The Life Transforming Power of Jesus

STORY BY CHRIS ROWLEY

A disciple is someone who ‘follows Jesus.’ The New Testament uses the word “Christian” only 3 times. The word “disciple” shows up 296 times in the New International Version. This means the English word “disciple” appears 99 times more often than the word “Christian.”

As we follow Jesus, we change. The New Testament promises that, as we pursue God’s glory, the Holy Spirit transforms us into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18). When Jesus told Peter and Andrew, “I will make you become” (Mark 1:17, ESV), He was promising core transformation. As we read the disciples’ stories, that’s precisely what we see.

The change Jesus brings in our lives leads us to model our lives after Jesus. We join with the disciples in a commitment to “fish for people.” In this, we learn to make disciples as Jesus made disciples. To be a mature disciple of Jesus is to become a disciple-maker like Jesus. It is a natural process: we follow Jesus, we are changed by Jesus, and—as we follow the one who spent His time making disciples—we commit to making disciples as He did.

Loving people as Jesus loved people through service at Christian Job Corps sites across Texas means that we want to see people come to faith in Jesus and embrace God’s kingdom rule in their lives (John 13:34). Because we love people and want God’s best for them, we want to help them become disciples and grow as disciples.

Each site designs its own discipleship ministry that fits its unique schedule and volunteer base. However, all sites share some core characteristics. We accept our participants just as they are, yet we see and believe for what they can become as they surrender their lives to Jesus. We work from a strength-based perspective acknowledging the strengths of the participants and following their lead in making decisions and seeking direction for their lives. We encourage those volunteers who disciple participants to be authentic and open sharing their own testimonies including successes and failures. This helps participants see that maturing in Christ is a process, not just a one-time confession of faith.

Who can be a disciple-maker through CJC? Followers of Jesus who are being transformed by the Holy Spirit and sense God’s call to lead others in this amazing process. Visit wmutx.org/cjc to contact a CJC store near you to learn how you can join this vital work of life-transforming discipleship