Last year we saw the Lord answer our prayer for 100 discipleship groups.
This year we are asking Him to give 50 of us the courage to lead a discipleship group for the first time. We are excited about the eight people who have taken that step in answer to our prayers!
Hannah Pitts is one of those eight. She’s part of our college ministry, Intersect, and serves as a youth leader as well. Hannah recently shared some encouraging lessons she’s learned on her discipleship journey.
Whether you’re considering taking this step or are already involved in discipleship, I thought you’d be encouraged by what Hannah has to share.
Sincerely,
David Anderson
Lead Pastor
P.S. And if you’d like to find out more about discipleship, I encourage you come to the Discipleship Lunch happening this Sunday, August 25. We’ll be hearing insights from a few others – like Hannah – who are already on this journey, and sharing an overview of some of our discipleship materials as well. For more details, CLICK HERE.
1. God has been moving in my life tremendously in the last few years and I am experiencing the power of saying “yes” to what He is calling me to do.
Through our Breakthrough Prayers and conversations I’ve had with my own discipleship leader, I felt convinced to start a discipleship group for the first time this year.
Intersect, our college ministry, has grown in the last two semesters and with that, new people are becoming part of our church community.
As I was feeling called to disciple, I felt compelled to reach out to two young women who had recently joined Intersect. That is how the group began.
2. One of the biggest lessons that I have learned through discipleship is how to depend on the Holy Spirit.
At the beginning of our time, it seemed as though our group was starting off strong. We all looked forward to going through material together and meeting regularly, but as the first few weeks went on things began to get in the way of our meetings.
I was beginning to feel discouraged and I wondered if our group would ever be able to form a solid connection. I wrestled a lot with God during that time, but He showed me that I needed to trust Him.
My prayers shifted from asking God if this group was really something He wanted me to lead to surrendering and asking the Holy Spirit to work.
I still get reminded that the Lord is the one who is guiding our time and discussions as a discipleship group, and I am simply a vessel.
3. Through leading a discipleship group, I have learned that we do not have to have the same life experiences to grow.
No matter how different our backgrounds are, how different our current circumstances are, or even how different we are as individuals, growing closer to Jesus is still the center.
I feel grateful that I cannot personally speak on every topic that is brought up, because I get to learn and grow through diving into His Word with my group.
Being able to direct our conversations to what the Bible has to say has made me grow in how I lead.
I’m so thankful for these three lessons, and am excited to see how the Lord continues to meet me on this discipleship journey!
Hannah Pitts
