:16) and that springs forth to everlasting life (John
4:14) in the Name of Jesus.
Thank you all for responding to this call with a ready mind. May God bless you all
beyond measure.