We often believe that our Christian lives are somehow mystic, that we are to know a lot, and that our lives depend on how much we know, leaving out the practicalities of life. “One-on-one” discipleship has helped me get back to the reality of life, to a practical faith, and a usable knowledge. It challenges me to check my beliefs not as declarations, but as actual living faith.

My wife introduced me to the discipleship book “Mentoring 101” by Ron & Della Proctor. I read the “faith” definition and the question and answer parts and thought, “I know all this, what are they going to teach me here? I know the verses, I understand the questions, and I certainly know the answers!” It was not until I began to repeat the definition of faith (the foundation of the discipleship process taught in the material), that I got it – “Faith is choosing to live as though the Bible is true regardless of circumstances, emotions, or cultural trends.” Everything changed for me then. My responses to different situations are no longer a choice that I make, but a responsibility that I have to take. If the Bible is truly the Word of GOD, I am not debating what to do, I know what to do. Now the question is, “am I going to choose to live as though the Bible is true?”

We are using this discipleship process in our congregation, as the name implies, “one-on-one.” I disciple four men, three from the church, and two have already multiplied by each discipling one man. My wife disciples me and four women, one of whom has multiplied, and this disciple has also multiplied! We anxiously await the Spanish translation of the discipleship books, and look forward to seeing church members transformed from “professing Christians” into “multiplying Christians” living by faith.

Martin Mata is pastor of the Hispanic congregation Cristo Vive (Christ Lives) Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach. He teaches emerging leaders on the faculty of the El Aposento Alto Seminary Extension, Aynor, SC.