Yesterday I wrote about GRIT Disciple-making and mentioned that I had learned something about that presentation at Spring Canyon a few weeks ago. I was working through applications of my five presentations with the high school and college staff of Spring Canyon, and when we got to the one on GRIT, I realized that when I said “disciple-making” they heard “evangelism.” For kids that have grown up in conservative churches, this is understandable. They’ve been encouraged to “do evangelism,” but many have never seen relational disciple-making modeled, so despite what I thought were clear explanations, they weren’t making the distinction.

Perhaps when I talk about GRIT in the future, I will tell two stories from the history of The Navigators’ founder, Dawson Trotman. The first, which I’ll tell today, illustrates the principle: Evangelism is not enough. The second, which I’ll share tomorrow, gives a little insight into what relational disciple-making looks like. The first story goes like this:

Dawson Trotman, the energetic founder of The Navigators, was not raised in a Christian home, coming to faith in his early 20s. He became an ardent evangelist, sharing the gospel message prolifically. Once he picked up a hitchhiker who swore as he got into Dawson’s car, complaining how hard it was to get a ride. Dawson gave him a gospel tract to read, and as they talked, Dawson said, “Haven’t we met before?” “I don’t think so!” But they had. About a year earlier, Dawson had picked up this same hitchhiker, shared the gospel with him, and the young fellow “prayed the prayer.” Dawson blessed him and sent him on his way. One year later there was no change in his life.

Dawson wondered what was wrong. After all, doesn’t Philippians 1.6 say,

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Why, Dawson wondered, was “it” not working? Finally, he looked at the context:

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1.3 – 11, ESV)

Dawson realized that the promise of verse 6 was surrounded by vital activities: Paul prayed for the Philippians, and he had a personal relationship with them. This event changed the course of Dawson’s life. He understood that “evangelism” as he understood it was not enough. One needed to care for the new believer much like one would care for a newborn infant. We’ll look tomorrow at what that care looked like.

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2.7, 8, ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28.18 – 20, emphasis mine)