Discipleship by Design: The Discipling of Christian University Students

by Harvey A. Herman

"As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'" The relationship between Jesus and these brothers started with the simple words, "Come, follow me." In essence, a disciple of Jesus is a follower. Eventually, Jesus' twelve followers will change the world. However, it is an inconspicuous and unremarkable beginning for an eventual team of world-changers, don't you think? How will an assortment of "unschooled, ordinary men" be transformed into courageous and substantive heralds in just three short years? Transformation, complete and deep-seated transformation, is the answer. How does a total metamorphosis take place within a new follower? Jesus' discipleship begins with a personal relationship and an invitation to join a missional community. Before followership is a program it is a leadership development process experienced within a culture. This book seeks to initiate a dialogue on how to foster a culture of discipleship. No program can fulfill The Great Commission. However, a community of believers committed to transforming the world through the process of disciple-making can. Harvey A. Herman is a missionary serving university students. Over the previous three decades he pioneered five campus groups, pastored a university church in Seattle, and served on the national staff of Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. Presently, he serves as area director over the Northeast. His doctorate is in strategic leadership and organizational management.

Genres: Christian, Discipleship

203 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re reading this, or have read this, you’re probably are or have gone through Leadership Training Class for Chi Alpha. And I would just pray that you truly cherish these words and lessons in your heart and mind for these will really help you with not just building up a small group and disciples, but brothers/sisters for eternity.

Through this class, the Lord has revealed to me that I will be with college aged students even after I graduate from Sam. It was hard but I willfully laid down a very prestigious internship and career path for something so much better: God’s love and eternity with Him. And to have others get to know Him and His love! I do not regret going through LTC and having to go through DBD, and even if you’re just reading this book outside of the Chi Alpha ministries, this book will definitely help you in furthering God’s Kingdom.

In the years of my growth with the Lord, I have never grown so much in such a short amount of time than now, reading the DBD, going through the chapters with the staff, and applying what is written. Though this book is quite “old” and filled with cheesy comics, it has definitely worked for years for Chi Alpha. I would not be where I am, had it not. That’s Transgenerational Discipleship for you!

[Mike Panton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a MUST READ for anyone trying to establish a dna of discipleship in their ministry.

When I entered university as a student, I was heavily involved in campus ministry as a student leader. Now I work as a campus minister in Indonesia.

As a student I saw all these principles done unknowingly by an amazing staff and student leaders. Reading it now provides great insight into how to replicate what I was so blessed to experience as a student.

We used the lessons in the second half of the book to teach a discipleship class to our leaders, and it was received very well.

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read for Discipleship 2: Discipleship and Core Groups. I think this book had good information but was written in an overly intellectual way. That is to say that what he was saying is pretty digestible but the language used was unnecessarily complex for the point he was making