X (Multiply)
When talking in church circles, I can get met with a sense of surprise when explaining my role in church life and ministry alongside sharing that I fulfil this in a bi-vocational and voluntary capacity. I’m very fortunate that I find myself in employment I love, that is equally aware of, and even supportive of, my voluntary commitments; without this it wouldn’t be possible. And I’m also aware that full-time ministry was never the biblical benchmark. Jesus’ full-time ministry lasted just three years; Paul’s was often supplemented with tentmaking and imprisonment. Plus, five minutes with an employed minister would quickly reveal a list of challenges to that way of life compared to mine!
During these moments, what usually follows is a conversation on delegation, and some of the methods we can use to release others. Whether working in ministry or business, whether leading or following, whether working proactively or reactively, an empty to-do list is a rare – often impossible – goal. But delegation is really just the tip of the iceberg, and sometimes even a red-herring for what is truly important. Delegation is a start, but discipleship should be the goal.
Delegation helps us manage the work; discipleship helps us multiply the work. Through discipleship, we equip others to carry the gospel, to lead, and to disciple in turn. Delegation may lead to a smaller to-do list, but it still means any fruit or potential legacy stops with us.
The question posed becomes bigger than how can we live with an empty to-do list, but instead how can we build legacy beyond ourselves? The answer isn’t just through delegation, but through discipleship. Delegation is about giving away tasks; discipleship is about giving away yourself.
Paul’s model of discipleship, reflected in the life of Jesus too, gives us a tried and tested biblical mandate for raising up disciples, in the model of the one who said to ‘imitate me just as I imitate Christ’.
In Acts 16, Paul takes Timothy with him on what was Paul’s second missionary journey. Tracking their relationship throughout the New Testament you can see Timothy go from this missionary journey, to co-authoring six books in the New Testament, to serving as a leader for the church in Ephesus, and (according to early Christian writings) later serving as Bishop over the region of Ephesus. Paul’s final documented words are those written within 2 Timothy, and 2 Timothy 2:2 gives this beautiful mandate:
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
Paul, to Timothy, to ‘reliable people’, to ‘others’.
Here’s the catch though, when Paul first met Timothy he didn’t find a Bishop ready to pastor in the Ephesus region, or someone ready to co-author half a dozen letters that would form our New Testament. I imagine it all started with an informal meeting, in Lystra, somewhere around Acts 14. Paul saw something he admired in this teenager, and Timothy found someone willing to champion him and lead him closer to Jesus. Paul didn’t find someone ready made, but he found someone with willingness and potential.
Adapted from Robert E. Coleman’s ‘The Master Plan of Evangelism’ (1963) and Bill Hull’s ‘Jesus Christ, Disciple-maker’ (1984) there are four stages to Paul’s discipleship model, witnessed through Timothy.
With each stage the effort from both Paul and Timothy increased, as did the risk that if something went wrong, the impact would be big. There’s little risk in having a coffee with someone to discuss their strengths, there’s high risk in allowing someone to pen the New Testament alongside you! But as the effort increases, and the risk increases, so does the reward. By the end of Paul’s life, Timothy was continuing the work Paul was literally unable to do. 2 Timothy 2:2.
I was fortunate to see this model at play first hand when, at the end of October, I served at a Leadership Camp in Poland. Adam and Ola, friends of One Church through the missions organisation Josiah Venture, had invited Amy and I to join them for a weekend. Think Cefn Lea, but with a beach, farm animals and ‘pierogi’. The camp had 60 delegates but ran in a unique way. It is targeted at youth pastors from across different denominations all throughout Poland. The youth pastors (‘Pauls’) are asked to identify one young leader (‘Timothys’) they are committed to investing in – discipling – over 12 months. They then attend 3 camps like this one throughout the year, while serving together in a local church context. The content is great, but not as important as the conversation it drives and the relationship it facilitates.
The beauty of the model is that each year, every Timothy is asked to then find their own ‘Timothy’ for the following year. It’s 2 Timothy 2:2 lived out, disciples making disciples. Generational discipleship.
The pinnacle of Christian ministry and leadership isn’t us raising disciples, but us raising disciples who in turn are raising disciples. Generational discipleship.
A new year gives us a natural opportunity to re-evaluate and re-set in this area. Who are the handful of people you are replicating yourself with? It starts with an invite to coffee and an informal catch up, people will do anything for a free coffee! Where are you serving and how could they shadow you? What gifts do you see in them that you want to help surface? Can you intentionally move the discipleship up a stage?
But then the key question isn’t just who are you investing into, but who are those people investing into? What can you do to facilitate that generational discipleship with those you mentor over the next 12 months?
I can’t pretend to be gold standard in this area. As a youth pastor we had a great culture of mentoring but I find it’s far more challenging in ‘adult’ circles. People are busier, not always as ready to accept support and less willing to give up their time to discipleship and development. But those challenges can’t stop us.
Who will your Timothy be in 2026?
Robert E. Coleman puts it best:
“Better to give a year or so to one or two men who learn what it means to conquer for Christ than to spend a lifetime with a congregation just keeping the programme going. Nor does it matter how small or inauspicious the beginning may be; what counts is that those to whom we do give priority upon our life learn to give it away.”
Greg Wooster