This ministry operates under two maxims.
First, we challenge ourselves to live out this precept every day: “Not I, but Christ.”
Second, in terms of our church planting, pastoral training, pro-life and other evangelistic outreaches, we utilize this precept: “To change our world by developing Christ-followers who love God and love people.”
Let’s look at these two codes of Christian conduct that are designed to ensure that Christ becomes immanent, totally ingrained, into our lives and ministries.
1. NOT I, BUT CHRIST.
The motto “Not I, but Christ” emanates from a wonderful verse, Galatians 2:20, which reads, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (NKJV).
You know, there is clear division and strife in our nation. We see political unrest and violent protests and we wonder what might happen next. I can tell you that this unrest is a result of people looking for answers and solutions everywhere except in Christ.
As believers, we must show others that life in Christ offers true peace. We need to be unified in Christ, focused on making disciples and championing the Gospel to all people.
2. TO CHANGE OUR WORLD BY DEVELOPING CHRIST-FOLLOWERS WHO LOVE GOD AND LOVE PEOPLE.
We are interested in developing Christ followers — not just converts. It’s always wonderful to learn that someone has come to know Christ as Savior. But it is even greater to know that they are then following Him in Christian service. We want to reach people with the Gospel so that their lives will dramatically change and begin to draw others to Christ.
You see, we are taking very seriously this calling of reaching One Million New Disciples by 2025. We are striving — through our church plants, our future church plants, our pastoral training programs and our evangelistic programs — to coach our people to not just win souls, but to counsel and teach them to become true followers of Christ.
Luke 14:33 reminds us this: “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” In other words, the cost of becoming a disciple is far more than simply becoming a convert.
In John chapter 6, we see that many disciples turned away from Jesus because they were not committed to fully following Him. And Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
THAT is the type of followers we are seeking! Our pastors, our church plants, our congregations all over the country are going out and preaching the Gospel to make disciples who will not turn away, who will follow Christ through thick and thin, making Him Lord of all.
3. A CHALLENGE.
A few days ago, I issued a challenge to our Thomas Road Baptist Church members and I would like to include you in this challenge because I know that you are concerned about lost souls.
The challenge I issued is this: Witness to at least two people every week for the next year. Will you join us in this effort?
We must be about the business of pleasing Christ and taking His message to those who do not know Him. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry as we continue to plant Bible-believing churches and train men of God to win our cities to Christ.
Your friend in Christ,
Jonathan Falwell