“It’s in my DNA — Disciple. Nurture. Act” That’s how one sister in the BMA described her sense of belonging to our associational family. As I reflect on it, she put her finger on the pulse of who we are. We make disciples.
In some ways, discipleship has fallen prey to the pragmatism of our time. Disciple-making is the spiritual instinct and biblical impulse that has shaped the work of the BMA for generations. It’s the shared thread that runs through our pulpits, publications, pastors’ retreats and partnerships.
In an age where ministry can become mechanical and mission outsourced, where discipleship is reduced to a strategy or method, clarifying discipleship can be beneficial. I aim to celebrate the church’s business of making disciples and how our association contributes to equipping, establishing and extending that work.
We Equip Believers — Discipleship Begins with Formation
Paul’s instructions to Timothy have echoed through the centuries: “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (II Tim. 2:2 CSB). Fulfilling the Great Commission begins with raising faithful followers who become faith-filled disciple-makers. Discipleship starts with formation, the work of cultivating spiritual maturity through intentional relationships.
Across the BMA, this is happening:
• Our schools and seminary form leaders with theological depth and pastoral wisdom.
• Our publishing house and newspapers provide tools that help churches bolster and support each church’s equipping ministry.
• Our media ministry provides accessible resources to equip believers for gospel conversations in everyday life.
Nevertheless, discipleship doesn’t happen because a department produces good material. It happens when churches own the mission, and believers walk together toward maturity in Christ. If we are to be an association that values discipleship, we must begin with equipping believers. Discipleship requires more than knowledge. Individuals need modeling, encouragement and accountability. That can only come from local, relational, and generational initiatives.
God purposed that we equip believers and invest in people.
We Establish Churches — Discipleship Gathers and Grows the Body
In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas did more than go on a preaching tour throughout Galatia. “They made many disciples… and appointed elders in every church” (Acts 14:21-23). Disciple-making leads naturally to church planting and church strengthening. From the beginning, God has worked to bring His people together. Our faith is not intended to be isolated, but grounded in a gospel community rooted in sound doctrine and godly leadership.
In the BMA, our heart for establishing churches is directly tied to our commitment to disciple-making:
• National and international missionaries form disciple-making fellowships.
• Our church planting efforts emphasize the formation of discipleship cultures.
• Our pastors and local associations recognize that revitalization begins with returning to Jesus’ method of forming people, rather than fixing systems.
Every healthy church is a community that makes disciples. That’s how we endure the cultural storms of this age. Institutional legacy will not save us, but a biblical identity can. Establishing a church is the work of establishing a gospel-forming culture — one disciple, one household and one community at a time.
We Extend the Gospel — Discipleship is Always Missional
The mandate of the Great Commission to make disciples extends beyond evangelism. Our understanding of this makes the BMA special. I’ve spoken with missionaries whose discipleship models are shaping entire communities. I’ve seen churches equip teenagers to share their faith with confidence and gentleness. I’ve watched as pastors pour into new believers.
From Lifeword’s digital gospel reach to personal evangelism training, to the mission field, the BMA extends the gospel by multiplying disciples, who in turn multiply disciples. Because we value discipleship, missions is our DNA.
When disciple-making drives our outreach, we grow fruitfully. Because of a disciple-making culture, we reach across generations and nations.
Where Discipleship Leads Us
Paul wrote to the Colossians: “We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me” (Col. 1:28-29).
The goal of discipleship is maturity in Christ. That means our mission focus must be upon people. It isn’t the platform or the program that reveals our success in ministry, but the people who are mature in Christ. If we lose that focus, we will drift. Likewise, if we anchor ourselves to it, we can stand to flourish in a changing world.
We equip believers because discipleship is the foundation of our ministry.
We establish churches because discipleship is the structure.
We extend the gospel because discipleship is the mission.
In the BMA, we make disciples.
Let’s keep doing it — together.
