“What is the one thing churches are called to do?” asked Jim Liske of Ridgepoint Community church in the USA at a recent seminar in Chifubu for church leaders. The 148 church leaders answered in unison, “To make disciples.” But making disciples is a complicated business especially in Zambia. To invite people to be followers of Christ in our church today is often to put oneself at a risk of not having a church grow numerically. There is something more than appealing about the Zambian church-especially the evangelical charismatic, something more than a simple desire “to make fishers of men”-which draws us to the church again and again.
Whether that something is curiosity or guilt, a desire to be delivered from cultural oppression or demonic power, a promise to be wealthy and healthy or a search to find dignity, or some strange combination of them all, is something those who want make disciples must find out and address with wisdom. God’s desire for us is that we know Him better and this should be a prayer for every church leader for their members.
We submit that it is this failure to know God’s desire for us that has made this rich nation poor. Jesus and the apostles’ lived to make disciples. Think for a moment over what happened when Zacchaeus became a follower of Jesus. Here is what he said, “Look Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Or reflect for a moment on life of Tabitha (Dorcas). The Bible says she was a disciple who was always doing good and helping the poor. The church in the first century knew that it was called to make disciples.
The one thing the church is called to do is to make disciples. Our disciples should be at NCC. Our disciples should be coming to pastors and bishops and asking them what is the mind of God in what they are doing. Our disciples should be providing leadership in the ministry of works and supply ensuring that we no longer have potholed roads. Our disciples should be running the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and ministry of agriculture ensuring that even in lean years we have food. Our disciples should be running the anti-corruption crusades and showing by example what it means to live a holy life. Our disciples should be providing leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS, cholera and malaria.
Can you imagine what Zambia would be if the church was in the business of making disciples? Can you imagine what Zambia would be like if we had people like Nehemiah, Daniel, Joseph and Esther in strategic institutions of our nation? The church should do one thing. Make disciples. Is this what your church is doing-bringing transformation to Zacchaeus, Dorcas and the Philippian jailer to live holy lives and to do well?
Lawrence Temfwe
