Discipleship tensions - local vs global

Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus also said: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

I was born again in July 1993. I will never forget the overwhelming sense of relief and peace that my sins were forgiven and I have eternal life. My newfound relationship with Jesus was dynamic and alive, and I simply had to tell others. Lucky for me the youth group and church I belonged to had the same heart, and over the next few years we were constantly reaching out to our mates and peers, organizing youth events and camps, always trying to help the lost find Jesus.

People in Dombe, Mozambique

Our church had ongoing missions to Mozambique running annually. I used to listen with awe and wonder about the power of Jesus as the returning mission team told story upon story about what God had done. After my salvation, I couldn’t wait to join the annual mission team. My opportunity came in June 1994 and on our way to Mozambique, I led someone to Jesus in the city of Harare, Zimbabwe. Inexplainable joy.  I led many more to Christ in Mozambique and saw the power of God move through the Gospel as people were born again.

After school, I spent a year in the mission field in Namibia and Botswana before returning to South Africa to study architecture in Cape Town. As a student, I stayed involved in student outreach and discipleship, always looking for an opportunity to share the gospel. I worked in my hometown, Worcester, for a year after graduating and then returned to Cape Town to study theology. The ministry studies took me on global missions again to the UK and USA, and after graduating, I ended up being part of a local church plant, which I have been leading and pastoring for the past 11 years. We currently support 10 missionaries and church planters in various European countries and South African student campuses as we also continue to reach out to our local community to make disciples.

To simply demonstrate that when we think about the tension we often experience between local and global discipleship, it’s not a matter of either-or, but a matter of both-and.

Why the long story? To simply demonstrate that when we think about the tension we often experience between local and global discipleship, it’s not a matter of either-or, but a matter of both-and. Jesus commissioned us to disciple the nations, starting at home (Jerusalem) and work our way to the ends of the earth. It’s a corporate vision for the church - we’re all involved. It’s a team effort, everyone can play a part – and there should be no tension. In our movement of churches, we articulate mission involvement as follows: Pray. Give. Go. Pray for your hometown, pray for your country, pray for the world. Give financially, and make a contribution. Go on a local or international mission with your church or denomination if your circumstances and work situation permits.

I believe as long as we display the conviction to fulfill The Great Commission, God will lead His Church to fulfill that mission – locally and globally. We can’t all be in vocational ministry, but we are all in full-time ministry. Minister wherever you go. Share the gospel. Go on a mission. Support those who plant churches or go on missions to other continents. We’re the body of Christ, and together, we can fulfill His Mission – and when that day comes when God calls you to another country or mission field – pack your bags and pull out your passport – you only have one life – give it.     

New York City skyline