Experiencing public servants swear an oath is a moving moment. Hands raised, or over a Bible, they pledge to “defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic.”

But what if their service extended no further than swearing the oath? What if they lived only for themselves instead of others? What if their promise never translated into action? Could they still be called public servants?

This question extends to Christianity. Is the Great Commission simply an admonition to get people to make a verbal commitment? Or is it a call to make disciples—people who actively follow Jesus?

Making Decisions Count

Shortly after emerging from His wilderness temptations, Jesus began His public ministry. He proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom and invited people to respond. His call was simple and profound: “Come, follow me.”

Those who said yes became His disciples—walking with Him, learning from Him, and joining His mission. They weren’t just agreeing with an idea; they were entering into a lifelong journey of transformation and obedience.

Why This Matters Now

Today, 3.42 billion people—over 42% of the world’s population—live in unreached people groups (Joshua Project, October 4, 2023; Operation World, 2023). These are communities with little or no access to the gospel, where no local church exists to invite people into discipleship.

In many parts of the world where the church is present, we can sometimes count “decisions” as the finish line. But in places where the gospel has never been heard, the need is much deeper. People are waiting not just for an introduction to Jesus, but for someone to walk with them into a life of following Him.

From Decisions to Discipleship

At There and Now, we believe the fastest and most sustainable way to move from decisions to disciples is by empowering local, national believers and church planters. They live close to the unreached—geographically, linguistically, and culturally—and can walk alongside new believers in ways that lead to lasting transformation.

This is not about discounting the value of decisions. Every “yes” to Jesus is worth celebrating. But the Great Commission calls us to more: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). That means seeing the journey through, from first hearing to lifelong following.

The Invitation

Imagine what could happen if more of our mission resources went to training and equipping local believers in unreached areas to make disciples who make disciples. Entire communities could be transformed from the inside out.

The need is urgent. The opportunity is here. And the Church has more than enough people, skills, and resources to finish the task—if we focus where the need is greatest.

Let’s be the generation that moves beyond counting decisions to multiplying disciples—until every nation, tribe, and language has heard.

Join us in empowering local, national believers and church planters to reach the unreached—faster, there and now.

Sources:
Joshua Project. (2023, October 4). Has Everyone Heard? https://joshuaproject.net/resources/articles/has_everyone_heard
Operation World. (2023). Status of Global Christianity. https://operationworld.org