When Christ was on earth revealing the Father and equipping the church to be, he called twelve men to himself and discipled them. Then, before departing, he gave specific instructions about their primary goal of discipling men, women and children with the gospel. “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” Mt. 28.18-20.
Well, it’s not the end of the age yet, but he is still keeping his promise of being with us and empowering us to disciple the nations. The chaplains and the leaders of the Union Gospel Mission here in Dallas are doing just that. And Jesus made sure that we would be able to carry out his command well by providing us with the heavenly Teacher.
‘He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and then all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”’ Acts 1.7,8. And at Pentecost, this was initially fulfilled, and he is still fulfilling it today. We here in Dallas and America would be considered the end of the earth to the men and women there in the Middle East.
God has called forth a ministry to help accomplish his mandate. Abiding Fathers and Padre de Corazon was begun here in Dallas, and now the Lord, through his Spirit, has this fatherhood discipleship movement entering into many nations. Here at home, the Chaplains of Union Gospel Mission invited us to equip them to disciple their men. And now they are fulfilling their calling and the command of Jesus to go make disciples in the power of the Spirit.
“The Abiding Fathers’ class at Union Gospel Mission in the Discipleship Program has been awesome. We started out with 40 disciples and now we have 70 to 80 men in class. It has not only transformed their life but mine as well. The men are engaged to the point they really see the effect and what happens without the father passing the blessing. The men are growing one day at time as we walk together with Bill’s book and the Lord’s Spirit. We are to encourage our children to have hopes and dreams and to achieve them as we learn as well, together.”
Chaplain Charles Mitchell
This is but one of countless groups, here and abroad, taking up the challenge to fulfill the Great Commission as set forth in Matthew 28. Thank you, leaders of UGM for your all-important role of making disciples for the gospel of Jesus Christ! Contact us if you are being led to disciple fathers.