DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY - ... JAIL
What does a disciple of Jesus look like?
- Increasingly displaying the fruit of the Spirit/growing in maturity.
- Has a hunger for the Word and makes prayer a priority
- Loves the church, and is accountable to it. Increasingly understanding hi/her gifts and is actively using them.
- Always looking for what the Father is doing and making him/herself available.
- Is reproducing (making disciples).
3-Step Discipleship Pathway at the … jail.
(A) Before Christ
- Identify those inmates whose hearts are genuinely hungry for God.
- Lead them to a commitment to follow Jesus and make sure they understand what that means.
(B) Inmates who have come to Christ. (Not necessarily in this order)
- Pass on a Bible and a copy of “Word For Today” devotional (has yearly Bible reading plan) and teach how to use both.
- Teach them to SOAP journal and develop a simple prayer life.
- Share about identity in Christ. Significance and security.
- Encourage them to understand the importance of fellowship with other inmates and attendance at chapel on Sunday mornings.
- Encourage entry to “Crossroads” Bible correspondence course (designed for longer-term prisoners)
- Teach on growing as a believer (abiding in Christ)
- Teach on sharing your faith (write out a simple testimony)
- Discuss plan for release. Linking up with a local church and the “Prisoner Release Program”. Clearly a need to carefully match a local church and a mentor with the inmate concerned.
(C) After Prison (Prison Release Program)
Focus: The PRP is an intentional discipleship based ministry directed at Christian ex-prisoners, who are intentionally embraced by the local church using a relational mentoring model.
Specific Goals:
- Assisting ex-offenders to make a successful transition back into the community.
- Creating an environment of acceptance and nourishment.
- Committing to the care of the whole person (physically, emotionally. mentally).
- Faith and character development.
This article was originally published here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/keep-simple-developing-discipleship-pathway-denton-rod/
_________________
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rod Denton has served as a pastor and as a teacher in the development of emerging leaders in Australia and 9 different countries across Asia with A3. He now serves as a consultant for Rod Denton Equipping The Next Generation. Rod also serves part time as the Mission's Resource Consultant with the Salvation Army. More information: www.roddentoneng.com.au
See also, A3 Faculty
