International Christian Consulate
The Discipleship Programme
Making Disciples
Discipleship is a core focus of the work of the International Christian Consulate. It is the framework for everything we do as an organisation.
When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He commanded us to go and make disciples. There is a big difference between making converts and making disciples. A convert is someone who has decided to be a Christian. A disciple is someone who is being trained by Christ to become like Him. A disciple is obedient to the will of the Father and loves Jesus enough to follow Him wherever He goes.
"The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away."
(Matthew 13:20-21)
Discipleship involves growing and strengthening the roots, so that no matter what trials or persecutions come, they may stand firm and not fall away. If there is no discipleship, the conversions will likely be in vain. Unfortunately, many evangelistic efforts have not paid attention to this.
Many of the people arriving at ICC Greece are converts who have not had any discipleship or bible teaching. They are, however, very spiritually hungry. They come with many questions, as well as significant life challenges. They want to learn more about following Jesus, but until they find ICC, they often haven't had a safe space to do that.
An essential part of the work of the International Christian Consulate is to teach people the ways of the Kingdom of God and to make strong disciples of Christ. In Athens, the House of Faith centre provides a safe space for meetings, discipleship sessions, and fellowship with other believers.
Discipleship doesn't happen simply through doing a course; it is a long-term walk alongside those being discipled, through the messy journey of life. It requires commitment and perseverence and an abundance of grace.
Discipleship in Places of Persecution
A very important part of the International Christian Consulate's discipleship programme includes believers hiding in several high-risk countries, where persecution is a daily experience.
Using secure networks we work alongside these courageous people, teaching, equipping and supporting them through each situation they face. This is a complex part of our work, with significant security considerations, but with a profound impact.
Most of the believers we support this way are completely isolated due to persecution. They live in hiding and do not have any church or support where they are. Most do not even own a bible. Some came to faith through dreams and visions of Jesus. Others heard the gospel from missionaries who didn't stay to disciple them. All of them have paid a very heavy price for following Jesus. All of them are hungry for bible teaching and discipleship.
They join our prayer meetings, sharing of communion, bible teaching and discipleship classes remotely, and we spend a lot of time providing support and encouragement outside of the meetings through calls and messages. It is an unseen side of the work, but it is a side where God is doing a deep and profound work.
For these believers, this part of ICC's work is a lifeline - a way out of isolation, being connected to a wider community of believers. They are in situations that believers in the West would struggle to comprehend, and knowing they are not walking alone, that they have people praying for them and to share their struggles with is no small thing. They are as much a part of the ICC community as those who are physically present in Athens.
"Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
Goshen Retreat
For more intense discipleship and space to recover from traumatic experiences, ICC has a small, off-grid camping retreat facility in a rural part of Greece. It offers beneficiaries the chance to spend time together and with God, to have deeper discussions about the bible and spiritual life, as well as to have some much needed fun!
The small-scale agricultural activities, along with the quiet, peace and beauty of the surrounding nature, provide many hands-on examples of spiritual concepts.
In the same way that Jesus taught the disciples using parables based on the things around them, so we can teach the same parables with many of the same 'live' examples. Things that were somewhat of a mystery suddenly become lightbulb moments of understanding and growth.
Alongside the hands-on, practical discipleship, the quiet and contemplative environment allows the Holy Spirit to conduct deep healing work in the lives of those who visit.
It is a much appreciated facility, which offers a place to get some rest and recuperation, as well as a chance to have some breathing space.