Slow Cooking Disciples

  I'm on a Turkish airways flight from London to Istanbul. Been traveling for almost 29 hours and still another hour in the air.

  Had lots of time to think about three men we prayed for in church this weekend. 

  Tom, at age 40, is "graduating from High School Pastor to run Connect, our assimilation ministry. He's also by backup preacher when I travel. 

  Frank is 24. He's moving from the huge Jr Hi ministry he built to become High School Pastor.

  Brad, age 20 just took Frank's job in Jr Hi much like Frank followed Tom as Jr Hi Pastor several years ago.

  Someone challenged me for giving a 20-year-old a hundred plus kids ro care for. But to me, its a no-brainer...

  For one thing, Tom discipled Frank four years in Junior Hi and they've been partnering in the transition of Frank to High School for months.

  Brad came to us at age four, and began as a teachers helper with little kids as soon as he hit Jr Hi. Then as a high schooler he helped Frank run the Jr Hi ministry. After high school he stayed on to help Tom pastor those kids. At age 20, the guy has eight years of pastoral experience.

  So what's my point? Exactly this: "We are very serious about making disciples, and it pays off!" 

  This is just one of a hundred stories I could tell but my plane is about to land.

  But before they make me shut down my computer...did I mention that all of this started when Tom was 12? His brother bribed him to come to MiniChurch--for five bucks. He got saved and the rest has been a slow-cooking disciplship process that always brings good results!!!