Walk With Me

The Navigators did something different in their disciplemaking training. They led us back to our neighborhoods! Our church family has always had a heart for serving in our neighborhood but it was often limited to a one time, do good event. Now, since we’re making strides to build a disciplemaking culture, our outreach and service looks different. We still serve in our neighborhood, but we aim to connect in relational ways and place a priority on building on-going relationships. It is in these on-going relationships that we’re trusting God for gospel conversations. We have moved our evangelism training from large workshops to our disciplemaking triads for greater accountability and application. Our church family now goes about their daily activities with eyes open to the lost people around them, trusting God to start faith conversations. We pray corporately for these people, we intentionally equip our people to excel at building relationships for the the gospel, and we look for every opportunity to start spiritual conversations. It’s beginning to impact our Sunday worship services. Now our guests are being invited by a friend. What a blessing to work with Bill and the Navigators, God has used them to transform us to more fully devoted followers of Jesus.

I’m excited about what God is doing through our partnership with Bill and The Navigators to build a disciplemaking church. We started small with a Discipleship Leadership Team, whom I led through The Ways of the Alongsider. Last September, each person on that team applied what they learned from the Alongsider by leading a discipleship triad (a group of three people) through The Navigators 2:7 discipleship series. There is now nearly thirty people in micro-disciplemaking groups. We’re finishing with the 2:7 series this fall and then many of the current triad members will launch disciplemaking triads of their own, thus doubling people in the disciplemaking process. Multiplication is happening! I’ve preached a 10-week series on our picture of a disciple. While I’ve preached on disciplemaking from the pulpit, behind the scenes, the Discipleship Leadership Team is building the life of a disciple into people’s lives. We’re excited about the changed lives that God is producing through our investment in disciplemaking.

After over twenty-plus years of pastoral ministry, I realized I was missing a piece of the ministry puzzle — making disciples. Working with Bill Mowry has helped us rearrange and put in order the puzzle pieces for a disciplemaking church. Bill came alongside us and helped us understand the need for and gave us the tools to help us fulfill our church’s mission to “Glorify God and Make and Nurture disciples.” Seeing people in our church making disciples is a breath of fresh hope for us. We have taken the slow path of culture building and seen a well-meaning but typically ineffective church culture change to a disciplemaking culture.

I first used The Ways of the Alongsider ten years ago.  I started out with two leaders who have since grown into the ministry. Both men have told me that The Ways of the Alongsider gave them a vision to make disciples who make disciples.  By far it is the best on the market for how to develop the skills needed to come alongside another to shape their character for Christ, grow their passion for following Christ, and provide the ministry skills needed to disciple others for Christ.  When one completes The Ways of the Alongsider they’re equipped to pass on truth to another generation of disciple makers. The Ways of the Alongsider is basic tool that I use in my ministry to pastors and church leaders.

I so enjoy using The Ways of the Alongsider. It encourages disciplemaking to be a natural part of life where we come alongside people, helping them move closer to Christ. God has used the book to build confidence in women’s lives, that they too can disciple others. In using this book with women, we found various, realistic ways to apply disciplemaking concepts to our lives and how to replicate the process for others. I appreciate that The Ways of the Alongsider is not designed as program but a pathway to build intimate relationships and a tangible lifestyle for investing in others.

Despite being a senior law enforcement executive, I knew I wanted to stay focused and finish strong in both my personal and professional life. Bill coached me through the process of determining my personal vision statement and priorities. As a result of our time together, and Bill’s mentorship, I’ve gained a richer insight into how God has gifted and prepared me for different challenges and opportunities.

Bill Mowry writes with winsome clarity about a subject that is near to the heart of God and invites us into the ways of Jesus Christ. No other topic reflects more fully the life and purposes of Jesus than His focus on helping everyday people walk with God and reflect His character. Bill makes it doable for all of us, people in busy lives and in a culture that tries to pull us away from meaning and relationship.

Bill’s gifting is not only in helping leaders to understand the necessity and potential of creating a discipleship culture in the local church, it is a life coach – discipling leaders to greater faithfulness and fruitfulness in their calling as Christ followers. With Bill’s partnership, I am experiencing renewed passion for the work of the gospel, greater focus to and effectiveness in my ministry, even growth in the health of my relationships and care of self.

I had never heard of a LifeCoach until about a decade ago when in a conversation with Bill he wisely prescribed a LifeCoach (himself) for me. I’m quite grateful for Bill’s skillful mentoring and encouragement impacting my life at a significant crossroads. His coaching helped give direction that clarified my life version and my God-given contribution. I’m living out these discoveries in my life today.

As an experienced disciplemaker, this book provides both clarity and simplicity to a process that can easily become complex and intimidating. Bill Mowry does well in unpacking the simple relational dynamics that make a disciplemaking relationship so transformational. If you are looking to grow as a disciplemaker, this is one of the best books available to make it achievable.