Transgenerational Discipleship



And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timithy 2:2

This verse serves as the basis for a concept known as transgenerational discipleship, the heart and soul of campus ministry and what we believe is the method of Jesus. In this verse we can identify 4 generations of believers: Paul, Timothy, reliable people, and others. Paul is entrusting a responsibility to Timothy, not just that he would make disciples, but that he would make disciples that make disciples.  This is discipleship; not just a class or 45 minute teaching, but a real life following of Jesus, in which more mature Christians take responsibility for the life of others, so at some point they can do the same.  Do I believe that Christ has done a great thing in my life? Do I believe that others are just as valuable to Him? Then now I need to take responisbility for the life of another so that they will be able to do the same. It is the responsibility of every believer in every generation. In the picture above we see a spiritual lineage of 7 generations. If it weren't for the 5 guys before Josh that chose to be obedient and become responsible for the life of another, then Josh and I would not be in Chile. Transgenerational discipleship is at the heart of what we do and the lineage must continue in Chile. 

Javiera, Mayra and Daniela
After 5 years in Chile we can trace a spiritual lineage! Tamara (pictured sitting at the table on the far left) is someone we have invested in and if anyone understands the heart of discipleship it is her. When Daniela (green jacket) got saved, Tamara took her under her wing and helped her to grow spiritually. Daniela was a medical student at a prestigious university and with Tamara they started a small group with Daniela's classmates. One of the beautiful things about Daniela's testimony is that her entire family also got saved, including her younger sister, Javiera (pictured with me on the left). Daniela was a huge influence in her sister's life.

In September I was able to attend one of their small groups
Javiera is now a university student and has a burden to reach her fellow classmates. This past school year she started her own small group. We were able to visit Coquimbo, the city where we started Conexion, and attended a Conexion Coffee House. We were able to meet some of the girls in her small group. For us it was a significant time as we were able to see the fruit of obedience and taking responsibility for one's life. The other wonderful thing about reaching university students is the influence they will have in the workplace. Daniela has graduated medical school and is already working as a doctor. On that same visit to Coquimbo our son got ill and she was able to treat him at the medical center where she works. It was so neat to see her in action being salt and light to those around her.  We really are reaching world changers!

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