A Missionary's Perspective on Discipleship

The theme for Liebenzell USA for this year is "Making Disciples." We want to discover how our missionaries go about "fishing for men." Early on a Monday morning, I had a Q&A with Alex Tavarez - he is the Vice President of Student Development at Pacific Islands University (PIU). He shared his experiences and raw thoughts:

Q: How do you do discipleship?

A: I am a simpleton when it comes to the gospel: I do not consider myself to be theologically astute. We’ve gone wrong, we’ve tried systemizing something that is beautiful. Maybe we should be more submissive to the Spirit, instead of becoming this assembly line in the way we go about discipleship. I look at the woman at the well as an example. What Christ generated with her on that first encounter is of a very intimate nature. If we as disciplers look at how Christ approached this individual, who was culturally different, and his willingness to meet her on her territory - something that most Jewish men would not do - we could learn from it.

For me, discipleship is about intentionality and getting to know the individual’s heart. Christ offered the Samaritan woman living water, but first he dealt with the heart matter. This is the model. To look at people regardless of their skin color, or anything else, and to view them as people who can experience life - free life in Christ. Ultimately, they will in turn go and proclaim the gospel to those around them and make more disciples.

A: I came to faith under a very strict accountability structure. I was 18 years old. I was placed in a group with guys my age, in which we had to hold each other accountable. That meant that we were not to have any secrets and we were to sharpen each other. I was never able to hide anything from my brothers; I was forced to be honest. There is a saying that rings true “Your faith is personal, but not private.” I grew up in community and I believe this is where the most effective discipleship occurs. I do think there is a place for one-on-one sharpening, but largely, I believe discipleship to be a group thing. When the Spirit unites us, He drives us to do amazing things.

A: My wife and I have been involved in youth ministry for some time. We have discovered that the immediate thing that we both acknowledge is that the feelings of the young people we minister to are legit and that what they’re experiencing is very real. Some mentors have the tendency to "blow things off" with statements such as “You’re being emotional,” or “You’re being irrational.” The way Jesus treated the woman at the well showed that He valued her. He took an interest in her story. The most beneficial thing, I have found, is not to minimize people’s significance or to say, “They don’t matter.”

There is of course a component of long-suffering to this kind of approach, and that means seeing them through their hurt, walking them through tough decisions and their struggles. Having said that, there is a danger if you don’t bring God’s truth into discipleship. Today’s generation is certainly more emotional, and they are told to identify with what they feel. They are frequently told “Be your own person.” Clearly Scripture defines who we truly are, and thankfully frees us from that existential mindset that says, “We are our own gods.” I would make the argument that it is about finding the balance between truth and love.

A: Scott. He is my co-worker and graduated from Pacific Islands University (PIU) in 2016. He is Micronesian – Chuukese. For many years he has been considered a great asset to the university, because of his role in student life, particularly his work with resident advisors (RA).

One of the biggest aspects of my style of discipleship is that I want to work myself out of the job. Not because I am lazy, or I don’t want to do the work. But because growth and maturity are evidenced by how much responsibility the disciple takes on and how they take ownership of the truths that have been imparted to them. With Scott, I found that he took over a lot of my responsibilities and he has done the work so well.

A: There was a time when Scott’s wife got into a bad accident. It was at this time that I got to see a different side to him. Scott is usually business-like; he doesn’t open up easily. But that experience led to him opening up, and I discovered how much of a brother Scott was to me. For me, a window to his inner person had been opened. To see Scott lean on God at this tragic time showed me how much growth had taken place. So many Micronesians when faced with tragedy either shut down or resort to alcoholism. Others disappear or fall back on the things they have always known and done. Scott chose to lean on Christ. It was a beautiful thing to see.

A: When I see them struggle. When I notice that their attention is divided. When we both start to get complacent and it keeps us from being close.

A: I would want to know more about the culture that I am ministering in. We (my wife and I) came in here blind. We are flexible and teachable; however, there were many times when I’ve made mistakes that have hindered relationships. I wish I would have known what cultural missteps really turn people off and inhibit relationships. Bringing the gospel to hearts that are hardened is hard because they’ve already shut down.

A: When I think about discipleship I primarily think of discipline. I don’t think about growth, but discipline. I think one thing that we’ve lost as a church is effective discipline; those who do wrong are not disciplined.

What should we focus on? I think it boils down to accountability. Our church has had to take steps to discipline people and it is the hardest thing that I have had to do - to tell someone that they cannot be part of a community because of the choices they’ve made. It’s hard to see someone refuse to repent or reject God’s way.

Accountability is not entirely negative; it is also positive. We have become so afraid of making people feel bad, that being honest and not fearing judgement has lost its place in the church.