Embracing the Disciple-Making Culture: Lessons from South Asia

Josh Howard is the founder of Ignite and a worker with E3 Partners. Howard has been a missionary in South Asia and in our most recent Disciple Maker’s Podcast, he discussed the incredible results of ‘crazy farming’ — the method of widely spreading the Gospel seeds. He highlighted the importance of prayer and fasting and outlined practical steps for intentional evangelism and discipleship. He compares and contrasts the South Asian and American cultures and the application of mission strategies in both contexts.

The Beauty of Disciple Making in Diverse Cultural Contexts

The Great Commission to make disciples of Jesus is a universal command meant to traverse cultural, geographic, and time barriers. Every follower of Christ, irrespective of their cultural background, has a part to play. However, different cultures can highly influence how we perceive and practice discipleship. In South Asia, unlike the Western world, disciple making takes on a fascinating dimension. One defining characteristic that stands out is the strong sense of communal affiliation, which allows the gospel to move rapidly through established relational networks. Secondly, the South Asian culture presents a more patriarchal setup that both potentially amplifies or negates the spread of the gospel. Additionally, the intensity of the believers’ commitment to the gospel is astounding. Though they live in the face of severe persecution, the depth of their faith shines through their readiness to risk everything, defying logical American comprehension.

The Good News, Its Perception, and Impact

The gospel of Jesus Christ profoundly tackles the inherent needs within any culture, but the perception of what constitutes ‘good news’ varies. For instance, the good news for a Hindu might differ significantly from the good news for an American. In Hindu culture, introducing Jesus displays His power to erase all bad karma and break the cycle of rebirth. This message can radically change a Hindu’s perspective of God’s saving power. Similarly, in secular cultures, the gospel addresses deep-seated needs, although the context is vastly different. In essence, the gospel meets humanity’s deepest needs, regardless of their cultural background.

Laying the Groundwork for Disciple Making

For disciples in the American context, several practical steps can help lay the ground for a fruitful harvest. First, foster a tenacious commitment to prayer and fasting, paralleling the South Asian believers’ extraordinary practice. Second, sow as many seeds of the gospel as possible. Howard mentioned the practices of prayer walking and “intentional overseeding” in evangelism. “Prayer walking” involves praying for specific people in the community while physically walking around the neighborhood, symbolically sowing seeds of faith. Regularly pray by name for those who need to know and accept Jesus. Secondly, sow as many seeds of the gospel as possible. This sowing process includes intentionally going out to interact with the world and sharing the good news, without pre-filtering potential recipients.  “Intentional overseeding” involves sharing the Gospel with as many people as possible, extending the message to everyone without pre-filtering based on personal assumptions of who would be receptive. He underscored that these methods help cultivate the seeds of faith in a community and further spread the Gospel.

Moving Forward with the Vision of Disciple Making

Embracing the vision of disciple making culture calls for commitment and intentional action. As the disciples in American culture, we need to calibrate our understanding and practice of discipleship to mirror the ancient, yet timeless, biblical model. This requires us to disseminate the gospel unreservedly, pray fervently, fast regularly, and follow God’s lead in all we do. Whether in South Asia, America, or any other part of the world, we are called to live as faithful disciples of Christ. Leveraging our cultural contexts can lead to a transformative disciple making culture that reflects God’s heart for all nations. Howard encouraged individuals to actively seek opportunities to share the Gospel. While there are challenges present in the American context—individualism, isolation, and a desire for expediency—he reminded listeners that it is essential to continue to sow seeds broadly, trusting that God will create the harvest. Embrace the journey because the harvest is ready, and the world is waiting for the good news.

Resources

For further materials and training for discipleship, check out our new Disciple Making Culture 10 Minute E-Book

Interested in the current state of Discipleship in North American Churches? Check out our free resource: National Study on Disciple Making in USA Churches.

Interested in a free Ebook on Disciple Making Metrics? Check out our free Disciple Making Metrics Ebook

Also, visit e3partners.org for a plethora of free training resources and coaching. If you’d like to read more, check out their book Christian Extremism and explore the e-book Igniting Movements in Dark Places.

Join Josh Howard at our 2024 National Disciple Making Forum 

 

For King Jesus,

The Discipleship.org Team