Before I quit talking about The Navigators 2:7 Series, an extraordinary disciple-making tool celebrating its 50th anniversary in February, please let me tell you one more story.

We were in Montgomery, AL, in the late 1970s, and I was teaching an adult Sunday School class attended by Albert and Linda. Albert was a draftsman, drawing bridges for the state of Alabama, very shy. He would hardly speak up in the Sunday School classes, but he and Linda seemed eager to learn. Once, when I saw them during the week, I encouraged them to be in class Sunday because I was going to teach something important. They said they were sorry, but they had planned to be at the lake that weekend…but they showed up!

So when we started a 2:7 group, Albert and Linda were among the 15 or so folks (large for a 2:7 group) who began. It was a 2-year program, six courses (it’s only three now), and when we got to Book 6, there were only three people besides us: Albert, Linda, and one other man. Some Navigator-trained friends moved to town, and we invited them to participate in Book 6, just so we’d have a decent-sized group.

It came down to the last meeting, and by course four or so, we were rotating leadership of part of each week’s lesson among the participants. So at the appropriate time, I said, “Well, Albert, I believe it’s your turn to lead tonight.” And Albert (shy, remember?) replied, “Yes, and if you would shut up, I could get to it!” I was ecstatic.

Later, Albert’s church launched a new-members’ orientation program, and Albert developed a significant part of it: the discipleship skills portion to include daily time with God and scripture memory. You couldn’t join that church unless you had been “Albertized.”

Folks, that’s what ministry is about: ordinary people training ordinary people and releasing them to train others, and 2:7 is one of the better tools. Some of you reading this blog have 2:7 experience as leaders and/or participants. Please add a confirming comment. And any of you can come to the conference in February in Dallas. I’d love to see you there.

Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2.7, NIV)

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4.13, NIV)