Faith Formation and Discipleship in My Local Ministry Context

Unfortunately, things are not where I want them to be in my local ministry context. While we have led by example, it has been hard to lead, be bi-vocational, work toward our degrees, and raise a family. We have never been able to give 100% to any particular area. During this time, we also gave birth to a medically fragile child who passed before she was four months old. Compiling on top of our lives was the responsibility of a large church campus with a smaller congregation of around eighty people.  

The review of faith formation and discipleship in my local context has been complex as it has challenged me to look at what is good and what is wrong, things that should have been done differently. Our inability to give 100% to any particular area may align with Drury’s statement, “a church cannot not teach.”

The Pandemic hurt our attendance, and our current church size is around thirty, with the majority over sixty and in retirement. They are the faithful foundation that has carried the church through the last decade.

There is still a lot of good in the church. In focusing on teaching (Didache), the church does have a foundation of faith and prayer; this has been displayed by the way the church supported my husband and me in the birth, life, and loss of our daughter. It was also exemplified when the boilers on the campus stopped working, and God provided a $30,000 boiler system for $10,000. The congregates know the basics of the Word and stand firmly upon its truths.  

In service (diakonia), the people are limited due to physical limitations and the busyness of life. If there is a dire need, they will often provide some form of support. Each month, a hot dinner is provided by the women of the church for the local homeless shelter. Finances are given toward purchasing food for the neighboring elementary school's food pantry.

The Word is preached (kerygma) in truth, and worship (leiturgia) is focused on the Triune God and not ourselves. The worship leader chooses songs praising God for who he is and his goodness. The songs will often be songs that include scripture. A sermon is taught every Sunday that the congregates look forward to hearing. A live feed is provided on FaceBook for those who choose to watch online instead of attending in person; this is also a blessing for those who missed church due to illness or having a commitment where they were required to miss church.

Fellowship (koinonia) is something our church enjoys. It is witnessed every Sunday morning, and everyone seems to have joy as they shake hands and interact with one another. Game nights are always a hit, as well as our monthly fellowship luncheon, hosted after a Sunday morning worship service.

While the church's future is uncertain, I am thankful for the thirteen years we have been blessed to journey and grow. I am grateful for the faith formation and discipleship I have encountered in my ministry context.      

[1] John H. Aukerman. Discipleship That Transforms: An Introduction to Christian Education from a Wesleyan Holiness Perspective. (Warner Press, 2011).