One step closer...

ESVO just opened it's new building this month. They are anxious for us to come down there and begin teaching in it.  Their carpentry teacher had to leave recently, so the need is very great. 


We are getting excited as God brings the details together. Our Spanish is progressing nicely, pero todavía tenemos mucho que aprender. We are actively fundraising now and hope to have a donation option on the blog very soon.  Thank you to all of our amazing friends and family who have given money and promised sponsorship of us once we leave.  A 5K fundraiser is possibly in the works sometime in the next few months.  


MVI has had us write a philosophy of ministry...we wanted to share this with you.  After studying and reading on the subject the conclusion is that we are all called in the same way.    I (Cory) am reading the book, Radical, by David Platt.  I seriously recommend this book.  Lately it seems like I land on the same subject of disciple making from Matthew 28.  It must be starting to sink in, that I have to do something!


Thank you Brian Marston for your counsel.   

Philosophy of Ministry

Vision Statement:

We will reach the world for Jesus one person at a time.

Matthew 28:19-20: 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you

always, even to the end of the age.”

The Real Life Mission Statement:

We will create biblical disciples in leader directed relational environments.

Acts 2:41-42 (NLT) 41Those who believed what Peter said were

baptized and added to the church that day— about 3,000 in all.

42All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,

and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s

Supper), and to prayer.

The Real Life Discipleship Definition:

Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

A disciple is…

One Committed to following Jesus (Luke 9:23)

One Committed to being changed by Jesus (Rom. 12:2, Galatians 5:22)

One Committed to the mission of Jesus (Matthew 28:19, Luke 19:10)

Keys to Effective Disciple Making Process

Key #1 - An Intentional Leader

One who understands the game (Christianity).

One who can evaluate or recognize where a person is at in the of growth process.

One who can create an environment that produces growth.

Key #2 - A Relational Environment — a Small Group

Jesus, the greatest disciple maker in history, only had 12 disciples.

Jesus came to reveal a model of discipleship that we could follow

The first disciples used the same model for discipling that Jesus did

Components of a Relational Environment

Shepherding (especially in the early stages) Ezekiel 34

Love (the “love one another statements in Scripture)

Real teaching with Q&A, modeling, and stories (Mt. 13:6,16:13; John 13:14)

Authenticity (James 5:16)

Accountability (Hebrews 3:12)

Guided practice (Luke 9:1-12; Acts 6)

Key #3 - A Reproducible Process

Share, Connect, Minister, Disciple.

Or more simply put, Jesus had a definite philosophy of ministry/leadership philosophy. His approach to leadership expressed itself in four phases:

1. I do it. -John 8:29; 1 Corinthians 11:1

2. I do it and my disciples/students are with me. -John 13:1-10; 2 Corinthians 12:9

3. My disciples/students do it and I am with them. -Luke 10:1-3; Mark 6:12-13; John 14:12

4. My students do it and I am in the background to encourage. -Luke 24:48-49; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20

The "it" is found in Isaiah 61:1-3, where it says that the Messiah is coming to do three things: 1. Preach the good news, 2. Bind up the brokenhearted, 3. Set the captives free. In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus refers to the Isaiah passage in what he was there to do.