Josh Stringer

Pastor of Discipleship

The discipleship ministries of College Church exist to advance a church culture that grows Christlike disciples who make disciples. We do this by helping people DISCOVER more about God, themselves and the church, by helping people GROW in their relationship with God and each other and by making an IMPACT in the lives of people around us by sharing the gospel and the love of Jesus through serving and proclaiming. This is what it means to be a church that is being and making disciples.

In 2019-20, I am grateful that we took steps forward in each of these three areas of discipleship—discover, grow, impact—and I look forward to how we’ll continue to advance the disciple-making culture of College Church in the year ahead.

We also saw the Discipleship Committee complete its first year together. I’m grateful to the team that you elected to lead this year. Jeff Oslund chaired the committee and served in faithfulness and humility all year long. College Church, let’s be thankful to the Lord for the way Jeff, Faith Bair, Dave Setran, Mike Solis and Erick Solomon have served us so well this year!

One of the main goals of the Discipleship Committee was to learn about the current state of discipleship at College Church. That happened through a survey that more than 600 of you completed. Through the Discipleship Survey we sought to take the spiritual temperature of the congregation. In order to consider our next steps forward, we need to have an accurate understanding of where we are.

At the time of this writing, we’re still analyzing the data, but we are so encouraged by the faithfulness of the folks at College Church in personal Bible reading and prayer. God is at work across all generations and is growing us in our understanding of the Bible and love for him. We’ve also learned that a large majority of you feel equipped to be a disciple maker—that is, to help someone else follow Jesus.

In the coming year, we hope to consider how we might continue to grow a church culture, not only of being discipled (personal growth), but also in making disciples (outreach and multiplied growth). We’ve planted the seeds in a few areas of one-on-one discipleship in both men’s and women’s ministries. I’m excited to see how those seeds will bear fruit and multiply in the coming year. I also anticipate growth by multiplication in small groups and Adult Communities that includes starting new small groups and Adult Communities. Given our space constraints, we’ll have to cooperate and be innovative on how to create space in our Sunday morning schedule for new Adult Communities. I believe God is at work and leading us towards a growth in these ministries.

Another ministry where we’ve seen impactful growth has been in men’s ministry. While we were unable to host the Men’s Conference due to COVID-19, we relaunched Wednesday night Men’s Bible Study in September of 2019, and it’s been producing fruit at a steady rate all year. Men have been discovering more about God through the study of systematic theology, growing in their relationships with each other through weekly discussion (thanks table leaders!) and impacting others by sharing their testimonies and the gospel with other men outside the church. As we’ve moved to an online format in the final few weeks due to COVID-19, I’m amazed at how many men continue to tune in virtually. And I’m grateful for Victor Kuligin, who has stepped in to teach and has done a wonderful job serving the men with his gifts. On a personal note, Men’s Bible Study is a weekly highlight. It’s a joy to study the Bible with and be challenged by men of all ages who are eager for biblical camaraderie and Holy Spirit-wrought growth.

As this church year comes to a close and another one is set to begin, we are being challenged with a new normal. We’re considering programmatic and budgetary adjustments, among other things. But one thing is certain. Discipleship will continue no matter what. All we need is two or more people and a Bible. So, as we make plans and pray about what the year ahead might hold, we are being forced out of our comfort zones, perhaps reentering that realm of discovery. What are you discovering about God, yourself and the church that you did not before? What are you re-discovering that you had forgotten? In what ways is God growing you in relationships with others and with him? And, as you’re growing as a disciple of Jesus in these unusual days, how will you take what you are learning and impact the lives of others in the coming year for the sake of the gospel?

My family and I are grateful for another year to serve you, College Church family. Let’s trust the Lord together for an impactful 2020-21!