His task is to teach and train his congregation, by his word and his life, to become disciple-making disciples of Jesus. - Colin Marshall

Perhaps trellis work has taken over from vine work. There are committees, structures, programs, activities and fundraising efforts, and many people put lots of time into keeping them all going, but the actual work of growing the vine falls to a very few.

Precisamos cuidar de pessoas e ajudá-las a florescer e crescer no ministério, e não esgotá-las no interesse de manter nossos programas em continuidade.” (pp.

Thus the goal of Christian ministry is quite simple, and in a sense measurable: are we making and nurturing genuine disciples of Christ? The church always tends towards institutionalism and secularization. The focus shifts to preserving traditional programs and structures, and the goal of discipleship is lost. The mandate of disciple-making provides the touchstone for whether our church is engaging in Christ’s mission. Are we making genuine disciples of Jesus Christ? Our goal is not to make church members or members of our institution, but genuine disciples of Jesus.