Making Disciples Today

In our culture today, there are few parallels to help us understand the original concept of discipleship. The idea of apprenticeship is close, but we don’t see that practiced much anymore. To aid in our understanding of the original concept, we need to look back in time to the culture of Jesus’ day. Back then, a philosopher, sacred author, or teacher would have students join him for a period of time, abandoning everything else in order to learn his special knowledge. The master would personally tutor the disciple both by oral instruction and hands-on direction.

One directive of the Great Commission is for us to make disciples. I believe this means helping people become disciples of the living Christ, not disciples of us. It’s amazing to realize Jesus is still calling and training disciples today, just as He did over two thousand years ago. The only difference now is He is invisible, but He relates to us much in the same way He did with His disciples when He walked around Galilee—spending time with us, letting us ask questions, teaching us about how the Kingdom works. If we embrace the process, He will train and equip us as He did the original Twelve. This has been my experience and something I intentionally lead others into.

In 1985, Penn and Heather Clark left their native Canada with a missionary visa to help start a church in northern New York, where they pastored for more than twenty-one years. In 2001, Penn formed Word of Grace Network, an apostolic fellowship of like-minded ministers committed to world missions, raising up the next generation of leaders, and equipping others to advance the Kingdom of God. The Lord has sent Penn to some of the neediest places on Earth where he has taught and trained leaders, helped start churches, and enabled the poor to help themselves. His primary focus has been on India, Ukraine, Haiti, Spain, Portugal, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia, where he has travelled regularly since 1992. Penn has helped establish other churches and networks—all geared toward preparing God’s people for the great end-time harvest. He has been given the privilege of leading many people into the wonderful Baptism with the Holy Spirit while endeavoring to serve as an example of how to live a balanced Spirit-filled life. The Clarks live in Penn Yan, where they pastor WellSpring Fellowship in the beautiful Finger Lake region of New York State.