Fathering Leadership releases people into their destiny through one-on-one discipleship.
Simple Discipleship
The church has often had ideas that Sunday sermons, Sunday School, and conferences can disciple people. I believe this is only true in part. I believe much of the immaturity we see in the Body of Christ stems from an absence of one-on-one discipleship, or what I like to call “fathering.”
Simply defined, a disciple is a follower. If there’s a follower then, of course, there must be a leader.
In my Christian life I was in church every week for 15 years battling fears of authority and rejection. If sermons could have healed me, 15 years of them should’ve sufficed! What finally brought healing to my life was the one-on-one time I was able to have with a fathering leader, as we traveled and ministered together for several years.
An Example
Mike Wells leads CAM, the ministerial fellowship I belong to and am ordained under. He is an excellent, hands-on, intentional leader. He pours himself into a small group of leaders who then in turn disciple others. Everyone in his church receives personal attention for their spiritual growth and leadership development.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care beautifully expresses the heart of God as people’s hearts are met personally in their times of need by a pastor. But what if we combined this type of caring with weekly one-on-one meetings, asking questions to draw out the persons heart, meeting them where they’re at, and helping them to take the next steps into God’s love and the destiny He has for them?
Sons Releasing Destiny!
Romans 8:14-18, along with Galatians 4:1-7, gives us a progression into maturity. These passages show the steps of a developing Sonship in our hearts to the point we cry out, “Abba, Father!” From this place we can begin to not only teach others, but release them into destiny.
1 Corinthians 4:15 says we have many instructors, and this is true. We have many people who can lead well. They can teach and instruct us in righteousness. They can give us direction, speak prophetically, and even tell the glory stories that inspire. But we have not many fathers.
It is fathering leadership that can help people keep their hearts engaged through the learning curves and trials of life so they don’t shut down or give up, but rather grow into living as overcomers. These are matters of the heart, not the head, and discipleship tends to be “caught” rather than “taught,” even as Jesus traveled with His followers.
I believe the church and the earth itself is groaning — even aching — for those mature sons of God who will rise up and father people into living in Gods love. Fathering leaders who use one-on-one discipleship and express the love of the Father will heal hurts and nurture hearts to life.
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