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All Journal Diligentia: Journal of Theology and Christian Education
Joel Oluwatosin Alabi
Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
Religion Education

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From Conversion to Commission: The G-U-I-D-E Model for Recovering Disciple-Making as the Core of the Church’s Mission Joel Oluwatosin Alabi
Diligentia: Journal of Theology and Christian Education Vol. 8 No. 2 (2026): May
Publisher : Universitas Pelita Harapan

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.19166/dil.v8i2.10949

Abstract

The contemporary church faces a growing crisis of spiritual shallowness marked by a declining commitment to intentional disciple-making. While conversion and church attendance remain emphasized, the formative and reproductive dimensions of Christian discipleship are often neglected, resulting in congregations shaped more by consumerism than Christlikeness. This article argues that disciple-making is not an optional programmatic emphasis but the very heart of Christ’s mission and the enduring mandate of the church. Grounded in the ministry of Jesus and the Great Commission, the study contends that ecclesiology divorced from intentional discipleship fundamentally misunderstands the gospel’s purpose. Employing a biblical, theological, and pastoral methodology, this article examines Christ’s disciple-making strategy, the role of spiritual gifts, and the responsibility of the church in forming reproducing disciples. Particular attention is given to youth and emerging adults as a revealing case study of the church’s current discipleship deficit. The article’s primary contribution is the presentation of the G-U-I-D-E framework (Gather, Understand, Imitate, Develop, Empower), offering a coherent and pastorally viable model for recovering disciple-making as a formative, relational, and missional practice. By re-centering discipleship within the life of the church, this study calls for ecclesial renewal aligned with the heart of Christ and the mission of God.
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